As someone who has bought their products from way back in the early Macphun days, I have to say that I believe that Skylum's over promising and under delivering is finally catching up to me. If Neo does not live up to all it's hype, it will be the last thing I buy from Skylum. As most products evolve in a positive manner, I feel Luminar is actually going downhill. I am so sad. I really thought they were going to have a great program.
Matt, Would you mind making short videos whenever you hear from your contacts at Skylum so we'll know how they are doing. I may have issues with NEO, but I do worry about how the people are doing.
Thanks, Matt. You’re number 1. My early purchase refund is already in process. I have purchased almost everything they ever produced from way back to the MacPhun days. I am finished with Skylum. There are so many programs that are just as good and a few that are much better.
My trust in Skylum is nonexistent after they dumped my beloved L4. I admit I bought Neo on sale, but this subscription model sure seems like another bait and switch on their part. Thanks for the heads up. E
Wow! Skylum is becoming a textbook case on how to run a company to the ground and loose all respectability. If they make me pay for features that were available in Luminar 4 or AI, then I will ask for my money back, if still possible, and I will skip over to some other software (particularly ON1 which I already have for a year due to the bad vibe already coming out of Skylum at that time).
Whoa... just saw this video. Thinking on the Luminar Neo perpetual. I really want to own something and not just subscribe... and in your video it shows it for $79... and now it is $249. Thats quite a jump in a year!
Skylum made this announcement on the insiders page yesterday 2/22/22. I haven't seen the announcement anywhere else. I was told on insider page they would only be letting current customers know about the extension. As a current customer ( early bird purchase 5 months ago ) I have received no information about the extension. Please don't tell me that Skylum only inform their current customers about the extension when you ask for refund now. Has anybody seen any information about the extension on any source other than the Insiders page? Have any current customers been emailed about the extension who didn't ask for refund?
In Skylums description of the subscription option right below the "subscribe now" button it says that all future product upgrades would be included. So I would assume the subscription should include both upgrades and updates. What I am concerned is whether they will stop selling a non subscription version any more in the future and I fear they will do that if the subscription model is accepted by enough customers. For me Luminar (together with Affinity Photo) was the option to avoid the subscription fees that Adobe takes for Luminar/Photoshop. Now this is a serious loss in trust in a non-subscription future with Luminar. If new good AI functions are developed I would like to have the option to buy them as an addon or new version but always in the form of a lifetime license. I don't want to pay perpetual fees for new functions that I don't use.
I asked Skylum what happens with the extensions if I cancel the subscription? They said, "If you cancel your Pro Yearly plan, you will lose access to your extension once subscription ends." Is this fair or shady? I don't want to "Rent" the extensions.
With most every software that is available as a subscription, once you stop paying you stop being able to use the software. This is normal. You can't keep watching Netflix once you cancel your subscription, can you?...
Thank you Matt. Helpful for understanding what the future may hold. How much is Skylum's Ambiguity app? It's very good. The extension of the refund period is welcome though.
@@MattSuessPhoto it was a joke Matt. A reference to the uncertainty surrounding Skylum's announcements as you refer to in your video. Thanks for your videos btw. I watched every English language youtube video covering Neo's feature inclusions and exclusions I could find and yours is top notch.
The last view years I always had to buy a new version of Luminar. It was like kind of subscription. For using still the older versions has the "problem" they didn't update the older versions seriously. I'm using other kind of software as well and everywhere they like to do the move to a subscription. But it's not possibly to follow all, because I'm not a Super Rich, who do not care of the money situation.
Firstly, I want to send my love to the Skylum Team in Ukraine, especially those fighting not only for their lives but the lives of their families & loved ones but also for freedom. Any concerns I have are trivial compared to what they are facing. It costs me nothing in the grand scheme of things to be patient. I pre-paid for Neo when it was first announced and have been using Luminar since Luminar 3. I was only just beginning in photography at the time and had bought Photoshop, Lightroom, etc and it wasn’t cheap but the year after I bought it Adobe moved to subscription only, again not cheap considering my usage at the time. I felt a bit cheated by Adobe, unvalued and thought I had wasted my money by only months earlier purchasing it outright, so I moved to Luminar which I have loved due to how user friendly it has been. I’ve also found Skylum personnel to be very responsive to queries, etc. I also understand that as a business they need steady cashflow. I just hope that subscription prices are locked in for a while and loyalty is rewarded. I don’t want to bother them during this harrowing time so I thought I’d check if you know how the subscription model fits in with Luminar X Membership. Please let them know we are in awe of their courage in fighting for their country.
