You might have read our reviews of Luminar and felt a little left out. While Luminar is a great photo editor, it was Mac only. That’s right… emphasis on was. As of today, Macphun is shipping a free public beta of Luminar for Windows. To download the beta, visit here.
What Do You Mean at Beta?
Beta software means a test version, One that a software company feels comfortable sharing with others, but that they’d like feedback on and users to try out. The app is very stable and fully-featured, but still, has more things to finish before Macphun is ready to ship.
If you’re a Windows user, they’d like you to use the app for free and give them feedback. This is a public beta, which means anyone can join. The for sale software is expected in the Fall of 2017.
“We are thrilled to release our first PC product today and give photography enthusiasts around the world the first taste of our best-selling Mac product,” said Kevin La Rue, Vice-President at Macphun. “By test-driving Luminar for Windows, beta testers can help shape our software and make the final release a perfect fit for everyone.”
What Do You Get?
Luminar is a powerful photo editor that’s easy to use. Luminar also works in non-destructive fashion (if you save in their native file format). Luminar includes over 300 robust tools for fixing, editing and perfecting a photo.
The public beta matches some of the most important features of Luminar. This includes thew new Accent AI Filter, powered by artificial intelligence technology. The filter quickly enhances images performing a dozen of corrections automatically that you can refine with a single slider. This is a substitute for dozens of traditional controls like shadows, highlights, contrast, tone, saturation, exposure, details and many others.
Some features from the Mac version of Luminar remain in development for the Windows platform: workspaces, plug-in integration, object removal, noise reduction, and others. As these are completed, the public beta will be updated regularly leading to a full cross-platform release late in 2017.
What’s Included
Here’s what is included:
- Adaptive user interface – Like the Mac version, the software adapts to the skill level and preferences of the photographer.
- One-click presets – Over 50 pre-defined styles for every photography genre.
- Photo Editing Filters – Over 40 custom filters, each and easy-to-use controls for correcting, enhancing and stylizing images.
- RAW file conversion – Support for the latest RAW file libraries.
- Non-destructive workflow – Just use the native file format to save an editable file for the future
System Specs
In order to use the application, here are the recommended system requirements:
- Windows 10
- Core i5 2.2 or better
- 8GB RAM
- 1GB GPU RAM
- Hard Drive with 20+GB free space.
I installed the Luminar Windows Beta, and for the life of me I can’t see how to save (or export) image files. Have they omitted that feature from the Beta? Or did they simply forget it? :-)
There is an export button in the top bar menu :) You may always reach our support team for the detailed instruction. Cheers!
Hi – this is Kevin from Macphun. There is an icon in the upper left of the toolbar that looks like a document with an arrow pointing upwards. That’s the Export/Share button. Click that and you can save a JPG or share to FB or Twitter or email. In the final shipping version, naturally we’ll have a menubar and many other niceties… ;)
I downloaded the free beta version of Macphun. But how do I go about actually using it? I am unable to open it in PS or LR or on my windows computer. Could someone please help?
Thank you!
Rick
It’s a standalone app as well as a plugin. Launch standalone a first and then there is a menu items to trigger plugin install.
Hi Rick – sorry for the delay in replying; just saw your question. This is Kevin from Macphun. If you haven’t gotten Luminar for Windows to work yet… once it’s installed, it ONLY runs as a standalone right now in beta form. There is no menubar yet. The beta will give you a good luck at the core features of the app.
Rest assured that when we ship the final version there will be a ton of new features, and it will run as a plug-in/external editor to Photoshop and Lightroom. Thanks! Kevin
Can the Beta version be used indefinitely?
Nope… it will eventually expire when the final version is released
Any updates on release date?
This year
I installed the Luminar Windows Beta, and for the life of me I can’t see how to save (or export) image files. Have they omitted that feature from the Beta? Or did they simply forget it? :-)
There is an export button in the top bar menu :) You may always reach our support team for the detailed instruction. Cheers!
Hi – this is Kevin from Macphun. There is an icon in the upper left of the toolbar that looks like a document with an arrow pointing upwards. That’s the Export/Share button. Click that and you can save a JPG or share to FB or Twitter or email. In the final shipping version, naturally we’ll have a menubar and many other niceties… ;)
I downloaded the free beta version of Macphun. But how do I go about actually using it? I am unable to open it in PS or LR or on my windows computer. Could someone please help?
Thank you!
Rick
It’s a standalone app as well as a plugin. Launch standalone a first and then there is a menu items to trigger plugin install.
Hi Rick – sorry for the delay in replying; just saw your question. This is Kevin from Macphun. If you haven’t gotten Luminar for Windows to work yet… once it’s installed, it ONLY runs as a standalone right now in beta form. There is no menubar yet. The beta will give you a good luck at the core features of the app.
Rest assured that when we ship the final version there will be a ton of new features, and it will run as a plug-in/external editor to Photoshop and Lightroom. Thanks! Kevin
Can the Beta version be used indefinitely?
Nope… it will eventually expire when the final version is released
Any updates on release date?
This year