Luminar NEO: Your COMPLETE MASK AI GUIDE

Bensguide
19 May 202220:02

TLDRIn this tutorial video, Ben from Ben's Guide introduces the Mask AI feature in Luminar NEO, a powerful tool that allows users to selectively edit specific parts of a photo without affecting the rest. The Mask AI tool can identify up to nine common areas in a photo, such as transportation, human, sky, and more. Ben demonstrates how to use the brush, linear gradient, and radial gradient tools within the Mask AI for precise editing. He also shows how to copy and paste masks between tools for consistent adjustments across different areas of the image. The video highlights the potential for speedier and more efficient photo editing with the Mask AI, while acknowledging that the tool, in its first version, is not perfect but shows great promise for future improvements.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 **Mask AI Tool Introduction**: Ben from Ben's Guide introduces the Mask AI tool in Luminar NEO, which allows users to select and edit specific parts of a photo without affecting the rest of the image.
  • ⚙️ **Workflow Efficiency**: The Mask AI tool is designed to be powerful, offering more variety and choices to users, significantly speeding up the editing process.
  • 🖌️ **Brush Tool**: The brush tool within the Mask AI allows for painting a mask over a selected area for editing, with the option to erase mistakes by painting over them.
  • 🌄 **Linear Gradient**: The linear gradient tool can be used to draw a gradient to create a fade effect, useful for directing the viewer's attention or darkening skies.
  • 📷 **Radial Gradient**: The radial gradient tool works similarly to the linear but creates a round effect, which can be moved and reshaped to fit the subject.
  • 🧐 **AI Scene Recognition**: The Mask AI tool can identify up to nine common areas in a photo, such as transportation, human, sky, water, and architecture, for targeted editing.
  • 🏞️ **Mountain Enhancement**: The AI can select specific elements like mountains and apply adjustments to just that area, enhancing its structure to make it stand out more.
  • 🚗 **Transportation Masking**: The Mask AI excels at identifying and masking objects like cars, allowing for detailed edits to make them pop in the image.
  • 👤 **Human Detection**: The tool can perfectly select humans in a scene for enhancement, adjusting aspects like vibrancy to make them more prominent.
  • ✅ **Mask Actions**: Features like copy, paste, invert, and fill within Mask Actions offer further control for complex and nuanced edits.
  • 🔍 **Tool Imperfections**: While not perfect, the Mask AI tool is very good for a first release and expected to improve with future updates from Skylum.

Q & A

  • What is the primary function of the Mask AI tool in Luminar NEO?

    -The Mask AI tool in Luminar NEO allows users to select specific parts of a photo for editing without affecting the rest of the image. This can be used to make targeted adjustments such as brightening the sky or enhancing a particular object without altering the entire photo.

  • How does the brush tool within the Mask AI work?

    -The brush tool in the Mask AI allows users to paint a mask over the area of the photo they want to edit. This creates a selection that can be adjusted or enhanced without impacting the rest of the image. Users can also use the erase function to remove the mask effect from areas where it was applied by mistake.

  • What is the purpose of the linear gradient tool in Mask AI?

    -The linear gradient tool in Mask AI is used to create a gradual transition or blend between the areas of adjustment. It's particularly useful for drawing attention to specific parts of the image, such as directing the viewer's focus to the mountains in a landscape photo.

  • How does the radial gradient tool differ from the linear gradient tool?

    -The radial gradient tool, unlike the linear gradient, creates a round or circular gradient effect. It can be moved and resized to fit the area the user wants to apply the effect to, offering another option for masking and focusing attention on specific parts of an image.

  • What are the benefits of using the Mask AI tool for identifying and editing different areas in a photo?

    -The Mask AI tool can identify up to nine common areas in a photo, such as transportation, human, sky, water, etc. This allows for quick and precise selection and editing of these areas without manually outlining them, saving time and effort.

  • How can the Mask AI tool help in enhancing a specific object like a car in a photo?

    -The Mask AI tool can identify specific objects like a car and create a mask around it. The user can then apply adjustments like increasing structure or contrast to make the car stand out more in the image without affecting the rest of the photo.

  • What is the significance of the mask actions in the Mask AI tool?

    -Mask actions provide additional functionality to the mask tool. They allow users to show, copy, paste, invert, clear, and fill the mask. These actions enable users to apply the same mask to different tools for consistent edits across various aspects of the image.

