Portrait AI Helps Out

It is my belief that Portrait AI features in photo editing software can help photographers enhance their portraits and avoid a lot of tedium. I don’t regularly take portraits (other than family, which I very rarely post online). The software I have, ON1 Photo RAW and Luminar Neo both offer powerful AI-powered portrait features that speed up post-processing and also achieve great results. By automating the tedious task of skin retouching and facial feature adjustments, like teeth and eye whitening.

My current favourite is ON1 Photo RAW which includes AI-powered features like face detection and skin retouching. With AI-powered face detection, the software will automatically detect the faces in your photos, making it easier to apply targeted edits that are in line with your style. The skin retouching feature allows you to quickly and easily smooth out blemishes, wrinkles, and other imperfections in your subject's skin and identify and work on key facial features.

Luminar Neo also offers powerful portrait AI features, including AI Skin Enhancer and AI Portrait Enhancer. The AI Skin Enhancer feature allows you to quickly and easily smooth out skin imperfections, while the AI Portrait Enhancer can help you adjust your subject's face shape, eye size, and other facial features, the face-thinning and eye-widening are a little over the top but have been fun to play with.

Portrait AI features are now widely available in photo editing software, but have not been heavily promoted or hyped as much as sky replacement AI, however it does offer photographers powerful tools to enhance their portraits with ease. Many of the alterations are very subtle but that's good. I'd be interested to find out if professional portrait and wedding photographers are taking advantage of these tools and what their clients think?

Ps I’ve given Chatgpt a second chance, to edit my text for this post. I’ve still had tone it back down a little but it hasn’t introduce half truth or outrageous claims this time.

Luminar :: A perspective of Skylum's AI Journey

The Luminar journey started with Macphun, a company that developed photo editing tools solely for Apple Macintosh computers. They were the original developers of Nik Collection and Snapseed, two of the more popular post-processing tools in the apple market (Mac and IPhone) at the time.

Later, Macphun shifted its focus to the Windows environment as well and started testing new simpler user interfaces. This approach eventually led to the birth of the Luminar suite. The initial versions of Luminar were standalone software that had a photo browser underneath and ran modules similar to the specific style of add-ins they had previously supplied. The software was less expensive and simpler to use, and it was popular with photography enthusiasts rather than professionals.

Macphun, became Skylum, and upgraded the software at an incredible rate compared to Adobe. Some of the upgrades introduced new approaches, which were mainly loved, but incompatibilities across updates were poorly received. The cost and frequency of upgrades meant that owning and maintaining an up-to-date version was becoming expensive. During this time, Macphun/Skylum also developed Aurora HDR in association with Trey Radcliff and included a number of AI-based techniques, specifically being able to recognize different parts of an image, such as the sky, people, buildings, and lakes.

The introduction of Luminar 4 was a significant rethink of the way photo editing was undertaken. Unfortunately, it had several incompatibilities with previous Luminar versions, and some previous tools were missing, so a lot of the previous non-destructive edits could not be reproduced. User were generally not impressed.

Not long after the Luminar 4 fiasco, Skylum released Luminar AI, which was again a new and somewhat incompatible rewrite. It still provided a comprehensive photo editing package but was based on the use of AI-trained tools exclusively to perform most functions. While it was nice to use, it wasn’t easy to figure out what was happening in the edits, and how it might be used as a start further photo enhancements. Some of these issues were quickly resolved with updates. However, some users felt that Skylum was gouging money out of their supporters by releasing new stuff that made upgrading a daunting repurchasing and relearning exercise.

Soon after Luminar AI was released, Luminar Neo was promoted as a totally new way to post-process. However, it was not really compatible with previous iterations of Luminar. While the single enhance slider was pretty amazing, the great list of "edit" tools on the right-hand side of the edit panel showed several of the same sliders, and not always getting the same result depending on which item they were run within. The tools were also grouped into similar tools, favourite, Essentials, Creativem portrait & professionals, which helps negotiate such a long list of edit tools. The fact that there was no attractive price for updating from Luminar AI also got a lot of bad press.

