While Adobe is bringing generative AI models to skilled photographers and designers, one other company is working to make easy-to-use generative AI tools available to a wider range of photographers, including hobbyists. Starting today, Luminar Neo, the photo-editing software from Skylum (formerly Macphun), is rolling out a set of generative AI features to its desktop apps for Mac and Windows that may allow users to remove unwanted objects from their images, expand a canvas or replace and add specific elements into a photograph.

The tools are similar in some ways to Google Photos’ Magic Editor and Magic Eraser or Adobe’s own Generative Fill tool. The difference between Adobe’s Generative Fill is that Luminar Neo offers two tools, GenErase and GenSwap, as an alternative of 1. It also doesn’t require the usage of a text prompt field. As an alternative, the user selects an area on the image to remove and clicks “Erase.” But unlike Adobe’s Generative Fill, it doesn’t offer result options to select from — the user would should click the “Erase” button again to get a unique final result.

Founded in 2008 as Macphun by game developers and amateur photographers Paul Muzok and Dima Sytnik, the corporate now often known as Skylum originally focused on iOS applications, like Vintage Video Maker, which Apple recognized amongst the most effective apps of the yr in 2009.

The team then proceeded to develop around 60 other iOS apps through the years that followed, but were all the time drawn to photography. That eventually led the team to launch their first Mac app, FX Photo Studio Pro in 2010, which topped 50 million downloads. On Mac, additionally they launched other image-editing apps like Snapheal, Intensify, Tonality, Noiseless, Aurora HDR, then later merged several apps to make Creative Kit. Photo-editing software Luminar got here about in 2016. And in 2018, when additionally they rebranded as Skylum, the team began to focus only on their Luminar project.

The concept with Luminar was to create photo editing software for desktop users that enables you to perform complex tasks in easy ways. The most recent version of this app was launched in 2022 as Luminar Neo, and its user base is primarily hobbyist photographers. But a handful of execs use the app, as well, the corporate says. For instance, some business photographers are inclined to use Luminar Neo more as a plug-in for Lightroom or Photoshop, they note.

With the rise of generative AI models for image editing, the team knew they wanted to include this functionality into the product to make editing photos even easier. The plan is to release one generative AI tool every month through the top of 2023, starting with GenErase on October 26.

GenSwap (to exchange elements) and GenExpand (to expand the canvas) will arrive on November 16 and December 14, respectively.

Image Credits: Skylum

“All three generative features that might be released this yr are based on the identical technology, but combining and changing the parameters gives us different results and covers different use cases for the top user, which is why we decided to have three separate features,” explains Ivan Kutanin, the Ukraine-based CEO of Skylum, in an email interview with TechCrunch.

The models are based on Stable Diffusion, but Kutanin says the corporate also uses its own Upscale AI model and others in a single pipeline, which allows the software to extend the resolution and quality of the generated images. Currently, it offers as much as 1536×1536 in image resolution, he says. For comparison, Photoshop currently offers a resolution of 1024×1024.

The processing itself takes place within the cloud, so the app requires an online connection to work. Nonetheless, the corporate doesn’t store either the input or output images to guard customer privacy.

The convenience of use is what the corporate hopes will set its software other than others that supply similar generative AI tools.

Image Credits: Skylum

“Luminar Neo is the latest-generation photo-editing software and has around 40 complex AI models as a part of its architecture, which makes it truly powerful. What we’re best known for is the benefit of use and the way effortless it’s to begin out for those who’re a whole beginner,” says Kutanin. “Since an enormous a part of our user base are photography enthusiasts, we actually focused on the user interface and making it as nice and fresh as possible,” he adds.

The software is obtainable at multiple pricing tiers for each recent and existing users. After October 28, it’s either $14.95 per thirty days, $119 per yr or $179 for 2 years. A lifetime pass is accessible for $299, which comes with a “Creative Journey Pass” that has deadlines on the brand new generative AI features through August 16, 2024. After that time, they should purchase a recent Creative Journey Pass or switch to a subscription.

For current users, the upgrade is barely inexpensive, with the one-year plan starting at $79 for yr one, then $99 per yr going forward, also after October 28. There are other discounts available if bought prior to October 28.

The corporate has never raised outside funding and has been profitable for a couple of years now, employing a team of more than120.