• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

DIGITAL PHOTO MENTOR

Photography tips, tutorials and guides for Beginner and Intermediate Photographers.

  • Start Here
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Articles
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Intermediate Photography
    • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Tips
      • Portrait Photography
        • Flash Photography
      • Night Photography
      • Street Photography
      • Travel Photography
      • Photo Editing
      • Landscape Photography
      • Macro Photography
      • Photoshop Tutorials
      • Photography Equipment
  • Online Courses
    • Luminar Neo Course
    • Lightroom for Photographers: The Complete Course
    • Photoshop For Photographers: The Complete Course
    • Beginner Photography Course
    • Portrait Photography Fundamentals Course
  • Private Tutoring
  • Store
    • Online Courses
    • Bokeh Overlays
    • Photography Classes
    • Sky Replacements
    • Texture Overlays
    • Lightroom Presets
    • Private Tutoring
    • Cart
  • Login
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Challenges E-Book
    • 5-Day Photo Editing Challenge
    • All Our Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
    • Portrait Photography
      • Free Portrait Photography Key Concepts Course
      • Flash Photography
    • Night Photography
    • Street Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Landscape Photography
    • Macro Photography
    • Photography Equipment
  • Photo Editing
    • Luminar
    • Learn Lightroom
    • Photoshop Tutorials
  • Gallery
  • Resources
    • Free Basics for Beginners Course
    • Free Portrait Photography for Beginners Course
    • Lightroom Presets
    • Texture Pack for Photoshop, Luminar
    • Webinars
    • YouTube Channel
Home » Photo Editing » How to Get the Best Out of Your Images with Lightroom & Luminar AI
How to Get the Best Out of Your Images with Lightroom & Luminar AI

How to Get the Best Out of Your Images with Lightroom & Luminar AI

by Darlene Hildebrandt | Last Updated: January 4, 2022

Share
Tweet
Pin11
WhatsApp
Email

In this article and video tutorial, you’ll learn how to edit images using both Lightroom and Luminar AI. You’ll see why I recommend using both and how to use them together.

You’ll learn how to use Luminar AI as a plugin (two methods) and see what it can do to enhance and perfect your images.

Why I use both Lightroom and Luminar AI in my workflow

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I only ever recommend and teach what I use myself. So the photo editing workflow I outline in the video below is exactly how I process my own images to the final stage.

Step #1 – Basic edits in Lightroom

Lightroom is my base catalog and I import all my images into it so I can sort, tag, flag, rename, and so on. I also do my culling and basic editing inside Lightroom. What I consider basic editing includes the following adjustments made globally (to the entire image):

  • Color corrections like white balance and saturation level
  • Exposure or brightness level corrections or tweaks
  • Contrast of the image overall
  • Preview level quality
  • Final fully edited image

To learn how to choose the best images faster and how to prepare your images to the preview quality level (ready to show your subjects or models) CLICK HERE or on the image below.

Step #2 – Final edits in Luminar AI and Photoshop

Once my model has chosen the images they want, then I move into the final editing stage where I work on each image on an individual basis. That’s when I do things like the following:

  • Facial and skin retouching
  • Removal of distracting objects in the background or on the edge of the image
  • Special effects like toning, converting to B&W, adding a mysterious or soft glow, sky replacement and enhancement, etc.
  • Combining two images together (for group photos as an example)

Lightroom is only capable of doing some of those things and in the case of facial and skin retouching, there are much better and faster ways of doing it. So this is where Luminar AI comes into play (and in some cases, Photoshop, as you’ll see in the video).

  • Lightroom basic edit
  • After Photoshop and Luminar AI

Lightroom > Luminar AI workflow – two methods

The best way for me to explain my full workflow is to show you.

Watch the video below now and you’ll learn how to use Luminar AI as a plugin for Lightroom, the two different methods to open Luminar (or any plugin), and when and why to use each.

Here is a quick summary of the two ways of opening Luminar AI as a plugin for Lightroom.

Method #1 – open directly into Luminar AI

Right-click on the image you want to use and choose Edit in > Luminar AI from the list. That will take you directly to Luminar AI.

You may have a longer list if you have other plugins installed.

The pro of this method is there is one less step and you can do your Luminar AI edits quickly, save, apply and head back to Lightroom with the new image.

The disadvantage or con is that the edits are applied and are baked-in and you cannot get back to alter any of the settings or continue from where you left off. It is final.

Method #2 – open as a Smart Object in Photoshop then apply Luminar AI as a filter

This method adds an interim step between Lightroom and Luminar AI, that is Photoshop. You start off the same by right-clicking the image. But then you choose Open as Smart Object in PS.

Once you’re inside Photoshop you can then do any advanced editing you want including opening Luminar AI as a filter. Make your edits, apply the Luminar AI edits, save in Photoshop and you’re right back to Lightroom again with a new image.

