No matter your discipline, there’s no denying that editing large batches of images can get repetitive. Painstakingly ensuring that each photo is correctly exposed, composed and enhanced can take up a lot of time that you might prefer to spend on other things. However, there are ways that you can get perfectly edited results without having to spend all of your time in front of a screen.
Available for macOS and Windows as an application and plug-in, Luminar AI is perfect for helping content creators reach their editing goals – whether that’s creating a unique on-brand style for their images, giving a client exactly what they’re looking for, or simply taking their favourite image to the next level.
Luminar AI has a template-based editing process that’s equally suited to batch-editing your photos as it is honing one specific shot to perfection. Luminar AI includes a variety of Templates collections that the programme will recommend based on an analysis of your images. Using artificial intelligence, Luminar AI will identify the contents of your photos, analyse their potential problems and calculate specific editing suggestions.
For example, if you’ve shot a dramatic landscape, then Luminar AI might recommend its Landscape Collection. Alternatively, if you’ve captured a portrait, then the Blockbuster, Portrait or Analog collections might be put forward instead. The strength of these specially designed Templates can be adjusted from 0 to 100%, which means that you can customise the effects to every image.
However, it's not all about preset Templates. Luminar AI also gives its users the ability to create their own Templates from scratch. This means that you can adjust your image’s exposure, colour temperature, saturation and more – and then simply save all of your adjustments as a Template that can then be applied to as many photos as you like. This is ideal for when you want all the images in a project to have the same look and feel.
It's super-easy to set up your own Templates, too. Here's how we created the gorgeous, rich photo below from an originally quite dark image (click the arrow to see the image before any editing).
How to create your own Luminar AI Template
1. Adjust the exposure
Go to the Edit tab at the top of the programme and ensure that you’re working on the Essentials panel (the sun symbol on the right-hand side of the screen). From there, click on the Light tab and adjust the exposure settings as needed.
2. Experiment with Enhance AI
The Enhance AI tab includes Accent AI and Sky Enhancer AI. Both of these functions intelligently enhance aspects of your image to give it that wow factor. Remember that you can toggle each tab on and off to check how it’s affecting your image.
3. Perfect your colours
One of the most useful aspects of the Essentials panel is the Color tab. Not only can you change the saturation and vibrance of your shot, you can also individually edit the hue, saturation and luminance of each tone.
4. Sharpen your photo
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to sharpening with Luminar AI. Instead, the application allows you to individually sharpen details according to their size. Don’t forget to zoom in closer to ensure you haven’t over-sharpened your image.
5. Add the finishing touches
Whether you shoot landscapes, portraiture or something in between, everyone loves a bit of golden hour sunlight. One of our favourite aspects of the Essentials panel is the Landscape tab where you can add a golden hour glow to your photo.
6. Mask out imperfections
If you’re happy with the overall look of an adjustment, but there’s one aspect that doesn’t look quite right, you can easily mask it out on your photo using the pen icon at the top of the adjustment panels.
7. Save your adjustments as a Template
When you’ve finished editing, simply go down to the bottom right corner of the application, click on the three dots (...) and select Save to collate all of your adjustments as your very own Template. You can then go to the Templates tab at the top of the screen and go to the star icon on the right of the screen called My Collection to apply this Template to other photos.
If you want to apply the Template to multiple images at once, all you need to do is apply the desired Template to your first photo and make any required adjustments until you're happy with the effect. Then, go to the top of your screen and select Image > Adjustments > Copy Adjustments.
Choose the photos that you'd like to apply this Template to and then go to Image > Adjustments > Paste Adjustments (or simply use the keyboard shortcut Cmd/ Control + V). This will apply the Template across all of the shots you've selected, dramatically cutting down your editing time.
Get creative with Luminar AI Templates
Basic exposure and colour adjustments will usually be the best way to take advantage of Luminar AI’s Templates. However, you can also save some of Luminar AI’s more creative processes as a Template as well, including its Sky AI, Atmosphere AI and Sunrays adjustments.
Sky AI
Whether you simply want to use some fluffy cotton clouds to replace a dreary grey sky, or you’re looking to add a dramatic Milky Way to your landscape, the Sky AI tab is equal parts useful tool and genuinely good fun. You can find it under the Creative panel on the Edit tab.
Sunrays
Want to add a little extra spice to your sunset shot? The Sunrays tab gives you the ability to place your sun anywhere in your photo (or even outside of the frame), control how much flare appears, as well as how long and how wide the sun rays are.
Atmosphere AI
If you’re looking for a real sense of mystery in your photo, then Atmosphere AI makes it easy to add realistic-looking mist, fog and haze to your image. Select which effect you’d like from the drop-down menu and then control the amount, depth and lightness using the sliders.
Reserve your copy of Luminar AI today to access a special price and get exclusive access to the Luminar AI Insiders, a private community solely for those who pre-order Luminar AI. Not only will you enjoy exclusive access to the Luminar AI team, but there will also be new tutorials, special events and even a few surprises too for no additional charge. After you’ve made your purchase, you’ll receive your invitation to join this special community.
