Masking lets you control where your edits are applied, so you can adjust specific parts of your photo without affecting the whole image.
1. Open your photo
Upload your image in Luminar Neo. Go to the Edit tab → open any tool you want to use.
2. Select a mask
Open the Masking tab and choose a method:
• Brush — paint areas manually
• Gradient — create smooth transitions
• Mask AI / Object Select AI — select objects automatically
3. Apply your adjustment
Make the changes you need—exposure, color, or detail—before refining them with masking.
4. Refine and finish
Soften edges with Mask Feather and adjust opacity for seamless, natural-looking results. Refine your edit or combine masks for full control over your final image.
Mask AI gives you precise control over specific areas in your image, helping you speed up editing and achieve cleaner, more professional results across different workflows.
Portrait retouching
Work directly on skin, hair, or background without affecting the rest of the image. Smooth skin, adjust tones, or refine lighting while keeping everything natural and detailed — no harsh edges or overprocessed look.
Quickly isolate your subject to enhance lighting, improve colors, or sharpen details. Keep the background clean while making your product stand out — ideal for e-commerce, ads, and catalog images.
Edit skies, interiors, or specific zones of a property with precision. Brighten rooms, enhance outdoor areas, or fix exposure issues without impacting the entire image.
Create eye-catching visuals faster by isolating subjects and applying targeted effects. Add depth, boost contrast, or experiment with creative edits that help your content stand out in the feed.
Separate subjects from the background in seconds to swap scenes, improve compositions, or build more polished visuals. Perfect for creative projects, marketing assets, and visual storytelling.
Enjoy 1-year free access for 1000+ creative assets (Presets, Skies, LUTs, Overlays) and video courses; renews at $49 per year thereafter, cancel anytime.
Your extra 10% OFF is waiting — copy the code below and apply it at checkout, but hurry, it expires in just 15 minutes!
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Order Summary
Perpetual Desktop License
$119.00
$238.00
Desktop for Windows/MacOS and full access to all generative tools for one year.
Luminar Neo Video Course
Auto-upgrades
renewal in 1 year for $33.00
$0.00
$33.00
Get every new paid feature automatically.
Enjoy full access to all generative tools.
Free for 1 year. Charges apply after.
Total due now:
$119.00
Lock Savings. Upgrade 20% Off
Auto-upgrades
renewal in 1 year for $33.00
$0.00
$33.00
Get every new paid feature automatically.
Enjoy full access to all generative tools.
Free for 1 year. Charges apply after.
Order Summary
Cross-device Perpetual License
$149.00
$385.00
Desktop for Windows/MacOS and full access to all generative tools for one year.
Mobile App for iOS/Android/ChromeOS
Luminar Neo Video Course
Auto-upgrades
renewal in 1 year for $49.00
$0.00
$49.00
Get every new paid feature automatically.
Enjoy full access to all generative tools.
Free for 1 year. Charges apply after.
Total due now:
$149.00
Lock Savings. Upgrade 20% Off
Auto-upgrades
renewal in 1 year for $49.00
$0.00
$49.00
Get every new paid feature automatically.
Enjoy full access to all generative tools.
Free for 1 year. Charges apply after.
Order Summary
Perpetual Max License
$164.99
$549.97
Desktop for Windows/MacOS and full access to all generative tools for one year.
Mobile App for iOS/Android/ChromeOS
Luminar Neo Video Course
Auto-upgrades
renewal in 1 year for $59.00
$0.00
$59.00
Get every new paid feature automatically.
Enjoy full access to all generative tools.
Free for 1 year. Charges apply after.
Total due now:
$164.99
Lock Savings. Upgrade 20% Off
Auto-upgrades
renewal in 1 year for $59.00
$0.00
$59.00
Get every new paid feature automatically.
Enjoy full access to all generative tools.
Free for 1 year. Charges apply after.
100 Creative Add-ons
Prism Light Overlays
Overlays Pack by Team Skylum
Experimental Overlays
Overlays Pack by Team Skylum
Land of the Rising Sun
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Camping Trip
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Is It Earth
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Discover Latin America
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Discover Africa
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
American Dream
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Middle Eastern Folk Tales
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Wonderful Scandinavia
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
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Prism Light Overlays
Overlays Pack by Team Skylum
Create atmospheric images with these 10 Overlays in JPEG format that contain shimmering lights and flares in various colors. Make sure to use them with Luminar Neo’s Layers and/or the Portrait Background Removal tool, and experiment with your photos in any genre. You can add an interesting light effect or make the subject stand out in new ways, all in just a few clicks. Time to try it out!
