WARNING: This challenge and Luminar 4 are both outdated and obsolete. A better option is to do my newest, most up-to-date photo editing challenge HERE!
Today’s photo editing challenge is about learning how to use texture backgrounds to create an artistic look for your images.
You will learn how to apply a texture overlay using Luminar 4. Your challenge today is to find a texture that works with the image for the look you want to create. Then to continue that and apply a LUT to add a color style as a finishing touch.
If you have an older version of Luminar it works the same way. If you are using Lightroom, you will need a program that handles layers like Photoshop, Elements, etc.
New Challenge for 2021: With the launch of Luminar AI, we’ve created a brand new 5-day challenge using its amazing artificial intelligence features. Luminar AI has a free 7-day trial available (I provide that for you), which will allow you to follow along with the NEW video tutorials. If you’re new to photo editing, I recommend you take on the 5-day challenge.
If you already own Luminar 4 you can still do this challenge and practice while improving your editing skills.
Photography Challenge Themes for the Week
Over the course of these 7 days, we’ll be working with these photography themes and practicing these editing techniques:
- Street photography – learn about basic edits like contrast and color adjustments and how to apply a Look or preset.
- Portrait and people photography – learn how to do skin retouching and facial enhancements the easy way, and keep it looking natural.
- Black and white conversion – see how to do it the right and wrong way, and how to take your b/w images to another creative level with split toning.
- Details and masking – you’ll learn how to do local edits that apply to just part of the image, and how to enhance sharpness and detail in those targeted areas.
- Landscape photography – take your nature photos up a notch, bring out details in highlight and shadows areas, and see how to replace the sky (not everyone’s cup of tea but you’ll see how easy it is with Luminar 4).
- Texture overlay – learn how to give your images a fine art style with a texture overlay (you’ll even get a few of mine to play with and try out)
- Night photography – learn how to apply many of the techniques you already learned and bring it all together to enhance and bring out details in a stunning night photo I took in Japan.
Step 1 – Photo Editing Software
You’ll need to have a copy of Luminar 4 photo editing software already installed.
Step 2 – watch the video tutorial
Next, watch the video below and follow along if you want. Feel free to pause if you need to, or rewind and watch any parts again. If you have any questions just leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
Step 3 – Process the image
Now it’s your turn!
Open the image in Luminar 4 or your software of choice that works with layers and give it a go. Have some fun with one and try different texture images as the overlay, different blend modes, and even adding more than one texture (just add an Adjustment Layer in Luminar).
As mentioned in the video, besides the raw image for today I’ve also provided five different texture images for you to practice with which are available to subscribers in the email you receive.
The images were all shot in Cuba and we have a full set of 40 texture overlays available for purchase now! CLICK HERE to get more info on that.
Here are more variations I made of this image using the other four images you’ll receive. I applied a different LUT with each texture to give them all a unique look. See how you make out with them.
Feel free to get as creative as you like with this. Just remember we have a dedicated black and white day coming up so you might want to save that for later.
AI Photo Editing: Read my review of Luminar Neo, the next generation photo editing using AI. It’s an industry game changer. If you’ve already got it, enrolling in my Luminar Neo course should be able to get you up and editing in days instead of weeks. Check it out.
Step 4 – Share your finished image
Lastly, we want to see what you’ve created – your final finished version (or a few of them). This is how to share your saved image.
Use the commenting system on the bottom of this page to share your image, how you did it, and any experiences you had while doing the challenge. You can also share on social media using the hashtag #DPM-7DayChallenge
More Photography Challenges: check out our entire collection of photography challenges. You’ll find our daily and monthly challenges with lots of ideas and inspiration for creative photos. Perfect for beginners or experienced alike.
Conclusion
There are 7 days of practical action taking steps in this photo editing challenge.
Join and follow along and you’ll find you get more confident each and every day. By spending some time each and every day practicing editing your photos, you’ll find your friends and family starting to say “WOW, that’s a great photo!”
Cheers,
