Luminar for MS Windows: I'm just starting to think processing in RAW and have no investment in Adobe, etc. After reading some reviews seems Luminar might be a good option, noting some...

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

I'm just starting to think processing in RAW and have no investment in Adobe, etc. After reading some reviews seems Luminar might be a good option, noting some discussion in past but with MAC platform. So wondering if anyone using Luminar on Windows platform and how's it working (fairly new to Microsoft Windows), I have Windows 10 Pro.

Larry J

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

luminar free trial: https://skylum.com/luminar-trial

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

ltj123 wrote:

I'm just starting to think processing in RAW and have no investment in Adobe, etc. After reading some reviews seems Luminar might be a good option, noting some discussion in past but with MAC platform. So wondering if anyone using Luminar on Windows platform and how's it working (fairly new to Microsoft Windows), I have Windows 10 Pro.

Larry J

Cool, new to Windows. You've started with the best version of Windows ever, Windows 10 Pro (64 bit). I wonder how many people were driven to MAC by Win 95 and Win Vista? I've got no info on Luminar. I've used Photoshop CS5 on a Mac at Adult Ed School and Photoshop CS6 on my PC.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Th early versions of Luminar for Windows were a little buggy, but they've straightened the program out. While my favorite pp program remains Photoshop, Luminar is my go to filter. The program can be used easily by anyone, and grow with you as your expertise increases. Highly recommend.

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

Thanks for replies, much appreciated!

jonjacobik Loc: Quincy, MA

I have Photoshop and Luminar 2018, and Affinity. I should have started with the Photoshop/Lightroom combination and not gone further. There are half a dozen alternatives to PS that are better than Luminar. If you have one photo processing software, get PS or try a half dozen free trials before you decide. Luminar just doesn't have all the flexibility of the other programs and channels you into their presets. There is a lot missing from Luminar.

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

Thanks, what I've seen in reviews is starting out with PS/LR can be quite difficult learning curve to start processing RAW. Maybe this assumption is wrong (?) I don't know.
I really want something I can use without allot of dealing with program learning. I worked in the computer industry for 36 years and frankly don't want to diagnose issues any more then have to nowadays.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Sorry, I use a Mac but can tell you the learning curve in Luminar is much less than PS/LR. So if you are in fact interested in less complexity you may just like it. Luminar's bw conversions are a snap if that interests you. Go for their free trial & see if it is to your liking. You have nothing to lose other than time trying it out. Good luck wherever you land.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Luminar for Windows has not quite caught up with Luminar for Mac. It still has a few bugs and some missing functionality that is in the Mac version but it gets better with each update.

jonjacobik Loc: Quincy, MA

If you are worried about learning curves, you might want to start out with Adobe Photoshop Elements. However, when you load a raw file into Photoshop, you get a screen with slides for: Temperature, Tint, brightness, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, blacks, clarity, vibrance, saturation.
You adjust the slides to suit you, click open image. Then under the file menu, export to save your image. Select a few options, jpg, tiff, etc. and you're done if that's as far as you want to take it.

leftj Loc: Texas

jonjacobik wrote:

I have Photoshop and Luminar 2018, and Affinity. I should have started with the Photoshop/Lightroom combination and not gone further. There are half a dozen alternatives to PS that are better than Luminar. If you have one photo processing software, get PS or try a half dozen free trials before you decide. Luminar just doesn't have all the flexibility of the other programs and channels you into their presets. There is a lot missing from Luminar.

"Channels you into their presets" A total miss-characterization of Luminar 2018. Presets are merely an option.

kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV

I currently have Luminar and Paint shop pro on my computer. Am still learning PSP but am now using Luminar for my RAW processing. Luminar has been steadily improved through updates and is very stable IMO. A soon to be added later this year will be a cataloguing feature which I look forward. As far as the presets you can apply them and still modify them to your tastes. This cuts your time in post considerably and the tutorials and webinars are excellent. It can be used as a stand alone of plugin. Try the free trial and see for yourself.

It can stand alone or be used as a p

LarryFitz Loc: Beacon NY

Get the trail version of Luminar, then look at Jim Nix youtube videos and decide yourself. I like the results I am getting form Windows standalone Luminar. It is easy to learn, masking and layers work well. There are some feature that are not yet available, but Skylum is been close to it update schedule.

As with any PP software you need a minimum of 8GB Ram, 16GB is better.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

LarryFitz wrote:

Get the trail version of Luminar, then look at Jim Nix youtube videos and decide yourself. I like the results I am getting form Windows standalone Luminar. It is easy to learn, masking and layers work well. There are some feature that are not yet available, but Skylum is been close to it update schedule.

As with any PP software you need a minimum of 8GB Ram, 16GB is better.

I have found some of the Youtube videos not helpful as most are done using the Mac version so that they cannot be followed in the Windows version due to differences or missing functions.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I have Luminar on a Mac, and I find it a bit slow and clunky. For that reason, I’m going to give ON1 a try. I’m not going to be tied to a monthly subscription. I’m running LR 5.7 now.