The latest version of Luminar Neo, including the 1.25.0 and 1.26.0 updates, brings plenty of improvements. As usual with Skylum’s software, they’re aimed at making editing faster, smarter, and more intuitive. From creative tools to performance boosts and cross-platform editing, Skylum continues evolving Neo into a flexible editing ecosystem.

One standout feature introduced in version 1.25.0 is Light Depth. This new tool is designed to bring more realism and depth to your photos without the need for manual masking or complex workflows. So, let’s jump in and see what it offers, along with other improvements and updates to the app.

A Quick Look at Luminar Neo

In case you’re new to Luminar Neo, let me briefly introduce it. It’s an AI-driven photo editor that combines plenty of powerful features with an intuitive workflow. The goal is to help photographers achieve professional results without spending hours in post, learning and using overly complex tools. You still have control over your edits, but otherwise dull and complex tasks are now much faster to perform.

With mobile and desktop versions available, Luminar Neo is a cross-platform experience. You can start an edit on your phone, continue on your desktop, and keep every mask and adjustment in place thanks to real-time sync.

With the latest updates, Luminar Neo adds tools like Spaces for instant photo galleries, Restoration for reviving damaged images, and the latest highlight: Light Depth.

What Is Light Depth?

Light Depth is a pretty advanced tool that adds a nuanced, realistic effect to your images. Instead of adding contrast or brightness across the entire 2D photo, Light Depth analyzes your photo in 3D. In other words, it generates a depth map, figuring out what’s in the foreground and what’s farther away.

Once the analysis is done, you can enhance lighting with a simple sider in a way that feels spatially accurate. Think of it like subtle dodging and burning, but smarter and far more natural-looking. Whether you’re editing portraits, still life, or any other genre of photos, this tool helps you add realistic lighting depth that enhances dimension and mood without looking artificial.

[Related Reading: A visual approach to the Inverse Square Law and how it affects photographers]

Why is Luminar NEO’s Light Depth Helpful?

Most photo editors treat images as flat layers. If you want to enhance lighting, you either apply adjustments across the whole image or spend time carefully masking. Light Depth skips that hassle by using AI to understand your image’s structure.

Here’s what makes it genuinely useful:

• It gives your photo a more “three-dimensional feel”
• You don’t need to manually paint masks or duplicate layers
• It’s subtle when you want it to be, but if you want dramatic results, you can go for that too

Applying Light Depth lets you guide the viewer’s eye and adds richness to your edit without diving into complicated workflows.

More Updates and Innovations

While Light Depth takes the spotlight in version 1.25.0, Skylum quickly followed it with another major release: Luminar Neo 1.26.0, which builds on this momentum. Here are the most important features:

Highlights from the 1.26.0 Update

• AI Assistant: Now integrated into both the Presets and Edit tabs. Use simple text prompts like “Enhance this photo” to get tailored adjustments or ask questions like “How do I remove this object?” to receive step-by-step guidance.
• Faster performance: Exporting is now up to 20% faster on Windows and 15% faster on Mac when working with multiple edits.
• Expanded camera support: Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Canon EOS C50, Fujifilm X-T30 III, Leica M EV1, Leica Q3 Monochrom, and Sony DSC-RX100 VIIA are now supported.

Additional Fixes and Improvements

MacOS:

• Photo positions in Spaces now stay in place
• Exporting to Spaces starts immediately after pressing Return
• Folder lists refresh properly after deletions
• Stability improvements when working with damaged images
• Resolved memory leaks during DNG batch exports
• Light Depth maps now calculate accurately, even with Clone or Erase tools

Windows

• Mobile photo deletions sync correctly with the desktop catalog
• Color space is applied correctly when exporting to Spaces
• Imported skies display properly in the editor
• Light Depth previews now align with actual results
• Space Imports update smoothly with correct counters
• Depth maps work reliably with other tools applied

Pricing and Availability

In terms of cost and licensing, Luminar Neo offers flexible purchase options to suit different workflows and budgets. And at the moment, there’s a discount, so hurry up.

You can buy a perpetual (lifetime) license with a one-time payment for the desktop app for €99. If you need it for more devices (Luminar Neo on Desktop, Mobile app for iOS, Android, ChromeOS), you’ll pay €129. There’s also the Perpetual Max License for €139, and it includes Luminar Neo on Desktop, Mobile app for iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Creative Library Access.

All purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and no separate license key is required since activation is handled through your Skylum account. Subscription plans are also available if you prefer ongoing updates and cloud-connected features as part of a monthly or annual plan.

Whether you’re a long-time Luminar user or just considering trying it out, these updates show that Skylum is serious about making photo editing faster, smarter, and more enjoyable. You can check out all the plans here and choose the one that suits you best.

Disclaimer: This post is part of a paid partnership with the featured brand. While sponsorship supports our work, all editorial content is independently written and reflects the voice and standards of DIYP. We only cover products we believe are relevant, trustworthy, and of interest to our readers.

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