Luminar Neo tutorial: add depth to Milky Way photos

This Luminar Neo tutorial works through a flat-looking Milky Way photo with a building in the foreground. The presenter explains how close sky tones, noise and light pollution can weaken definition. Although he discusses RAW development, the demonstration uses a compressed, stacked image. He notes that a RAW file would allow more editing latitude.

The edit starts with a virtual copy and a duplicate layer. The presenter keeps the original above the working layer, then uses Develop's Auto Adjust as a starting point before lowering exposure and adjusting black and white tones. In Noiseless AI, he chooses High after experimenting, rather than accepting the suggested middle setting.

Mask AI selects architecture and natural ground so Super Contrast can affect the foreground separately from the sky. A second Develop instance applies curves to the roof through an object mask. Histogram clipping indicators help him check dark and bright areas as he adjusts the image.

He adds restrained detail and Structure AI, lowers saturation slightly, raises vibrancy and applies a small amount of Mystical. The original top layer lets him moderate the overall edit strength. A final linear gradient confines an exposure adjustment to the house. The presenter treats the result as a subjective choice and says astrophotography is not his specialty.