A Beginner’s Guide to Editing Landscapes in Luminar Neo

In this blog I give my initial thoughts, and a brief workflow for how to get started with editing your landscape photos in Luminar Neo. Note that I'm still learning how to get the best out of Neo, so this is very much a beginner's guide, since that is what I still am! It covers the process I’m using myself at the moment, and is deliberately basic so you can get good results without getting lost in menus. If you're not sure whether Luminar Neo is right for you, check out this previous blog on whether it might be.

Step 1 – Open your photo in Luminar Neo

When you open Luminar Neo you’ll start in the Catalog view (red figure 1 above).

From here, use Add Photos (2 above) to bring in the image you want to work on, then switch to the Edit view (3 above) to begin editing.

In the Edit view, your tools are listed down the right‑hand side of the screen (3 below). Each time you apply a tool, it’s added to the Edits list (4 below), so you can reopen and adjust any of those edits later.

Step 2 – Fix the basics 

Before you touch anything creative, do a quick tidy‑up:

• Use the Crop tool (see screenshot below) to straighten the horizon and trim away any obvious distractions at the edges.

• Turn on lens corrections (distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberration) so the photo looks clean and natural. These can be found under the 'Develop Tool' under 'Optics'

  
  

If the whole image is clearly too dark or too bright, adjust the main Exposure slider first (again, this can be found under the 'Develop' tool). Once overall exposure feels roughly right, you can move on.

Step 3 –Try a preset for a quick "jump start"

Neo includes a range of Presets” that apply a whole look in one click (see 6 below)

• Browse through the preset suggestions Neo offers for your image.

• Click on one that looks promising and use the strength slider to dial it back if it looks too strong.

• In the image below, the Long Exposure Preset has been applied and dialled back to 50% (see 7).

Presets are a great way to get a starting point. Think of them as a base layer: once applied, you can still tweak individual tools to suit your taste. If necessary, you can then go back into Edit to make further adjustments.

Step 4 – Use the smart tools instead of lots of tiny sliders

One of the big advantages of Neo is that you can lean on a few AI‑assisted tools instead of endlessly adjusting brightness, contrast and clarity yourself.

After you’ve set basic exposure, try this order:

• Enhance AIUse the Accent slider as a general “polish”: it gently boosts contrast, clarity and colour. Push it up until the image looks better, then back it off a little. Less is more here.

• Landscape toolThis includes options like Dehaze, and Golden Hour. Try small adjustments: a touch of Dehaze for a misty distance, a little Golden Hour for warm light. Avoid maxing these out – it’s very easy to overdo it.

• Sky AIThis can be used in two ways. First, to subtly enhance a real sky (a bit more detail and colour). Second, to replace the sky completely (although I don't do this, you can try it if you wish!). For this simple beginner workflow I’d recommend using it gently, if at all – aim to enhance what was actually there rather than dropping in dramatic skies every time.

• Light Depth toolThis tool lets you reshape where the light falls in your photo, almost as if you were moving a spotlight around the scene. You can shift the bright area forwards or backwards in the image so that more light falls on your main subject and less on the background, which helps draw the eye and add depth. It’s a simple way to emphasise what matters in the frame without complex masking.

In the image below, the Light Depth tool has been used to accentuate the light over the town.

There are a lot of tools and sliders in Neo. You absolutely do not need to use them all. In fact, the danger for beginners is doing too much. A few small, thoughtful changes nearly always look better than a long list of heavy effects.

Step 5 – Less is more (and how to revisit your edits)

A good habit is to stop regularly and compare before and after.

• Toggle the before/after view (the eye symbol at the bottom of the main panel and on each tool - see 8 ( 9 below).

• Ask yourself: “Does this still feel like the place I was standing?” If not, dial things back.

  
  

One really nice feature of Neo is that your edits are non‑destructive – they do not change your original file. Each time you apply a tool, it is added to a stack of edits for that image.

If you want to tweak something you did earlier:

• Look at the top of the tools panel and switch from Tools to Edits.

• You’ll see a list of the tools you’ve already used on that photo.

• Click any tool in that list to reopen it and adjust the sliders, or turn it off if you’ve changed your mind.

  
  

This makes it very forgiving: you can experiment knowing that you can always come back and fine‑tune things later.

Step 6 – Cleaning up distractions

For simple distractions like sensor dust spots in the sky, the Erase tool does a perfectly good job.

• Zoom in and work your way across the sky to remove little dark circles or marks.

• It’s also fine for tiny bits of litter or small bright patches on rocks.

However, Neo’s Erase tool isn’t great for removing more complex objects like people, cars or signposts. For that kind of detailed object removal, Lightroom (or Photoshop) is still far superior, with more precise tools and better control. Think of Neo’s Erase as a quick tidy‑up brush, not a full retouching system.

Step 7 – Exporting your finished image

Once you’re happy with your edit, you’ll want to create a new file that includes your changes.

• Go to the export option (often labelled Export or similar).

• Choose a format such as JPEG for sharing online.

• Pick a sensible size: full‑size if you might print it, or a smaller resolution if it’s just for web and email.

• Give the file a new name so you can tell it apart from the original (for example, “Filename‑Neo‑edit.jpg”).

Remember, your original file remains untouched in the background. What you’re exporting is a new version that includes all the edits in your tools stack.

Final words

Editing landscape photos doesn’t have to be complicated. With a simple sequence and a light touch, you can quickly turn a flat‑looking file into something much closer to how the scene felt on the day, or you can get creative to create the look that you want.

The tools in Luminar Neo are there to help, not to overwhelm. Start with basic exposure, try a preset, then use a few of the smarter tools like Enhance AI, Landscape, Sky and Light Depth to gently shape the light and mood. Remember that less is more, and you can always revisit your edits in the Edits panel without ever harming the original file.

Most importantly, treat this as a bit of creative play. The more you experiment, the more you’ll discover your own style – and the more satisfying your landscape images will become.

Want help getting started with editing your landscapes?

If you're new to editing and want help getting started with either Adobe Lightroom or Luminar Neo, check out my 1-2-1 courses here.

About Gary Holpin Photography

As a professional photographer based in Devon, my journey began along the stunning South West Coast Path. Disappointed with my initial attempts to capture its beauty, I embarked on a second 630-mile journey, this time dedicated to mastering photography. Today, I'm a nationally acclaimed photographer with award-winning landscape photos.

I specialize in providing top-notch property photography, business photography, and drone photography services to businesses across the South West. Additionally, I offer comprehensive photography training courses tailored for both businesses and individuals. Whether you're looking to enhance your corporate image or improve your personal photography skills, my training programs are designed to help you capture stunning images.

As an award-winning and widely published photographer, I frequently share my passion for photography and Devon through engaging talks at local camera clubs and community groups. My expertise spans the entire South West region, ensuring that clients from Devon, Dorset & Somerset benefit from high-quality photography services and training.