Luminar announces major updates

Skylum has announced updates to its Luminar photo editor, which is well known for its Sky Replacement feature. The release is part of Luminar’s comprehensive two-phase cross-platform upgrade expected to roll out in full this fall. Phase 1, released today, includes improved navigation, better performance, and upgraded AI tools. Phase 2 launches this fall, introducing new Atmosphere and advanced versions of tools, including Enhance and AI Assistant. Customers can pre-order fall updates until August 31, 2026, and save up to 50%.

The summer roll-out includes such updates as:

• Enhanced UI: Updated layout, cleaner navigation, and a more intuitive workflow for minimum friction and maximum creation flow.
• Enhanced Gen AI tools: Luminar presents a rebuilt generative model delivering assets that blend naturally into the original photograph.
• Export up to 25% faster: Exporting either a single photo or an entire shoot gets faster, leaving more time to create.
• Masking now uses 33% less RAM: Masking now uses a third less memory without compromising responsiveness. Complex selections stay smooth, even on laptops, even with everything else open.
• Preset previews, 4× faster. Previews appear almost instantly, so trying ten ideas is as effortless as trying one.
• New cameras support: The new version supports the recently released cameras – Panasonic Lumix DC-L10, Sony A7V Compressed RAW, and Sony A7R VI (all RC).

Feel free to test the upgrade by downloading the beta versions for macOS and Windows and following the installation instructions here. 

“With growing concerns around tech affecting human talent, Luminar takes a different perspective — one where technology helps photographers realize their creative potential, rather than overshadow it,” says Ivan Kutanin, CEO at Luminar.  “This upgrade serves that same purpose: high-end technology powering photo editing tools that amplify the creative flow while staying invisible. Creative vision comes first; technology is here only to let it shine.

Before and after examples of the new atmosphere function.

The next step for Luminar will be the launch of improved features this fall, including:

• Crop: a more precise, intelligent tool reads your image and suggests several finished compositions taking into account subjects, balance, leading lines, and visual weight of every photo.

• Atmosphere – Fog: gives photographers a more natural way to shape the mood of their photographs. Instead of adding a flat layer of fog, it intelligently blends atmospheric effects into the scene, responding to its light, color, and depth so every edit feels authentic to the photographer’s creative vision.

• AI Assistant: helps photographers edit faster without taking creative control away. helps photographers edit faster without taking creative control away. Describe the result you’re after, and it recommends and applies the right combination of Luminar tools to get you there.

• Improved Enhance: The advanced model reads your photo first and then perfectly adapts using a more precise look without overprocessing the scene.

• Web Editor. Luminar will introduce a seamless cross-platform experience by adding a web platform to the existing stack of devices. Open any browser, pick up where you left off, and keep creating.