Despite some reservations, many users, including me, still like Luminar Neo and use it a lot. However, it is definitely not as fast on my older hardware, and the solution of buying a new faster computer and having to pay for the extensions does not appeal to me. The extensions, which are a return to the add-in single effect style of tool, can be purchased as bundles (including not yet released features) or individually, plus numerous discount offers, making pricing complex and hides the true cost of getting a full function editor. 

I've chosen to process an "ordinary" photo without surreal colour changes or adding drama (the dark side of AI tools), since it can give a better view of Luminar as a regular photo editing tool.

In conclusion, Skylum's journey with Luminar for me has been a roller coaster ride, with its ups and downs. While some users love the new AI-based approach, others are still nostalgic for the simpler, less expensive earlier versions of NIK Collection the earlier Luminars. Nevertheless, Skylum's commitment to innovation is admirable, and it will be interesting to see what new AI iterations of Luminar will come out in the future.

What the? ... is going on at skylum!

I must admit I have read and watched the hype about Luminar NEO. I really can't believe it isn't backward compatible with either Luminar 4 or Luminar AI. Then there is also the constant hype to preorder it. Finally I don't see much in the way of features I would want to use, perhaps with the exception of layers (but they look more like selective filters to me. So I was committed to using Lumiar AI "as is" (ie no more updates)

Then there was a notification that Luminar AI had an update. Great they haven't forgotten their customers.

 Ok it doesn't do much (som extra camera compatibility, fix a big problem with Some Cannon R models and a sky replace feature update (I haven't used the sky replacement in anger yet) Ok not a lot to see. Wrong every time I start I get a pop-up nagged about buying into the Luminar NEO vapourware before its released.

 

You are going to annihilate a lot of your customers Skylum.

The creeping cost of upgrades

I have notice with a sadness that the former champions of perpetual license (ie you buy the software) in the graphic/art/ photography areas, where doing well because they picked up a lot of extra buyers running away from Adobe’s Subscription model. Particular at the start up adobe did ot upgrade much. The champions were upgrading often and charging a smallish amount (20-30%) for the upgrade, and this also went down well with users.

Things have changed a lot of the last two years. Adobe have reduced subscription options (particularly for a single piece of software or group of complimentary tools) and increased subscription for the full creative ? to a ludicrous level (if you aren’t using it for a profitable business). This is clearly gouging a customer base. Not nice and another way or suggesting they are cutting of your nose to spite your face.

Unfortunately the price of upgrades are creeping up to 70-80% of the first license. If the software has been upgraded significantly that may be ok. A couple of suppliers prompting upgrades aren’t yet advertising an upgrade price, if one is even to be offered. Perhaps waiting 2-3 upgrade cycles is still ok. However it is rapidly reaching the case where if you are a loyal software user the amount you pay annually is not a lot different between perpetual licensee and subscriptions.  Both teams are gouging their user base. Possibly there is a little churning of software sold to the same number of users. In both cases we the users are the losers.

The case of Luminar Neo, is a particularly blantant attempt. It is probably a market driven ploy trying to prompt hype aboput all new, limit time/number pre-purchase seats, etc, etc but I personally just see something that isn’t legacy compatible and does not offer a  bigger step forward as is being over-hyped. I have Luminar AI and love it (not as my main photo editor that’s still ON1) but because some of the AI features are really useful and time saving. I feel I share a lot this think with Peter Forsgård . Until there is a trial version I can try I will not commit to spending anything on what is still vapourware.

Did Windows 10 have an accomplice?

I have slowly got my two very sick Windows 10 computers back to health (one by a full reset and the hassle of reloading all my software and data and the other by a in place reset). Its taken the best part of four days and a decent amount of angst. I’m none the wiser of the cause, but I’m slightly worried one of the software packages I’ve recently installed (or more particularly related drivers) might have cause some incompatibility. I had really only installed a number of photo software Luminar (as a windows beta version) On1 RAW Photo 2018 (as a trial version) and Aurora HDR 2018.

