FAQ: Luminar for Mac

Is this program compatible with macOS Monterey?

Yes, it is fully compatible with macOS 12 Monterey.

How to add a custom object on the sky in Luminar 4?

1. Navigate to the Creative Tab (a palette icon)

2. Choose AI Augmented Sky tool > Object Selection.

3. Scroll down the list of the pre-installed objects > Load Custom Image.

4. A dialog window will open where you'll need to choose your own image.

5. Confirm the selection and enjoy the tool!

IMPORTANT: AI Augmented Sky will work with your own objects if they are in PNG format with the Alpha channel or JPG format with a fully black background.

Luminar 4 does not launch on my Windows PC. What can be causing the issue?

Please check if your computer meets the requirements: https://manual.skylum.com/4/en/topic/technical-requirements

In case your computer does meet the technical requirements, please check if your Windows user name contains any non-Latin letters or other special symbols. If it does, please create a new user with only Latin letters in the name and launch Luminar 4 from this user.

How to create a new account: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026923/windows-10-create-a-local-user-or-administrator-account

Please make sure to give administrator privileges to the new user.

How to activate Luminar 4?

If you're on Mac, in the top bar menu go to Luminar 4 > Activate and enter the email address and your activation key (from your activation email) to complete installation and registration.

If you're on Windows, in the top bar menu go to File > Activate and enter the email address and your activation key (from your activation email) to complete installation and registration.

What is Luminar 4?

Luminar 4 is the next generation of our all-in-one image editing and photo management software. Luminar 4 is designed to deliver professional results in less time and to help photographers unlock their best images.

Luminar 4 can be used in three different ways:

as a comprehensive photo library catalog to help organize and view your images
as an image editing plug-in for other photo editing tools from Adobe and Apple
as a standalone image editing application

Does it handle RAW files?

Luminar 4 RAW processing is based on our own powerful RAW engine. We regularly update our library and make our own improvements to provide perfect support for new cameras. You can check the full list of supported cameras here.

On how many devices can I use my Luminar 4 license?

Luminar 4 is meant to be used by a single person, that is why we offer a license for 1 device by default. But we realize that sometimes a person may have more than just one device that is why you have an option to change license quantity when selecting the items you would like to purchase.

Alternatively, you also have the ability to purchase an additional seat to your license later in your Skylum account.

If you want to transfer your license to a new computer, you can always reset your license counter in your Skylum account.

What are the system requirements for Luminar 4?

For Mac:

MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac mini
Intel® Core™ i5 generation or better
Memory 8 Gb RAM or more
macOS Monterey 12, macOS Big Sur 11, Catalina 10.15, Mojave 10.14, High Sierra 10.13.1, Sierra 10.12.6. IMPORTANT: Mac OS 10.11 is not supported in Luminar 4.
Hard disk 10 GB free space, SSD for best performance
Display 1280x768 size or better

For Windows:

Windows-based hardware PC with mouse or similar input device
Open GL 3.3 or later compatible Graphics Cards
Processor Intel Core i5 or better
Memory 8 Gb RAM or more
Operating System Windows 7 (only 64-bit OS), Windows 8.1 (only 64-bit OS), Windows 10 (only 64-bit OS)
Hard disk 10 Gb free space, SSD for best performance
Display 1280x768 size or better

What about the DAM features in Luminar 3/4?

We at Skylum firmly believe that each problem can be solved in a faster and simpler way. That is why we made innovation our number one priority. Our goal is to make something much bigger than just another photo editor. To bring unique solutions to the most challenging problems creative storytellers face.When we launched Luminar 3, we were thinking differently about the matter: we said that our goal was to develop a great Lightroom alternative. Therefore some people have purchased Luminar as a subscription-free alternative to Adobe products. We quickly understood that we’re not in love with that mission statement. Moreover, that idea to make a subscription-free Lr alternative has no value for most artists around the world. The world doesn’t need a cheap Lightroom clone (there are already several companies who make those).There are many photo editing tools out there that look the same, offer the same features (including IPTC & EXIF), and create the same problems. Traditional photo editors take a lot of time, with several manual and repetitive tasks.For several years we’ve been analyzing the market, in-app analytics, and the interviews with our artists, and we see that people prefer our state-of-the-art editing tools. They like features that bring new creative value and speed up their workflow. This involves not only creating cutting-edge AI-powered tools but revolutionizing the traditional editing workflow as such. This is what we’re focused on right now.We’d like to bring the same philosophy to the organization of photos as well. Skylum wants to make library enhancements as efficient as possible and do it in a ground-breaking way. Therefore, currently, we’re researching the ways to make these traditional features work smarter.Meantime, we want customers to get Luminar not for the things that already exist in other editors, but for something that others don’t have to offer. Our goal with Luminar 4 was to make photo editing easier by using enhanced tools. Luminar 4 offers great value for customers who use it daily without IPTC or EXIF. It is well worth the money for the simplicity and innovation it brings.

Luminar 4 doesn't show up in my Skylum Account

Please note that the “My Software” section displays the apps that have already been activated.

Once you activate Luminar 4 with your email, the app will appear in your Skylum account.

What about previous versions of the Luminar application?

Luminar 4 is an upgrade to all previous versions of the Luminar application.

It is perfect for both users of Luminar 3 with Libraries and older versions of Luminar such as Luminar 2018. Users can choose to use the photo editing features with or without the photo library.

I use Luminar as a plug-in/extension. What can I expect?

Luminar 4 is also a giant upgrade for those who use Luminar with Adobe and Apple software.

It is an upgrade to users of Luminar Flex and older versions of the Luminar plug-in. New AI-powered filters will unlock useful creative and time-saving workflows.

Luminar 4 will work as a plug-in for:

Adobe Photoshop (macOS & Windows)
Adobe Lightroom Classic (macOS & Windows)
Adobe Photoshop Elements (macOS & Windows)
Photos for macOS
Apple Aperture (note that Aperture no longer runs in macOS 10.15 or later)

Can I use my own photos to replace sky in Luminar 4?

Yes, you can use your own sky images in Luminar 4.

AI Sky Replacement will work with your own photos if they are in one of the following formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG, and TIFF.

Here's how to upload custom skies:

Navigate to the Creative Tab (a palette icon)
Choose AI Sky Replacement tool > Sky Selection.
Scroll down the list of the pre-installed skies > Load Custom Sky Image.
A dialog window will open where you'll need to choose your own sky image.
Confirm the selection and enjoy the tool!

I’m nervous about buying Luminar 4, what happens if I don’t like it?

All of our software features 30-day money-back guarantee.

You will have 30 days from the purchase to decide if you like it. We also offer free training and support to help you succeed.

If for any reason you aren’t happy, we’ll refund your money for Luminar 4.

Frequently Asked Questions