While Adobe provides generative AI models to professional photographers and designers, other companies are working to make easy-to-use generative AI tools available to a wide range of photographers, including hobbyists. Starting today, luminar neophoto editing software skyram (formerly Macphun) is rolling out a suite of generative AI capabilities into a desktop app for Mac and Windows. This allows users to remove unwanted objects from images, expand the canvas, and replace or add certain elements to photos.
This tool is similar in some ways to Google Photos’ Magic Editor and Magic Eraser, or Adobe’s own Generative Fill tool. The difference with Adobe’s Generative Fill is that Luminar Neo does not offer his one tool, but his two tools: GenErase and GenSwap. Also, there is no need to use a text prompt field. Instead, the user selects the area on the image to remove and clicks “Erase”. However, unlike Adobe’s Generative Fill, you can’t choose the options for the result. To get a different result, the user must click the “Erase” button again.
Founded in 2008 as Macphun by game developers and amateur photographers Paul Muzok and Dima Sytnik, the company, now known as Skylum, was originally named one of Apple’s Best Apps of the Year in 2009. The company focused on iOS applications such as Vintage Video Maker, which it recognized as one of the best.
The team went on to develop about 60 other iOS apps over the years, but were always drawn to photography. As a result, the team released his first Mac app, his FX Photo Studio Pro, in 2010, with downloads topping his 50 million mark. Mac also launches other image editing apps like Snapheal, Intensify, Tonality, Noiseless, Auora HDR, and later integrates several apps. creative kit. Photo editing software Luminar was born in his 2016. And when he rebranded to Skylum in 2018, the team started focusing solely on the Luminar project.
Image credits: skyram
The idea of Luminar was to create a photo editing software for desktop users that could perform complex tasks in an easy way. The latest version of this app was released in . 2022 as Lumina Neo, its user base is primarily hobby photographers. However, the company says a small number of professionals also use the app. For example, they note that some commercial photographers tend to use Luminar Neo as a plugin for Lightroom or Photoshop.
With the rise of generative AI models for image editing, the team wanted to build this functionality into the product to make photo editing even easier. The plan is to release one generative AI tool every month until the end of 2023, starting with GenErase on October 26th.
GenSwap (replaces an element) and GenExpand (expands the canvas) will be released on November 16th and December 14th, respectively.
Image credits: skyram
“Although all three generation features we are releasing this year are based on the same technology, we have created three separate features because changing the parameters in combination can yield different results and address different end-user use cases. “We decided to do that,” Ivan Kutanin, CEO of Ukraine-based Skylum, explained in an email interview with TechCrunch.
These models are based on stable diffusion, but Kutanin said the company also uses its own Upscale AI model and other models in a single pipeline, which allows the software to adjust the resolution of the images produced. and quality can be improved. Currently, he says, it offers image resolutions up to 1536×1536. Photoshop for comparison the current provide
Resolution 1024×1024.
The processing itself takes place in the cloud, so an internet connection is required for the app to work. However, the company does not store either input or output images to protect customer privacy.
The company hopes ease of use will differentiate its software from other companies offering similar generative AI tools.
Image credits: skyram
“Luminar Neo is the latest generation of photo editing software, with around 40 complex AI models as part of its architecture, which makes it truly powerful. What we are best known for is our ease of use. And it’s easy to get started, even for complete beginners,” says Kutanin. “Since a large part of our user base is photography enthusiasts, we focused on the user interface and making it as comfortable and fresh as possible,” he said. I added.
The software is available at multiple price points for both new and existing users. After October 28th, it’s $14.95 per month, $119 per year, or $179 for two years. Lifetime passes are available for $299. It comes with a “Creative Journey Path” that has a deadline to use new generative AI features until August 16, 2024. After that, you’ll need to purchase or switch to a new Creative Journey Pass. subscription.
For current users, upgrades are slightly cheaper, with a one-year plan starting at $79 for the first year and $99 annually after October 28th. Other discounts are available if you purchase before October 28th.
The company has never raised external funding, has been profitable in recent years, and employs a team of over 120 people.