I have not heard anything new regarding the subscription and since I recorded this video things in Ukraine have taken a very sad turn so I am hoping for everyone's safety over there. But the subscription for the software is different than the subscription for Luminar X.
@@MattSuessPhoto The whole Ukraine situation is heartbreaking, I’m worried for the safety of the Skylum Team and are crossing my fingers and toes that they are all okay. Ukraine is showing such unbelievable courage and spirit.
Matt - I appreciate your info. I claimed my refund. Before they put the refund through they sent me a letter outlining the extension of the Refund period and what would be included in version 1.1. They also said they are looking at returning Adjustment Layers - but no timing was provided. I told them to give me the refund anyway. As far as I am concerned, Luminar 4 was the high water mark for Skylum so far providing a workable/user friendly program. Luminar AI and Neo represent steps backward from the perspective of a usable program which are partially offset by the introduction of their Glitzy AI products. I am guessing that to get the AI features to work they ran into problems in their base programming so they decided to start all over with a new program - and got the AI features to work (at least in Luminar AI - yet to be seen about Neo) but they lost some of the user tools that I value as important including adjustment layers, luminosity masking. Hopefully they get their act together.
Overmarketing... I am usually patient when purchasing new software but messed up this time. They make it seem great but failed miserably. Came out too early just like you said. My mistake
Ciao ,io sto avendo problemi di attivazione, si blocca la tastiera all'atto di inserire i miei dati per avviare i software , ho acquistato tutti e tre i prodotti Skylum Luminar Al e NEO + AURORA HDR, per ora quest'ultimo e l'unico che sono riuscito a far partire visto che ha un seriale,mentre con gli altri due software mi e impossibile procedere per l'attivazione pur avendo seguito tutti i consigli della piattaforma,ho scritto al supporto,mi dicono che risponderanno appena possibile causa i brutti eventi in corso,spero finisca presto tutto quel che sta succendo nel loro paese. Spero anche che risolvano in futuro questi blocchi sui loro software ho appurato che tanti hanno questa ed altre problematiche.
Well, I'm not sure about essentially capping the perpetual product, their saving grace was to get the software and the promise of a better product as time went by, now it seems not, the subscription more than anything is making me consider the refund
Thanks for this info. Hopefully they don't go to a subscription only service. I came to Luminar to avoid the subscription only model of Adobe. I didn't see actual layers in your list for the next update. I hope we don't have to pay for an upgrade before we get all the things promised in Neo.
Skylum is coming out with "extensions", which you have to subscribe annually. If you cancel say the following year, you lose the use of the extensions. I received this info from Skylum in an email.
I purchased two seats, both my computers are old Dell workstations I bought on ebay one has 8 gig of ram one has 16, Neo works fine on both computers, this software is not expensive, I am satisfied, is it slow, no not really
Hey Matt, while the money back guarantee extension is appreciated, I’m not sure it’s going to sway me. Again it comes down to Skylum’s very checkered history with 3, 4, AI and now Neo. They rarely address all the issues in the first “dot-one” update and let’s face it they rarely address all the issues before they move onto the next greatest thing and ask us for more money. Let’s hope they buck the trend this time. As far as the subscription goes, I’d rather throw $59 down the drain as I simply do not trust them. Some people don’t like the Adobe model, but at least they provide a viable, professional grade product.
Thanks for sharing, don't like what you said, but will give you a like. 2 things you maybe able to help with. 1 - do you know anything about batch processing with NEO currently unavailable. And adding templates, can't seem to do. I've added overlays, light leaks, texturs et but not Templates.
