How to make a Photo more Creative

There are various ways to add creativity to your photo and turn the original image into a piece of art. Let’s take a look at some techniques that you can use in Luminar Neo on the example photo with these swans.

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1. Color Grading

• Make a shift of some colors to unify them or make them more contrasting. For example, you may turn yellows into more orange, and blues into more cyan.

➡️ Steps:

• Go to the Color tool

• Open the HSL panel

• Switch to Hue, drag the “yellow” and the “blue” sliders left

• Switch to Saturation under HSL panel

• Drag the sliders right to increase saturation for orange and cyan

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2. Temperature Contrast

Create a temperature contrast between the main subject and the background.

➡️ Steps:

• Go to Develop tool → Masking → Object Select AI

• Keep the selecting “+” cursor in Add mode and click on the swans

• Refine selected areas (include reflection) with Masking Brush

• Switch to Adjustments → Color

• Add warmer temperature and more magenta tint to make the swans pop against the cool water

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3. Gradients and Lighting

Use linear or radial gradients to control or balance the lighting.

➡️ Steps:

• Use Relight AI tool → Masking → Linear Gradient

• Add the gradient to the darker part of the image (bottom)

• Switch to Adjustments, drag Brightness Far/Near sliders to the right

Apply the same gradient to the left and right edges

📌 Optional: Use Radial Gradient to reduce light on the swans, if needed

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4. Black & White Elements

Use the Black & White tool to convert the entire photo or parts of it.

➡️ Creative Tip:

• Leave one part of the image in color (e.g. swans)

• Turn the rest to black-and-white (e.g. background)

Steps:

• Go to Masking → Object Select AI → "Add" mode

• Select areas around the swans

• Refine with the Masking Brush, if needed

• Switch to Adjustments → Convert to B&W

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5. Background Blur

Blur the background to emphasize the subject.

➡️ Steps:

• Use the Blur Tool

• Select the background with Object Select AI (skip swans)

• Switch to Adjustments, select the blur type (e.g. "Motion")

• Adjust Amount slider to the right

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6. Textures

Add texture for a creative film-like or artistic look.

➡️ Steps:

• Use the Film Grain tool for grain effects

• Add external textures via the Layers tool

• Explore packs like:

  • Artist's Surface Overlays by Nicole S. Young

  • Scratches Textures Pack

Experiment with opacity and blend modes in Layer Properties

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7. Double Exposure

Overlay two images to achieve a surreal effect.

➡️ Steps:

• Use the Layers tool to add a second image

• Set opacity to ~50% so both images are visible

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8. Sky Replacement

Change the mood of the photo by replacing the sky.

➡️ Step:

• Use the Sky AI tool to replace the sky with another one of a different color or pattern

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9. Sparkling/Shining Effects

Add magical lighting effects for extra flair.

➡️ Tools to Use:

• Sunrays Tool — Add natural-looking sunlight

• Glow Tool — Add glow to key areas

• Mystical Tool — Enhance glow in lighter zones

• Magic Light Tool — Place sparkling light sources anywhere

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10. Generate a New Object or Effect

Use Gen Swap to create new, imaginative elements in your scene.

➡️ Tip:

• Let your creativity guide you—try new decorations or fantasy-style additions!

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💡 Bonus Tip: Explore even more tools like Structure AI, Atmosphere AI, Dramatic, Vignette, and others in Luminar Neo to continue unlocking your photo’s creative potential!