Luminar 4? Do any of you use Luminar 3? If so, how would you compare your experience with Luminar 3 to LR? I ask because I've signed up for the next Luminar release, Luminar 4.

CaptainBobBrown

Do any of you use Luminar 3? If so, how would you compare your experience with Luminar 3 to LR? I ask because I've signed up for the next Luminar release, Luminar 4. (Purchase license option instead of subscription only model Adobe's moving to appeals to me.)

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

My experience with Skylum products is that they do a poor job with fixes and updates after release.
For example, here is a screenshot of Aurora HDR 2019. Note the version is 1.0.0. and the product is a year old.
In the forums they promised over and over to produce patches for problem fixes over the year but never had.
Reading on luminar 3 shows it's a similar story.
If you haven't paid for 4 yet, I would wait until it's released and do the trial. If the trial performs to your liking, buy it. If not, pass.
Good Luck

(Download)

CaptainBobBrown

Hamltnblue,

Thanks very much for your quick response to my query on Luminar 3 & 4. I got sucked in by the many raving reviews about Luminar 4 new features and I should know better. However, I want to get started climbing it's learning curve cuz I don't want to be stuck not being able to upgrade to next OS release for iMacs since the current version of LR Classic won't run on it.

Bob Brown

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

I have both Aurora and Luminar 3, and have no issues with either - both run flawlessly. I use them as plugins to Photoshop, and have prepaid for Luminar 4. I don't think you need to be concerned about your purchase of Luminar 4.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

When Luminar 3 was released there were many that had major issues with it. I was one. The issue I had made the software unusable. It took 20 to 30 minutes to load the catalog. It has since been fixed.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I use Luminar 3 as a plug-in to LR, simply because like the LR catalog. I find myself going to L3’s features more and more and LR’s less and less. I have never had a problem with L3 and eagerly await L4. Go for it!

eadler

I've been using Luminar for several years and really like it. They new features on the soon to be released v.4 look very impressive. They updated v.3 (free) several times this year so its like sell and forget the customer.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have Luminar 4 and I love the sky replacement feature!!!! It is very easy to use, there are many replacement skies to choose from.
I will post 2 examples of before and after.
I have a code, pm me if interested.

efleck Loc: Vancouver, WA State

I have used Luminar 3 for several years as a plugin to LR. Luminar 3 is so much more capable and easy to use. As noted by another poster, I seldom use LR editing features; only use LR for its wonderful cataloging power. Does anyone know if Luminar 4 will have a cataloging function that is roughly equivalent to the cataloging ability of LR? Will Luminar 4 have the ability to import my entire LR catalogue with all keywords, etc.? Earl

Toment Loc: FL, IL

efleck wrote:

I have used Luminar 3 for several years as a plugin to LR. Luminar 3 is so much more capable and easy to use. As noted by another poster, I seldom use LR editing features; only use LR for its wonderful cataloging power. Does anyone know if Luminar 4 will have a cataloging function that is roughly equivalent to the cataloging ability of LR? Will Luminar 4 have the ability to import my entire LR catalogue with all keywords, etc.? Earl

Is the catalogue feature in Luminar3 not adequate?

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

In my quest to abandon Lightroom I've been toying with Luminar for a while but haven't landed on them as my principal go to software. They have had some issues and responded promptly to my requests. I did prepay for Luminar 4 but and wait to see how they do. I'm frustrated that as of yet there is no cr3 support so I've been leaning towards On 1. I like the multitude of video training they offer with the On1 Plus subscription and I certainly find it easier to do prints than Luminar.

Where all this goes I don't know and for sure there will be many opinions here

Happy Shooting

efleck Loc: Vancouver, WA State

To show my ignorance, I did not know that there was a catalogue feature in Luminar 3 that allows me to sort, add keywords, check metadata, etc. Also, is there a way to import a large LR catalog with keyworded photos going back 20+ years? Please ignore the apparent ignorance.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

efleck wrote:

To show my ignorance, I did not know that there was a catalogue feature in Luminar 3 that allows me to sort, add keywords, check metadata, etc. Also, is there a way to import a large LR catalog with keyworded photos going back 20+ years? Please ignore the apparent ignorance.

Sorry, I use Photos from Apple so I don’t need the catalog.

efleck Loc: Vancouver, WA State

Perhaps I will ask another question. Is there an alternative to Lightroom with its cataloging, keywording, sorting, and other functions? If one were to migrate to another program for cataloging will the entire catalog and all the info one has added over the years migrate to another program?

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Festus wrote:

When Luminar 3 was released there were many that had major issues with it. I was one. The issue I had made the software unusable. It took 20 to 30 minutes to load the catalog. It has since been fixed.

I was one of the users who had problems. I enjoyed Luminar 3, but when I purchased Luminar 3 and it wouldn’t work on my computer. Support was ineffective. I got a refund and abandoned Luminar.