Not sure when/if batch processing is coming. Supposedly they are working on a preset/template migration tool - but again no idea on when that would be available. They have yet to publish an official roadmap showing what is coming and when.
@@MattSuessPhoto thanks for getting back to me. Losing faith very quickly with Skylum. I'll wait until the 1.1 update but the indicators coming out of them isn't promising.
Sounds like they are doing what the majority of software companies are doing, offering a subscription for a regular cash flow to help advance development better than what they were doing before.
Rich people want to control your lives. klaus Schwab of the world economic for says "By 2030 you'll own nothing and be happy." Don't support subscription services, unless you want to own nothing.
This subscription argument is so tired now... The majority of software I use in and out of photography is subscription - some biz software up to $300 a month. Subscriptions help software companies with a regular income stream that helps advance development. People lease cars, they rent homes and apartments, they pay a monthly cell phone bill, give Netflix $ each month, and on and on. And Skylum's subscription is less than the cost of a cup of coffee each month. The bigger issue is what comes with their subscription, not that they have one now.
V1.0.1 that is out today is much different than the upcoming v1.1.0 that is expected possibly in March and is when the new extended money back guarantee is based on...
@@MattSuessPhoto I realized that after I commented. Your UA-cam is so helpful. I had Luminar 3 on my old MacPro. It does not work on the new Macs (which I recently got). Some of my older stuff works and some don’t. Still trying to get situated.
@@MattSuessPhoto I understand but I really liked Luminar3 which crashes all the time on the M1. Let me ask, I Loved the Creative Kit but each time I try to load it on the M1 it tells me there is an error. Do you have any insight? Like I said the M1 is a learning curve for sure.
@@markreiman571 oh ok, I see now. I have not tried to load their earlier programs on the M1. Older programs should be able to open on the M1 under Rosetta, but this could be an M1 and/or operating system issue too where old programs just won't run anymore on new tech. This would be a problem with other old programs too outside of Skylums.
I feel so fooled by this company, i´ve bought quit some stuff from them and now this? I think this company need to be fair to their costumers and at least give them 1 year free subscription from the day they have delivered what have not been delivered
They made a high hype using affliates like this channel and people like jim nix... every where marketing was done and people fell for it... now telling i am disappointed is of what use... Jim nix still has no shame...he still continues the high voltage hype to snare people to neo
Not sure why you are complaining about my friend Jim Nix here on my channel... Further I have not hyped it recently and have been quite critical in the past and most recently when it was released: ua-cam.com/video/o4q_Q2dMyys/v-deo.html
![I Replaced ALL my ADOBE APPS with these [free or cheaper] Alternatives!](/img/n.gif)
As someone who has bought their products from way back in the early Macphun days, I have to say that I believe that Skylum's over promising and under delivering is finally catching up to me. If Neo does not live up to all it's hype, it will be the last thing I buy from Skylum. As most products evolve in a positive manner, I feel Luminar is actually going downhill. I am so sad. I really thought they were going to have a great program.
Matt, Would you mind making short videos whenever you hear from your contacts at Skylum so we'll know how they are doing. I may have issues with NEO, but I do worry about how the people are doing.
Thanks, Matt. You’re number 1. My early purchase refund is already in process.
I have purchased almost everything they ever produced from way back to the MacPhun days. I am finished with Skylum.
There are so many programs that are just as good and a few that are much better.
Thanks for the kind comments John. 😊
Excellent review Matt. Lays it out clearly and the ambiguities.
Thanks David!
My trust in Skylum is nonexistent after they dumped my beloved L4. I admit I bought Neo on sale, but this subscription model sure seems like another bait and switch on their part. Thanks for the heads up. E
Wow! Skylum is becoming a textbook case on how to run a company to the ground and loose all respectability. If they make me pay for features that were available in Luminar 4 or AI, then I will ask for my money back, if still possible, and I will skip over to some other software (particularly ON1 which I already have for a year due to the bad vibe already coming out of Skylum at that time).
Whoa... just saw this video. Thinking on the Luminar Neo perpetual. I really want to own something and not just subscribe... and in your video it shows it for $79... and now it is $249. Thats quite a jump in a year!