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Experimental Overlays
Overlays Pack by Team Skylum
Feel like adding a touch of something extra to your photos? Discover these 10 Experimental Overlays in JPEG format that you can easily use with Luminar Neo’s Layers feature to transform any photo into a shot that catches the eye. Choose from 10 mesmerizing effects of different colors and shapes, and create a unique mood in a few clicks. From pink hues to golden circles, you’ll certainly find an Overlay perfect for your next masterpiece.
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Land of the Rising Sun
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Enhance photos that you captured during a trip to Japan, or the ones that you want to have an atmospheric feeling reminiscent of the Japanese style. From landscapes, to iconic sights, to photos of food — this pack is incredibly versatile!
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Camping Trip
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Designed to give your camping and hiking photos their best look, these 10 Presets are here to give your outdoor photos a natural, vibrant look. Whether you’re capturing shots of majestic mountains or cozy campfires, bring out the best in your images in one click.
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Is It Earth
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Is it still Earth, or are we on an alien planet? This collection of 10 extraordinary Presets is designed to give your landscape photos an ethereal, otherworldly feel. Transform ordinary landscapes into surrealistic scenes with vivid colors that will immediately draw the viewer’s eye.
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Discover Latin America
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Experience the cinematic feel each of these 10 Presets adds to your photos as you journey through the countries of Latin America. Embrace the beauty and add some flair to your shots with this travel-friendly collection designed for landscapes.
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Discover Africa
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Dedicated to the wonderful continent of Africa, this pack combines a variety of Presets, both for portrait and landscape shots. Enhance landmarks, safari shots, architecture photos, and portraits of people that you meet on your travels around Africa.
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American Dream
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Create fantastic photos during your travels across the USA. Enhance images of landmarks, national parks, and general cityscapes of famous cities. Achieve various stunning effects with a few clicks of these 10 wonderful Presets.
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Middle Eastern Folk Tales
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
This alluring collection of 10 Presets is designed to bring out the mysterious beauty of Middle Eastern scenery, architecture, street style, and nature. Warm-toned, deep yellow, or blue and golden — you will certainly find a Preset perfect for your photo.
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Wonderful Scandinavia
Presets Pack by Team Skylum
Discover this wonderful collection of 10 versatile Presets that are perfect for your travel photos from Nordic countries. Capture idyllic landscapes, natural wonders, and cozy architectural shots that breathe with the Scandinavian mood. Time to pack your travel bag!
Luminar Neo Video Course
About Course
What you'll learn?
Watch the process
Get photos like these
Creator
Creative Photo Editing Techniques in Luminar Neo
by Albert Dros
10 tutorial videos
12 hand-picked Presets included
Creative editing tutorial included
Join Dutch landscape photographer Albert Dros in this course as he shares his extraordinary passion for planning and creating unique shots. In these ten videos, you'll gain insights into what makes or breaks a photo. Albert provides step-by-step guidance on editing techniques that will elevate your photography skills. Plus, as a special bonus, you’ll receive a free pack of 12 hand-picked presets by Albert Dros to help you create mesmerizing images. Unlock the secrets to breathtaking landscape photography and transform your shots into stunning masterpieces with Albert’s expert instruction.
Introduction & Course Outline
Albert Dros introduces himself and gives a quick overview of what you will learn in this photography and...
Introduction to Photography
What should you focus on when taking your photos to get the best results?
Basic Editing
Albert introduces the layout of Luminar Neo and the basic instruments you can use to achieve great results instantly.
Advanced Editing
Going in depth, Albert shows you the more advanced tools in Luminar Neo and how to use them to make your photos stand out.
Dramatic Editing
Get creative with your photos! Albert edits a photo with more creative tools to bring forward its dramatic aspects and breathe new life into it.
Focus Stacking
Luminar Neo has Extensions that let you get even more impressive results. In this video, you will learn how to do focus stacking with Luminar Neo’s Focus Stacking Extension.
Cityscapes
What makes or breaks a cityscape shot? Take a look at how to transform a photo from Dubai from ordinary to impressive.
Forests
Find out what Luminar Neo tools Albert uses to make his impressive signature forest photos. Look out for Atmosphere AI, Sunrays, and other tools!
Presets
Learn to use Presets to quickly get interesting color solutions in your photos. Albert guides you through using Presets to make even more beautiful forest shots.
Course Summary
Get a quick summary of everything you have learned in this course. Happy creating!
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Albert Dros
PHOTOGRAPHER, WRITER AND EDUCATOR
Albert Dros is a Dutch landscape photographer who has an extraordinary passion to plan and create unique shots. Volcanoes, solar eclipses and unique aspects of nature draw his attention. He doesn’t just go for the simple shot.
