skylum: anybody members using SKYLUM - i am newbie and been thinking of signing up for lightroom or indeed a similar program and been looking at various programs but rather than...

ron james Loc: Cardiff Wales uk

anybody members using SKYLUM - i am newbie and been thinking of signing up for lightroom or indeed a similar program and been looking at various programs but rather than monthly fee so SKYLUM would be prefered if it would suit as i would prefer to buy a program as a 1 off- i do have Adobe photoshop CS3 but i will be 1st to admit i find that my skill level isnt great .

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

ron james wrote:

anybody members using SKYLUM - i am newbie and been thinking of signing up for lightroom or indeed a similar program and been looking at various programs but rather than monthly fee so SKYLUM would be prefered if it would suit as i would prefer to buy a program as a 1 off- i do have Adobe photoshop CS3 but i will be 1st to admit i find that my skill level isnt great .

I use Skylum (they have just changed their name from Luminar). I have been using it since it was first introduced and it is my main post processing program. I also have Affinity as well as Photos For Mac OS, but Luminar/Skylum is my go to program. They have a ton of tutorials that are well done and well presented.

ron james Loc: Cardiff Wales uk

thanks mac

just after i posted i noted that i can get a free weeks trial so this i will download

many thanks for input

vbr

ron

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

ron james wrote:

anybody members using SKYLUM - i am newbie and been thinking of signing up for lightroom or indeed a similar program and been looking at various programs but rather than monthly fee so SKYLUM would be prefered if it would suit as i would prefer to buy a program as a 1 off- i do have Adobe photoshop CS3 but i will be 1st to admit i find that my skill level isnt great .

Luminar 2018 (the company name changed but not the program name as far as I know) would probably be a very good program for you. It uses a large set of filters that you can pick and then alter as needed. I believe they have a 30-day trial, most programs do, so start with that. The program has wonderful algorithms that can even beat what Lightroom does.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

I use both Luminar and Aurora HDR from Skylum (formerly Macphun) and both are great. No complaints when run on a Mac, I have heard there were issues on the Window platform but they may have been sorted out by now.

ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

I use Luminar 2018 and Aurora HDR 2018, they are great products and much easier to learn than Adobe offerings. Luminar 2018 is scheduled to add a Digital Asset Manager (DAM) in 2018, this is a Photo Catalog to manage and keep track of your images.

ron james Loc: Cardiff Wales uk

many thanks Roni

i have downloaded both aurora and luminar for trial - i am going to peruse over weekend before deciding - in your opinion which would be better to go for aurora or luminar as i havent had time to look at the positives /negatives of either program - do they both perform similar roles ?

apoligise if this is a lazy question but i am not certain what i should be looking for and i found photoshop CS3 a bit difficult to use ..

vbr

ron

ronichas Loc: Long Island

It is hard to say. Aurora is an HDR program, but I never use the presets. I do all the adjustments myself. Luminar is an alternative to photoshop. I like to add the filters I want to use. I love the sunrays and have added it to an image.

ron james Loc: Cardiff Wales uk

thanks for input Roni - i didnt want to purchase luminar and the find for a few dollars more that Aurora was the better program - the photos i enjoy taking are landscapes and fish ! living on the edge of the beautiful Brecon Beacons you can never walk or indeed drive through without wanting to capture a view

i will let you know my thoughts after looking through trials of each program

vbr

ron

davefales Loc: Virginia

Great composition...without the imposed sun. Shadows on the riders' heads say the sun is to the left.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

davefales wrote:

Great composition...without the imposed sun. Shadows on the riders' heads say the sun is to the left.

ok, thanks for your input. I tried it on the left but the tree was totally blocking it. Most people looking are not as critical about the sun on the riders heads. Do you like this one better?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

ron james wrote:

anybody members using SKYLUM - i am newbie and been thinking of signing up for lightroom or indeed a similar program and been looking at various programs but rather than monthly fee so SKYLUM would be prefered if it would suit as i would prefer to buy a program as a 1 off- i do have Adobe photoshop CS3 but i will be 1st to admit i find that my skill level isnt great .

CS3! What computer & O/S are you using? Will it even run under 32-bit let alone 64-bit? I believe Adobe had Ps 1 to 7, then Ps CS1 to CS6, then to Ps CC. I'm using a late copy of Ps CS6 (via DVD-ROM) from just before Adobe went CC.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

ronichas wrote:

ok, thanks for your input. I tried it on the left but the tree was totally blocking it. Most people looking are not as critical about the sun on the riders heads. Do you like this one better?

I do. With ADHD I notice everything! No shadows anywhere?

leftj Loc: Texas

ron james wrote:

anybody members using SKYLUM - i am newbie and been thinking of signing up for lightroom or indeed a similar program and been looking at various programs but rather than monthly fee so SKYLUM would be prefered if it would suit as i would prefer to buy a program as a 1 off- i do have Adobe photoshop CS3 but i will be 1st to admit i find that my skill level isnt great .

I have been using Luminar 2018 which is Skylum and the Luminar generation before that. I have never been a photoshop or lightroom user so can't compare the two but I have to say I love Luminar 2018 and they keep improving it with frequent updates.

LarryFitz Loc: Beacon NY

Luminar for PC is a little behind the Mac version, but still a very good program. Watch you tube videos to reduce your learn curve time.