The Windows beta of Luminar didn’t seem a real candidate because I had been using it for a while and it was installed on the another windows 10 computer that didn’t exhibit the update problem. Aurora hadn’t been installed on this computer and when I tried to install On1 Photo RAW 2018 it reported that the computer was not compatible with Open GL 3.3 (yet I use mining software on that machine that relies on Open GL and currently uses version 3.3). On1 Photo Raw also proved essentially unusable on the HP spectre small screen and frequently froze in tablet mode. Frustration overload

I have purchase Aurora HDR and love it, so I’ll be making sure it works fine before I try reloading either of the other programs. I do like Luminar but it doesn’t yet do any file management or cataloguing so I’m still stuck with lightroom for the time being. I also like On1’s stuff, especially its layering, masking including great luminosity masking tools and blending, but if it only works on one of the three machines that I will be using, it is definitely off the potential purchase list for now (so I’ll stick with On1 Photo 10.5 for now)

Surely its Time to Move On (maybe better not to panic)

Despite the hype, it is really clear to me that Adobe have done a google style deprecate with lightroom as we know it. That desktop program that most photographers rely on, but wish it was faster, multi-computer LAN compatible shared catalogue, and better still multi-user to mention a few wishes from the many that have gone unanswered for the past 4 or 5 years. I actually think the rot set in before the creative cloud subscription, which has only delivered a few feature that most other software already had, I think the writing was on the wall when version LR5 was first release. In fact I have not upgraded since version LR4.4 (mainly because I haven’t bought a new or different camera camera system, so I don’t need upgrade). I just had to buy a SSD drive to get lightroom running (more like limp along) at a reasonable pace.

Lightroom has always seemed a High Maintenance Mistress to me. She has to control everything, and often just for no sensible reason. I still can not forgive her for loosing so many of my collections (once my favourite way to organize my chaotic digital photo universe). Which is probably why I have been open to trying different and new software from third party to plug ins to alternative programs. Well there isn’t a magic answer to the best program. I doubt it will every exist. Yet with something to manage your growing collection (like Lightroom,Picasa, VnView, ACDsee, Aftershot pro, On1 Photo RAW or even Photo Mechanic) and a good collections of editing tools (too many to mention in one sentence, yet Luminar is clearly a rising star) everyone will be able to get by. Albeit with the frustration or round tripping between different packages and learning different short cut keys etc,. Such is the keen digital photographer’s lot.

It appears from my remote view outside the Adobe Creative cloud Juggernaut, that adobe is the mobile and portable tablet or lightweigh browser (cloud) applications (aka consumer new shinny toys) rather than powerful computer environments. Surely even the fan boys can see that the new Lightroom cc is pretty much a single image at a time thing that needs a lot of extra bits to make it useful for serious users. Even then it will require a fast internet with plenty of band width. At least those serious will still have Lightroom Classic CC, which is the old Lightroom you can speed up by using the jpeg thumbnails embedded in your RAW files (like Photo Mechanic and On1 RAW Photo 2018). Excise me for suggesting this sounds a lot like “buying the emperor new cloths”

However Don’t Panic, read the Lightoom Queen’s recent blog post. Just keep using what ever you have now and only look for something new when you get that new camera!

Windows Beta of Luminar has reached 1.0.0

I have been testing the Luminar for Windows Alpha & Bets version for a while and they have clicked over from pre-release versions to version 1.0 so I’m expecting that they will be officially release very soon. The last updates are for specific tools, adding a radial mask and texture (tweaks to clarity & structure sliders). Without doubt the best filter is the Enhance AI filter with the single boost slider (its magic, you have to try it out to appreciate its power) A lot of very ordinary photos will be quickly made impressive with this single click filter and single slider. If you are on a Apple Mac you can get the free trial now, and Windows user will have to register for the beta in the short term. Visit Macphun for the details.

However there are lots of other filters in Luminar made up of numerous common adjustment sliders. Rather than have to set the slider individually or use presets (like lightroom) you have pictures of how the adjustments will look on your photo (like OnOne & instagram). Here I thought I saw a great photo with the dusk sky out to sea reflected in a sheet of shiny stainless steel (A public sculpture on the Coolum board walk, referring back to the seaside fun parks).Well because of the extreme dynamic range the photo ended up insipient and flat (such is life). However loading it into luminar and skipping through the filters I found “Dull no more”, it looked a bit dark but closer to what I was trying to photograph. One click and I as 95% there. I just added a fraction more clarity and I was done.

Luminar is currently a single image editor, it works with all the RAW & Tiff files I threw at it, but it doesn’t have a photo browser within it (ie it will not manage your photos). As a single file editor it really shines and gets the job done super fast.