"Go big or go home" is his motto, always trying to add some unique element to his shots.
His work has been recognized on a worldwide scale and he has been published worldwide in the biggest media outlets.
Albert travels a lot as a photo educator but also for personal projects. But even in The Netherlands, he can’t stop photographing. His inspiration never stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is photo masking?
Masking edits is a convenient technique to keep parts of an image untouched while selecting objects for enhancement.
Why are select and mask not working?
A traditional photo editing app with a masking tool can typically only select human figures automatically. Luminar Neo automatically masks nine types of objects that are recognized by the AI at its core. If you don’t see the list of masks Luminar Neo probably doesn’t recognize the objects in your photo. Try a different one!
Can I copy a mask to another layer?
Yes, if you duplicate a layer, the mask is duplicated too.
What types of masks can I use?
There's a big variety! The Luminar Neo photo editor detects up to nine separate elements in an image for the perfect mask: people, skies, buildings, vehicles, water, plants, mountains, and both natural and artificial ground.
Can I customize a masked image?
Of course! You can create any art you want with the help of AI masking. Additionally, you can use various brushes with your mask, such as the gradient brush. Fill the mask or play with transparency and blend it with other parts of the image. Luminar Neo is valuable for photography as well as graphic design.
What is masking AI?
Mask AI is a smart tool that eliminates the tedious and time-consuming work of manual masking. Mask AI not only recognizes the main subject but automatically detects separate elements in a photo: people, skies, architecture, transportation, flora, water, mountains, natural ground, and artificial ground. When you press Mask AI, Luminar Neo automatically detects all the elements that are present in your photo. Then you can effortlessly apply the mask simply pressing the button with the name of the element that you want to mask. Additionally, in the Mask Actions tab you can show, fill, clear, copy, paste or invert the detected mask.
What is masking in photo editing?
Masking in photo editing refers to the process of selectively hiding or revealing certain portions of an image. It involves creating a "mask" that determines which parts of the image should be visible and which parts should be concealed. It's handy for applying adjustments only to a part of the image.
Can I mask an image with different types of objects using the Mask AI tool?
Absolutely! Using the Luminar Neo's image masking tool, you can mask a picture with different objects. The AI-driven approach makes it even easier and more precise than manual masking, especially for complex shapes or intricate details.
Why Luminar Neo is the best AI masking tool?
Luminar Neo gives you full control over RAW files while making advanced editing faster with AI. It delivers high-quality RAW processing, non-destructive editing, layers, and precise color and light tools, combined with AI features that simplify complex adjustments without sacrificing image quality.
Who can benefit from Luminar Neo AI masking?
Luminar Neo is built for photographers who shoot in RAW and want both quality and efficiency. It's ideal for landscape, portrait, travel, and commercial photographers, as well as enthusiasts who want professional-grade results without a steep learning curve.
Why Luminar Neo photo masking software is trusted by photographers?
Photographers trust Luminar Neo because it handles RAW files with professional precision while offering powerful creative and AI tools in one environment. Developed by Skylum, Luminar Neo is used worldwide for serious photo editing workflows and reliable, high-quality results.
Unleash your creativity with signature AI tools.
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SkyAI
Replace or enhance the sky in your photos in seconds while keeping lighting and reflections realistic.
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BokehAI
Add natural background blur after the shot to create depth and make your subject stand out.
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Light Depth
Adjust lighting in your image and control exposure across foreground and background independently.
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Erase
Remove unwanted objects, distractions, or imperfections seamlessly with AI-powered cleanup.
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SkinAI
Smooth skin, remove imperfections, and keep natural texture for clean, realistic portraits.
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EnhanceAI
Automatically improve color, contrast, and detail with one slider for a balanced, polished look.
App Requirements
macOS
Mac Model
MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac mini, early 2010 or newer
Processor
CPU Intel® Core™ i5 8 Gen or better
OS version
macOS 12.0 or higher.
RAM
Memory 8 GB RAM or more (16+ GB RAM is recommended)
Disk space
Hard disk 10 GB free space; SSD for best performance
Display
1280x768 size or better
Windows
Hardware
Windows-based hardware PC with mouse or similar input device
Processor
CPU Intel® Core™ i5 8 Gen or better, AMD Ryzen™ 5 or better
OS version
10 version 1909 or higher (only 64-bit OS)
RAM
Memory 8 GB RAM or more (16+ GB RAM is recommended)
Disk space
Hard disk 10 GB free space; SSD for best performance
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