The advantage of this method is that it’s completely editable later. You can open the PSD (Photoshop Document) from Lightroom and you’ll see Luminar AI applied as a filter. From there you can get back to Luminar and all the changes you made there, tools applied, are all editable.

NOTE: If you use this method and want to open the PSD and continue from where you left off last time, make sure you follow the path shown below this time! This is described and shown in the video as well.

Right-click > Edit in Photoshop (then make sure you choose “Edit Original”)

The disadvantage is that it takes more time to open Photoshop and add the extra step. Your computer may also have trouble running all three photo applications at the same time.

When to choose each method

I personally use both methods to launch Luminar AI as a plugin.

When I just need to do one thing, a quick edit that I know I won’t need to alter later such as adding the Orton Effect, I use method #1 above.

If I have any other advanced editing that I need to use Photoshop to do such as a head swap, major cloning or object removal (FYI Luminar AI’s Erase tool does a great job of that too), or using the Liquify filter then I use method #2.

Lightroom basic edits applied.
I used Method #2 here and did the cloning on the bridge in Photoshop, and added the cloud, and did the facial and body edits in Luminar AI.

Luminar AI and Luminar Neo

I want to mention that this video was made at a time when Luminar Neo has been announced but hasn’t been shipped yet. So I am currently using Luminar AI in my workflow.

Once I have Luminar Neo, I will most likely be swapping them out and proceeding with Luminar Neo. CLICK HERE or on the logo below to pre-order or learn more about Luminar Neo.

There are two other videos all about Luminar Neo where I answered a lot of the FAQs and demonstrated three of the new tools. You can watch both videos here:

Update: I’ve now gotten access to the initial build so check out my review of the first few tools in Luminar Neo. The page will be updated with a full review when the public version is available. If you’re reading this and already own it, you can fast track your skills with it using my Luminar Neo Course.

Conclusion

Now I’m curious to hear from you. What is your workflow?

Please tell me in the comment area below:

  • What is your main editing software and why?
  • Do you use any plugins?
  • If so, which ones?
  • Is there any part of the process you are struggling with or that isn’t working for you?

Was it helpful for you to see my full workflow from beginning to end? I hope you picked up a few tips you can use in yours.

Cheers,

Darlene Hildebrandt photographer DPM

Share
Tweet
Pin11
WhatsApp
Email

About Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene is an educator who teaches aspiring amateurs and hobbyists how to improve their skills through her articles here on Digital Photo Mentor, her beginner photography course, and private tutoring lessons. To help you at whatever level you're at she has two email mini-courses. Sign up for her free beginner OR portrait photography email mini-course. Or get both, no charge!

Luminar AI photo editing banner

Enroll in My Luminar Neo Course. Over 15 hours on how to turn your photos from good to GREAT!.

Digital Photo Mentor is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate Digital Photo Mentor earns from qualifying purchases.

Luminar Neo Course

Luminar AI photo editing banner

Enroll in My Luminar Neo Course covering everything from A to Z and always up to date and current with any and all Luminar Neo updates.

Top Beginner Articles

  • Avoid these 9 beginner photography mistakes
  • 7 Tips for Beginner Photographers
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to choose the best digital camera for you
  • 5 Photography Ideas for When There's Nothing Interesting to Shoot
  • 5 mistakes beginner photographers make while using a wide angle lens and how to avoid them
  • 9 Tripod Mistakes Ruining Your Images and Putting Your Camera at Risk
  • Long Exposure Photography

Top Intermediate Articles

  • 10 Camera Settings and Equipment Tips for Portrait Photography
  • Best Photo Editing Software Reviewed
  • Lightroom Alternative: Is Luminar the answer?
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to Use a Gray Card for Custom White Balance and Metering
  • Night Photography Settings – Guide to Getting the Best Exposure

Learn Photography Basics

Yes, you can learn to take better photos! It’s my passion to help you learn the photography basics and take better pictures. It’s also the same reason I teach workshops, do photo travel tours, and have online photography courses available.

Enroll in our free photography basics for beginners course, or 12-part portrait photography course, also free.

Recent Photography Articles

  • 5 Fun Inspirational Photography Ideas To Get You Motivated
  • Wabi-Sabi Photography Challenge – How to Embrace the Art of Imperfection
  • Dramatic Landscape Photography of the Lofoten Islands – Tips and Inspiration
  • 8 Best Tips for Photographing the Magical Aurora Borealis
  • How to Photograph the Northern Lights

Useful Links

  • Beginner Photography
  • Intermediate Photography
  • Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
  • Photo Editing
  • Resources
  • Recommended Amazon Products
  • Course Login
  • Workshops
  • Webinars
  • Contact
  • Write for Us

Copyright © 2022 Digital Photo Mentor · Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy · Disclaimer