Luminar Neo tutorial: seven edits and mask refinements

This Luminar Neo tutorial follows seven editing techniques on a photograph of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon. The speaker starts with a RAW image that already has Develop RAW, Super Contrast and Light Depth adjustments, plus some people removed.

The first two edits use Structure AI differently: added texture for the sand and rock, then softening for the sky. A luminosity mask limits the first adjustment to darker areas. An object mask selects the sky for the second. The speaker demonstrates feathering and Shift Edge, described as spring-release masking features, to smooth the selection and reduce a halo around the rock and horizon. He notes that the mask still needs careful adjustment.

Accent AI with a radial gradient adds emphasis to the rock. Golden Hour then warms brighter areas selected through a luminosity mask, while Toning adds a red or pink tint to the highlights without a separate mask. Mystical targets the darker foreground and rock to add softness without brightening the sky.

The demonstration also distinguishes mask feathering from tonal selection: feathering acts on the mask already created and can extend its coverage into nearby brighter areas. The final vignette darkens the edges and places Inner Light around the rock and its reflection through Choose Subject. These are the speaker's editing choices for this photograph, with before-and-after comparisons throughout.