  • How can the Mask AI tool be used to selectively apply a black and white effect to a person in a photo?

    -By using the brush tool to paint a mask over the person and then inverting the mask through the mask actions, the user can apply a black and white effect to the entire image while keeping the person in color, making them stand out.

  • What are the limitations of the Mask AI tool as it currently stands?

    -While the Mask AI tool is powerful, it is not perfect and may not always accurately identify and mask every part of the image as desired. However, it is expected to improve with future updates from Skylum, the developers of Luminar NEO.

  • How does the Mask AI tool speed up the editing workflow?

    -The Mask AI tool speeds up the editing workflow by automating the selection process of different areas in a photo. This allows for quick adjustments to specific parts of the image without the need for manual masking, saving significant time and effort.

  • What are some of the common areas that the Mask AI tool can identify in a photo?

    -The Mask AI tool can identify common areas such as transportation, human, sky, water, flora, man-made ground, natural ground, and architecture, enabling targeted adjustments to these specific areas.

  • How can the user enhance the vibrancy of a person in a photo using the Mask AI tool?

    -By using the Mask AI tool to select the human and then copying the mask, the user can paste it into another adjustment tool to increase the vibrancy, making the person stand out more in the image.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Mask AI in Luminar Neo

The video begins with Ben from Ben's Guide introducing the Mask AI masterclass. He explains that Mask AI is a tool within Luminar Neo that allows users to select and edit specific parts of a photo without affecting the rest. This is particularly useful for making targeted adjustments such as brightening the sky. Ben is excited to demonstrate the tool's capabilities, which include a variety of masking options like brush, linear gradient, radial gradient, and an AI-based mask. He uses a night-time product photography image to show how the brush tool can be used to quickly edit a specific area, with the option to erase mistakes. The adjustments made in the example include increasing exposure, contrast, and temperature to enhance the image.

05:01

📈 Using Gradient Tools for Focus and Attention

Ben continues by demonstrating the linear gradient tool, which allows for a gradual transition from a strong effect to a weaker one, useful for drawing the viewer's attention to specific parts of the image, such as the mountains. He also discusses the radial gradient tool, which creates a round effect and can be moved and resized to fit the subject. The video then teases an upcoming video that will cover combining the mask tool with Luminar Neo's AI tools for advanced editing. Ben also shows how to use the AI engine to identify and select common areas in a photo, such as mountains, and make adjustments to just those areas, enhancing the structure of the mountains in the example.

10:01

🔍 Refining the Mask with Mask Actions

The video moves on to the mask actions feature, which includes options like 'show' to visualize the mask, 'copy' and 'paste' to transfer the mask to other tools, 'invert' to reverse the mask selection, 'clear' to remove the mask, and 'fill' to apply the mask to the entire image. Ben uses these actions to refine the mask around the mountains and make further adjustments, such as increasing the structure to make them stand out more. He also shows how to copy the mask and apply it to other adjustments, like increasing the contrast of the sky.

15:02

🚗 Enhancing Specific Subjects with Mask AI

Ben demonstrates the power of the Mask AI tool by using it to identify and enhance a car in a photo, making it stand out by increasing its structure. He also shows how to copy the mask and paste it into different tools to make various enhancements, such as increasing the contrast of the car. The video then explores identifying and editing a human subject in a photo, showing how the AI can perfectly select the human and how the mask can be copied and pasted into other tools for further adjustments like increasing vibrancy. Ben concludes by acknowledging that while the Mask AI tool is not perfect, it is very good for a first release and expects it to improve with future updates. He encourages viewers to look out for the next video and thanks them for watching.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Mask AI

Mask AI is a feature within the Luminar NEO software that allows users to select specific parts of a photo for editing without affecting the rest of the image. It is a powerful tool that provides more control and variety in photo editing, significantly speeding up the workflow. In the video, the host demonstrates how to use Mask AI to isolate and adjust elements such as the sky or a car in a photo, enhancing them independently.

💡Luminar NEO

Luminar NEO is a photo editing software that offers advanced tools for enhancing and modifying images. It is mentioned in the video as the platform where the Mask AI tool is integrated, providing users with more powerful and varied editing options. The software is highlighted for making editing faster and more efficient.

