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Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018

Some examples of what the new Accent AI filter in Luminar 2018 does.

Categories: Software

Last updated about 4 months ago // Originally published about 3 years ago

With the new Luminar 2018 about to be released I thought it worth taking a look at some of the new features. There’s much new in this version, and the developers have clearly been putting a lot of work in. Luminar has been coming along in leaps and bounds, and it’s now a genuine alternative to Lightroom.

I’m focusing here on one specific new feature I was curious about: the new Accent AI filter.

Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018

Macphun have been specialists in plugins and presets for a while, and Luminar 2018 is jam-packed with them by default. This one is a little different. They claim that it analyzes the image and applies the best combination of changes to provide the best results to enhance the image. So it applies a bunch of different effects in a variable way. All with a single slider.

It’s one of those filters that works best for adding some punch to otherwise drab shots. Maybe the lighting wasn’t good or it was a dreary, overcast day.

The Accent AI filter punches up the local contrast to help add definition. It also adds what amounts to a graduated ND filter, slightly darkening the top of the image and lightening the bottom, something that’s very effective for adding drama to skies. Overall, it adds punch but not so much that the results looks overly processed.

It’s easy to use–it’s a single slider–so there’s not too much that can go wrong. And, of course, it can be used alongside the other processing tools in Lumar.

To check out what the effect was, I ran it over some photos to create before/after comparisons. These after shots are all only with the Accent AI filter and no other changes. They’re also with the filter ramped up to the max, which often results in more intensity than I’d typically use. But it’s also a good way to see what the effects of the filter are.

Examples Using Lumar 2018’s Accent AI filter


Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018

Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018


Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018

Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018


Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018

Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018


Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018

Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018


[caption id="attachment_22512" align="aligncenter" width="678"]Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018 A beautiful sunset in the Caribbean with a palm tree and sailing boat silhoetted against the setting sun.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_22511" align="aligncenter" width="678"]Examples Using the New Accent AI Filter in Luminar 2018 A beautiful sunset in the Caribbean with a palm tree and sailing boat silhoetted against the setting sun.[/caption]

Does it Work?

It’s a nice new option to have. It provides a quick and easy way to add some punch to photos that might otherwise be flat. And while it’s certainly possible to get much the same result with individual settings and filters, the simplicity and speed of this one-stop approach is hard to beat.

It’s especially suited to landscape shots where you want to add some drama to the skies and add some detail and light to darker foregrounds. Something I like about it is that it doesn’t overcook the image with saturation, which some of the one-click enhancement filter have a tendency to do.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on December 14, 2020

Categories: Software

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News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

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