How to Restore Old Pictures in Luminar Neo

Photo Editing  •  Photography Tips

Preserving the past is often a challenging task, especially when dealing with old family photographs. Photographer Darlene Hildebrandt‘s recent video tutorial provides a practical and approachable guide to restore these timeless treasures in Luminar Neo:

Darlene begins with an introduction and showcases a variety of old family photos to be used in the tutorial, exemplifying different issues to be addressed. She then recommends photo editing software suitable for beginners, setting the foundation for the subsequent restoration techniques.

1. Cropping and Straightening

Initially, Darlene demonstrates cropping and straightening tools for better composition and cleaner image edges. This step is critical in preparing your photos for the restoration process.

2. Fixing Contrast Issues

Faded areas and contrast issues are common in old photos. Darlene uses a combination of tools including Curves, Histogram, Dehaze Slider, Smart Contrast, and Enhance AI, to address this, enhancing the vibrancy and overall clarity of the image.

3. Repairing Flaws

Next, she teaches how to use Luminar Neo’s Erase and Clone tools to repair common flaws such as scratches and spots. This step further refines the images, bringing them closer to their original state.

4. Addressing Sharpness

To combat the loss of sharpness, Darlene employs Supersharp AI and the Details panel, effectively enhancing the image’s clarity and detail.

5. Restoring Color

Darlene tackles color issues by restoring faded and off-color images using the Develop tool, Color tool, and Toning tool. This segment is particularly useful for those dealing with heavily discolored photographs.

6. Preparing for Printing

The final step involves making the restored image printable. Darlene uses Luminar Neo Upscale AI to ensure the photos maintain their quality when printed, allowing these restored memories to be physically held once more.

Darlene Hildebrandt’s tutorial provides a comprehensive yet beginner-friendly guide to photo restoration. By following her step-by-step guide and recommended tools, even novices can restore their cherished photos, preserving memories for future generations.

For Further Training:

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