💡Brush Tool

The Brush Tool is one of the options within the Mask AI tool in Luminar NEO. It allows users to 'paint' a mask over the area of the photo they wish to edit. This tool is essential for making precise selections, as demonstrated when the host painted over an underexposed area to brighten it without affecting the rest of the image.

💡Linear Gradient

Linear Gradient is another tool within the Mask AI that enables users to create a gradual transition or fade effect in their edits. It is used by clicking and dragging to draw a line that determines the direction of the gradient. In the video, the host uses the Linear Gradient to shift the viewer's attention to the mountains in a photo by darkening the foreground platform.

💡Radial Gradient

The Radial Gradient tool, similar to the Linear Gradient, creates a round or circular gradient effect in an image. It can be used to focus attention on a central point or to create a vignette effect. The host in the video uses this tool to enhance a woman in a photo, making her the focal point by adjusting the radial gradient to fit around her.

💡AI Engine

The AI Engine in Luminar NEO is a technology that analyzes photos to identify common areas such as sky, water, or human elements. It is showcased in the video as a time-saving feature that can automatically select these areas for editing, reducing the manual effort required to create a mask. The host uses the AI Engine to select the mountains in a photo for structural enhancement.

💡Mask Actions

Mask Actions are functions within the Mask AI tool that allow users to manipulate the selected mask in various ways. These include showing, copying, pasting, inverting, and filling the mask. The host demonstrates the use of Mask Actions to copy a mask from one adjustment tool and paste it into another, enabling targeted editing of specific areas in the photo.

💡Structure Adjustment

A Structure Adjustment is a type of edit that enhances the texture and details in a photo. The host in the video uses the Structure tool within the Mask AI to make the mountains in a photo stand out more prominently. By increasing the structure, the mountains gain more definition and become more visually striking.

💡Temperature Adjustment

Temperature Adjustment is a photo editing technique used to change the color temperature of an image, making it warmer or cooler. In the context of the video, the host discusses adjusting the temperature to match the color of light in a night-time photo, giving it an orange hue to enhance the overall mood.

💡Vibrancy

Vibrancy is an adjustment that intensifies the saturation of the most muted colors in an image while leaving the already bright colors untouched. The host uses the Vibrancy tool to make a person in a photo stand out more by increasing their colorfulness, which contributes to a more dynamic and eye-catching final image.

💡Invert Mask

Inverting a mask is a technique that reverses the selected and unselected areas of a mask. In the video, the host explains how to use the Invert function within Mask Actions to apply an effect to everything outside the masked area. This can be a powerful tool for creative editing, as it allows for selective adjustments to the unmasked parts of a photo.

Highlights

Luminar NEO introduces a powerful masking tool that allows users to edit specific parts of a photo without affecting the rest.

Masking enables selective adjustments, such as brightening the sky without altering the rest of the image.

The Mask AI tool is integrated within every tool in Luminar NEO, streamlining the editing process.

The Brush option within the Mask AI tool is ideal for making precise changes to specific areas of a photo.

The Linear Gradient tool can shift the viewer's attention within an image, such as drawing focus to the mountains.

The Radial Gradient tool creates a round effect for masking, allowing for creative focal points in a photo.

The AI engine within the Mask AI tool can identify up to nine common areas in a photo, such as transportation, human, sky, and more.

Luminar NEO's AI can automatically select and mask specific elements like mountains or a car for targeted adjustments.

Mask Actions include features like Show, Copy, Paste, Invert, and Fill, offering extensive control over the mask application.

The AI Mask tool can be further refined using the Brush tool for manual adjustments if needed.

The Mask AI tool is expected to improve over time with software updates, becoming more accurate and user-friendly.

The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the Mask AI tool for various editing scenarios.

Luminar NEO's Mask AI tool significantly speeds up the workflow and editing time for photographers.

The Mask AI tool can be used to enhance specific elements, such as adding structure to a car or a human figure in a photo.

The tool allows for quick copy and paste of masks between different adjustment tools for consistent and efficient editing.

The Invert action within Mask AI can be used to apply effects to the areas outside the masked selection.

The Fill action in Mask AI can be used to apply the mask over the entire image area.

The video concludes with an encouragement to watch the upcoming video for more advanced techniques using the Mask AI tool.