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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Short answer: Luminar’s 1.28 redesign brings its catalog and editing tools into one workspace, and Skylum reports faster exports, preset previews, and masking with lower memory use. The review also previews a fall feature package, but those features were announced as upcoming—not confirmed as shipped. Skylum’s changelog lists a later 1.28.1 release, so the August redesign is not the latest version covered by the available release notes.
What is Luminar?
Luminar is Skylum’s photo editor, combining AI-assisted tools with conventional editing controls. Windows Report’s review describes it as an option for both quick, approachable adjustments and more deliberate editing, with tools for color and exposure, portraits, sky replacement, object removal, relighting, and creative effects. The review also describes standalone use and plugin workflows with common Adobe applications; check Skylum’s current compatibility documentation for supported versions and details.
Its reviewed tools include presets, AI masking, layers and non-destructive edits, GenErase, GenSwap and GenExpand, Enhance AI, Supersharp AI, Noiseless AI, Atmosphere AI, portrait tools, Bokeh AI, Studio Light, Restoration, and RAW development controls. Availability may depend on the license or plan; the review does not establish that every tool is included with every purchase option.
What changed in Luminar 1.28?
A redesigned editing workspace
Skylum’s changelog dates Luminar 1.28.0 to August 5, 2026, and describes the release as a fresh design. Catalog and Edit are combined in one space, while Presets, Tools, and Edit are grouped in a right-hand panel. Navigation adds breadcrumbs and back-and-forward movement between photos. An extra-tools area brings together GenErase, GenSwap, GenExpand, Upscale AI, HDR Merge, and Panorama Stitching. See Skylum’s Luminar changelog for the full release notes and subsequent version entries.
#1 Best Overall
- Get breathtaking photos in the blink of an eye. With powerful AI, you just discovered one of the most advanced photo software downloads available anywhere
- Powerful AI does the hard work for you. The photo editor software for Mac includes SkyAI, FaceAI, SkinAI, BodyAI, AtmosphereAI, and more to detect and enhance pretty much anything in your photo
- Skip the tutorials. We’ve kept the user interface of the photo editing software for Windows 10 simple. All photo enhancing software should be this easy to use
- Find your creative vision. With templates galore, you can find your signature look and create the perfect style for your photos. You haven’t seen lightroom photo editing software quite like this
- Built by Skylum. You can count on photo organizer software that’s both professional grade and easy to use
Camera support and performance claims
The 1.28.0 notes list support for Leica SL3-P, Leica M11-P, Panasonic Lumix DC-L10, Sony A7R VI, and Sony A7 V compressed RAW. Skylum also says exports are up to 27% faster, preset previews up to 3.8 times faster, and masking tools use up to 33% less memory in that release. These are vendor-reported figures, not independent benchmark results; they apply to the named tasks rather than establishing a general speed improvement for all editing.
The changelog’s later 1.28.1 entry reports batch export around 15% faster, Details up to 40% faster, and Bokeh AI about 15% faster. Those figures are also Skylum claims, and each refers to the particular task named in the release notes—not a measured increase across Luminar as a whole. Windows Report’s author says masking felt less taxing in their use, an individual impression rather than a reproducible performance test.
Rank #2
- Make your photos look better than ever with Lightroom (desktop, mobile, and web), and Lightroom Classic (desktop).
- Quick Actions instantly give you suggestions tailored to your photo so you can get the look you want.
- Remove anything in a click. Make distractions vanish with Generative Remove, powered by Adobe Firefly generative AI.
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What was announced for fall?
In an August 11, 2026 announcement, Skylum described the upgrade as a summer rollout followed by a second phase expected in fall. The announced plans included an updated AI Assistant, Improved Enhance, Atmosphere Fog, smarter Crop, and a browser-based Web Editor. The announcement does not establish that these features have since shipped; check the latest changelog or product interface before relying on their availability.
Skylum CEO Ivan Kutanin framed the update as technology supporting rather than replacing creative decisions: “Creative vision comes first; technology is here only to let it shine.” The full announcement is available from Skylum’s summer update post.
Rank #3
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- Easily edit digital photos and other images
- Crop, rotate, resize and flip photos
- Touch-up photos to remove red-eye, blemishes, reduce noise and more
- Adjust image color, hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, levels, curves and more
- Create collages and panoramas from multiple images
Is Luminar’s approach to AI editing a good fit?
The appeal is the combination of automated adjustments and controls that let a photographer refine the result. Presets and AI tools can speed up common edits, while layers, masks, RAW controls, and manual adjustments offer a path to more involved work. The trade-off is that a broad toolset and reorganized interface may take time to learn, and AI results are not guaranteed to suit every image or creative intent.
Independent editorial context is mixed rather than uniformly positive: Digital Camera World’s 2026 software guide praises some Luminar tools while noting uneven AI quality and an interface that may feel intimidating. Those are that publication’s judgments, not universal outcomes. Read its photo-editing software guide for its assessment.
Rank #4
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- Subscription-free photo editing and design software PLUS the ultimate creative suite including MultiCam Capture 2.0 Lite, 50 free modern fonts, Painter Essentials 8, PhotoMirage Express, Highlight Reel, Sea-to-Sky Workspace, and the Corel Creative Collection
- Use full-featured editing tools to correct and adjust photos, remove objects and flaws, and change backgrounds, plus enjoy AI-powered tools, edit RAW images with new AfterShot Lab, create HDR photos, batch process, and more
- Get creative with graphic design features like layers and masks, powerful selection, intuitive text, brushes, drawing and painting tools, hundreds of creative filters, effects, built-in templates, and the enhanced Frame Tool
- Choose from multiple customizable workspaces to edit photos with efficiency, plus take your underwater and drone photography to new heights with the Ultimate-exclusive Sea-to-Sky Workspace
- Import/export a variety of file formats, including Adobe PSD, get support for 64-bit third-party plug-ins and graphics tablets, and find learning resources in-product
What to check before choosing a Luminar license
Pricing and plan inclusions can change, so the review’s purchase details should not be treated as current. Before buying or upgrading, compare the options using the factors below and confirm them on Skylum’s live purchase page.
- Version and update access: Confirm which version is included and whether the announced fall features are available to that license.
- AI access: Check how long AI tools or subscription benefits remain available under the plan.
- Workflow: Verify supported platforms and devices, whether desktop-only access is sufficient, and whether the Adobe plugin workflow meets your needs.
- Long-term cost: Compare the initial price with update entitlements and any later upgrade costs; a perpetual license may still have limited update coverage.
Windows Report discloses that it may earn a commission through purchase links. Skylum’s official affiliate program is a separate option for reviewers, photographers, creators, and other partners: applications are reviewed, and approved affiliates receive links and promotional materials. Its page sets out the program’s current terms; applying does not itself guarantee approval.
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