Skip to main content

RAW photo editor Luminar is now up to 12 times faster with Jupiter upgrade

Skylum

Photo editing platform Luminar just got faster. On Thursday, April 12, Skylum launched Luminar 2018 Jupiter, a speed-focused upgrade for the company’s photo editor and RAW processor. The company boasts speed improvements of up to five times on Windows and up to 12 times on Mac and claims improved RAW conversion with the update as well.

Mac users will see the biggest speed improvements when using the Details Enhancer tool on large files, like the 12-times speed improvement on the tool when working with a 72 Mb file from the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Working with a similar file size, RAW develop speed sees a 9.8-times improvement. Filters like the golden hour filter, polarizer, and dehaze see a six- to seven-times boost. RAW imports are about 4.6 times faster. Speed will also vary based on hardware — Skylum used a MacBook with an Intel Core i7 processor, 1536 GB GPU to generate those numbers.

Luminar’s move over into the Windows space is a bit more recent (and with some features missing), but users on a Windows platform will also see a speed boost. Compared to the previous version, Jupiter is up to 2.4 times faster in RAW develop, with filters, details enhancer, LUT mapping and color adjustments in the HSL panel between three to five times faster.

Along with the speed boost, the editing software also sees an improved conversion on those RAW files. Skylum says that the conversion is more accurate at calculating exposure. Gradients are also cleaner, the company says. The update also sees fewer artifacts like halos and chromatic aberration, along with expanding support to new cameras.

Automatic lens corrections, like the enhanced RAW engine, are available on both Mac and PC.

The Windows version, which just launched last year, is also beginning to catch up with the older Mac version with a handful of features, including batch processing and remote sharing. Skylum also enhanced the clone and masking tools and expanded workflow options through plugins.

“Our loyal community of users continues to offer ideas for additional features that would benefit their respective workflows, and we continued to listen, learn, and improve,” Alex Tsepko, CEO of Skylum, said in a press release. “Our goal is to produce a fast, easy, and feature-rich imaging software that can offer both single-click solutions as well as custom functions for those [that] want absolute control.”

The Jupiter update is still part of Luminar 2018 — which means that current users of the 2018 version can upgrade for free. Owners of Luminar 2017 can upgrade for $49 and new users can download the software for $69.

Luminar launched less than two years ago and has since seen several changes. The company rebranded from Macphun when adding Windows compatibility last year. Luminar is also expected to gain file management features during 2018.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
Macphun Luminar 2018 review
Macphun Luminar 2018 makes complex photo editing look like child’s play
Luminar 2018 review

"Luminar 2018 simplifies photo-editing for amateurs and pros."
Editing a photo can be as easy as applying a one-tap filter in Instagram or as complex as creating a multilayered piece of artwork in Adobe Photoshop. Macphun Luminar 2018 is the in-between, covering the gamut from easy to advanced.

We had a sneak peek of the product back in October, but the company announced the final product will be available on November 16, 2017 (discounted pre-orders are being taken now). In addition, the once Mac-only software will come to Windows, however, certain features will not show up in the Windows version until later. (The company will also change its name from Macphun to Skylum in 2018, to reflect its new position as a multi-platform developer).

Read more
Luminar is a Photoshop alternative designed specifically for Mac users
macphun luminar all in one photo editing app photoshop img 0050 2

Macphun, a photography software company that creates Apple-specific applications, has officially unveiled Luminar, its first all-in-one photo editing app.

Until now, Macphun has specialized in one-off apps that focus on various editing techniques and styles. Luminar is the company's first attempt at creating an all-in-one solution for photographers designed to "tackle any of your photography needs, and provide you with the ultimate photo editing comfort."

Read more
Macphun Luminar takes complexity out of photo editing, but retains the power
Macphun Luminar screenshot

Updated December 15, 2016: Macphun has issued a significant update to Luminar that addresses one of our original complaints and adds several new features. First and foremost, the application now offers batch processing, so the same edits can be applied to multiple photos at once. Previously, users would need to save their settings a preset, then apply that preset one-by-one to each additional photo.

As for new features, there are two that stand out. A new Golden Hour filter that mimics the warm sunlight of late-evening settings, regardless of the actual time of exposure, will be welcome for landscape shooters. Also, in taking a cue from Adobe, Macphun has created a new Dehaze filter for Luminar that helps clean up foggy mornings or hazy cityscapes. Other add-ons include an improved white balance tool, improved presets sharing, and more.

Read more