How to Improve Photo Backgrounds with Luminar Neo: Essential Tips

Sometimes, manipulating the background is crucial to achieve a certain effect in your image—especially when the original shot doesn't meet your expectations. In this tutorial, we’ll demonstrate how to use Luminar Neo, an AI photo editor, to improve your backgrounds quickly.

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🌀 How to Blur the Background

Didn’t capture that dreamy background blur during the shoot? No worries—Luminar Neo has your back.

Step 1: Locate the Blur Tool

• Open your photo in the Edit tab.

• Scroll down to Creative Tools.

• Click the Blur tool.

Step 2: Choose Your Blur Type

There are four blur styles to choose from:

• Gaussian: Classic, even blur. Can also reduce noise at low values.

• Motion: Adds a speed/direction effect (adjustable angle).

• Twisted: Creates a radial motion effect with customizable swirl.

• Tilt-shift: Mimics depth of field and perspective.

Step 3: Mask the Main Object

To keep your subject sharp:

1. Select your blur type and intensity.

2. Click the Masking tab within the Blur tool.

🖌️Masking Options:

• Brush: Manually paint the blur effect.

• Linear Gradient: Soft blur from one side.

• Radial Gradient: Circular or oval mask.

• Luminosity: Based on brightness.

• Mask AI: Let AI auto-select.

• Object Select AI: Click an object for AI to mask.

Step 4: View and Modify Your Mask

Use Mask Actions:

• Fill, Clear, Invert, Copy, Paste, or Show/Hide the mask.

Step 5: Final Adjustments

Switch to the Adjustments tab to tweak your blur. If you accidentally closed the tool, no worries—just reopen it from the Edits tab.

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🚫 How to Remove the Background

Need a transparent background to use your object elsewhere? Here's how to remove it:

Step 1: Go to Layers

• Open your photo in Edit mode.

• Head to the Layer Properties section.

Step 2: Use Background Removal AI

• Click Masking.

• Choose Background Removal AI and wait for the analysis.

Step 3: Refine Your Selection

• You’ll see categories like Main Object, Human, or Flora.

• Select what you want to keep.

Step 4: Click “Remove”

The background will be removed, leaving it transparent.

Refinements Brush

Fine-tune the result with three tools:

• Transition: Clean up edges (great for hair).

• Object: Keep this area visible.

• Background: Remove more background manually.

Save your image as a .PNG to preserve the transparency!

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🌄 How to Replace the Background

Ready to swap the backdrop entirely? Let’s do it.

Step 1: Access Layers

• In Edit mode, open the Layers panel via the “+” icon.

Step 2: Add New Background

• Under My Images, click “+” and select your new background image.

Step 3: Adjust Layer Order

• Your new background appears on top at 50% opacity.

• Drag it below the subject layer.

• Set opacity to 100% in Layer Properties.

Add transparent PNGs or overlays to create unique collages!

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🎉 That’s it! You’ve mastered background editing in Luminar Neo. Whether you're going for artistic blur, a clean cutout, or a whole new world behind your subject—you're in control.

🛠️ Keep exploring Luminar Neo’s tools to take your edits even further.

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