Topaz Photo AI vs Luminar NEO | Who Wins?

In this video, I'll be comparing topaz photo ai vs luminar neo to see which photo editing software is the best fit for you.

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In this comparison, we evaluate the topaz photo AI and Luminar NEO software to see which is the best software for photo editing. The main features of both software include: denoise ai and sharpen ai. We compare the results to see who has the best results for your landscape photography.

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Gear I Use For Landscape Photography:

[michaelkpate]

I have both of them. I spend a lot of time restoring old family photos. Topaz AI works great for that. Then I take them over to NEO and see what I can do to improve the photo even more.

[speecher]

I'm a Luminar Neo user, having used all the preceding versions. Its catalogue function is pretty limited, so I used it as an extension of Apple's Photos, which is rubbish for photo editing, but serves well as my DAM. One is not limited to an annual subscription, as a perpetual license can be purchased and the "add ons" purchased as desired, which is what I've opted to do. The "Supersharp" add-on has come in handy, but is usually just a "Meh!" fix. The "Noiseless" does a beautiful job, however. One does have to keep an eye on whether one is working with a RAW file (Develop module, Noiseless, Supersharp) or not (i.e., have switched to other editing tools). However, one can go back to the edit history to jump back into the RAW file at any point.

[MrFirstdance]

Go with both...Neo and and Topaz really, are two different animals other than the noise, sharpening, etc; For myself, I go NEO first...While I wait on the length of time for sharpening with NEO, I take the raw file to Topaz AI and and do the noise/sharpening and wait for the results of NEO. If NEO doesn't handle portions of it, I can take the TOPAZ over to NEO with the initial changes and edit from there. I am very much wiliing to be corrected. Not a LR fan, yet! :) Great show, David!!

[DigitalPhotoMentor]

Your information about the extensions is incorrect. If you have a monthly, annual or bi-annual plan you get all the extensions as well. You only have to buy them as add-ons if you choose the lifetime (dumb name) license over the subscription.

[gregmiller]

Perhaps as a photographer, Neo is the better deal but as a photo editor with huge experience already with Photoshop, it would be extremely limiting to try to switch to NEO and deal with what they have available for photo editing let alone the amount of time that would need to be put into relearning a new software well.

[DavidCrooksPhotos]

Apples and oranges. Plus you needed to run the Dust Spot Removal. Neo also has other Denoise and Sharpen tools besides the extensions.

[traclyn]

Thank you so much for this comparison. I just got luminar Neo and always wonder if I make the right choice. Love you videos and perspective on everything that’s out there. Your videos are so educational. Thank you again.

[hellopsp]

yeah i think ill probably go for Luminar instead of topaz... Its just sad that you have to buy the extra plugins

[DixonMarshall]

Topaz Photo AI 2.0 is now released, as of this writing, on 2023/09/22. There seems to be many improvements, including lighting and color balance, which I have not yet fully explored. That said, I don't believe I need these extra features from Topaz Photo AI, and I certainly don't need Luminar Neo with all its plugins. I do have a license for Neo, but I uninstalled it a while back.

For straight photo editing (no fancy 'shopping), as is the subject here, I process all my raw files in DxO Photolab first. I'm on the most recent version of Photolab as of this date. All color corrections and preliminary cleanup are done in Photolab (mostly automated), except for a few "problem files, " then I send the photos directly from Photolab to Topaz Photo AI. I batch process and let Photo AI do it's automated processing without interference, and let it auto save all the files to high-quality JPGs.

These two apps work together almost seamlessly, are both intuitive and automated, and the results are amazing. This has been the biggest boon to my workflow that I've seen in decades, especially for massive amounts of files, as would come from a wedding shoot, or a day of portrait shooting, and works just as well for my hobbyist landscape photos. The time saved is enormous, and the quality is top notch after the Topaz AI processing.

If I want or need to do some really fancy 'shopping of some select wedding photos or portraits, I pull the selected already-processed HQ JPGs into either Corel Painter, or into Corel PaintShop Pro and the usually the Nik and ParticleShop plugins. I use no subscription editors anymore, and I do not miss Lightroom and Photoshop at all.

[don]

Right nkw, Luminar Neo can be purchased at a 1 time cost of $300 CDN, including 8 pro extensions. They do this type of deal regularly, and it is hands down the best deal on AI based photo editing software. Affinity Photo is the best deal on great photonediting software but it doesn't have the bells and whistles of Luminar Neo.

[treyfoerster]

Topaz Sharpening their standalone app is better than the sharpening in AI, IMHO. Topaz AI renews at an update rate that's less than the annual rate, which you pay for the 1st year.

[carolbrucecollett]

Thanks for the comparison. Super helpful.

[woodygreen]

It would be more helpful if you used a picture that isn't hopelessly blurred. in my opinion. :)

[carlusescoi]

Thanks for your review, i know what to do now.
Luminar!

[KolTregaskes]

6:50 I believe they do include all the features in the sub?

BTW, Topaz software are off payments but you normally only get 1 year's worth of upgrades for "free" so technically you'll need to pay for upgrades on top of the one-offs. Worth checking this.

[cguerrieri]

There still is no substitute for getting it correct on the camera!

[krimke]

I didn't quite catch it all here. But Topaz Photo ai has overall enhancement. If you've got scratches, dust, accidentily bumped your tripod while taking a shot, in addition to various types of noise cleanup. Does Luminar Neo do this too?

[terrygee]

Thanks for the useful shoot-out.
For me, the background muzac added nothing useful to the content. Why bother?

[adamkrauss]

This only touched the surface in comparing noise reduction and sharpening. Title should have been clearer.

[austinharding]

a better comparison would have been Liminar vs HitPaw, hitpaw seems much closer to luminar when comparing so its an even match