Skylum made this announcement on the insiders page yesterday 2/22/22. I haven't seen the announcement anywhere else. I was told on insider page they would
only be letting current customers know about the extension. As a current customer ( early bird purchase 5 months ago ) I have received no information about the extension.
Please don't tell me that Skylum only inform their current customers about the extension when you ask for refund now.
Has anybody seen any information about the extension on any source other than the Insiders page?
Have any current customers been emailed about the extension who didn't ask for refund?
In Skylums description of the subscription option right below the "subscribe now" button it says that all future product upgrades would be included. So I would assume the subscription should include both upgrades and updates.
What I am concerned is whether they will stop selling a non subscription version any more in the future and I fear they will do that if the subscription model is accepted by enough customers. For me Luminar (together with Affinity Photo) was the option to avoid the subscription fees that Adobe takes for Luminar/Photoshop. Now this is a serious loss in trust in a non-subscription future with Luminar. If new good AI functions are developed I would like to have the option to buy them as an addon or new version but always in the form of a lifetime license. I don't want to pay perpetual fees for new functions that I don't use.
Thanks for letting me know - I do now see them use the word "upgrade" there, but in the check list they do say "update".
I asked Skylum what happens with the extensions if I cancel the subscription? They said, "If you cancel your Pro Yearly plan, you will lose access to your extension once subscription ends." Is this fair or shady? I don't want to "Rent" the extensions.
With most every software that is available as a subscription, once you stop paying you stop being able to use the software. This is normal. You can't keep watching Netflix once you cancel your subscription, can you?...
Thank you Matt. Helpful for understanding what the future may hold. How much is Skylum's Ambiguity app? It's very good. The extension of the refund period is welcome though.
never heard of an ambiguity app
@@MattSuessPhoto it was a joke Matt. A reference to the uncertainty surrounding Skylum's announcements as you refer to in your video. Thanks for your videos btw. I watched every English language youtube video covering Neo's feature inclusions and exclusions I could find and yours is top notch.
@@jeffkogler1170 haha ok - thought it was a joke! And thanks for your comments - much appreciated 😊
The last view years I always had to buy a new version of Luminar. It was like kind of subscription. For using still the older versions has the "problem" they didn't update the older versions seriously. I'm using other kind of software as well and everywhere they like to do the move to a subscription. But it's not possibly to follow all, because I'm not a Super Rich, who do not care of the money situation.
Firstly, I want to send my love to the Skylum Team in Ukraine, especially those fighting not only for their lives but the lives of their families & loved ones but also for freedom. Any concerns I have are trivial compared to what they are facing. It costs me nothing in the grand scheme of things to be patient.
I pre-paid for Neo when it was first announced and have been using Luminar since Luminar 3. I was only just beginning in photography at the time and had bought Photoshop, Lightroom, etc and it wasn’t cheap but the year after I bought it Adobe moved to subscription only, again not cheap considering my usage at the time. I felt a bit cheated by Adobe, unvalued and thought I had wasted my money by only months earlier purchasing it outright, so I moved to Luminar which I have loved due to how user friendly it has been. I’ve also found Skylum personnel to be very responsive to queries, etc. I also understand that as a business they need steady cashflow. I just hope that subscription prices are locked in for a while and loyalty is rewarded.
I don’t want to bother them during this harrowing time so I thought I’d check if you know how the subscription model fits in with Luminar X Membership. Please let them know we are in awe of their courage in fighting for their country.
I have not heard anything new regarding the subscription and since I recorded this video things in Ukraine have taken a very sad turn so I am hoping for everyone's safety over there. But the subscription for the software is different than the subscription for Luminar X.
@@MattSuessPhoto The whole Ukraine situation is heartbreaking, I’m worried for the safety of the Skylum Team and are crossing my fingers and toes that they are all okay. Ukraine is showing such unbelievable courage and spirit.
Thank you
Matt - I appreciate your info. I claimed my refund. Before they put the refund through they sent me a letter outlining the extension of the Refund period and what would be included in version 1.1. They also said they are looking at returning Adjustment Layers - but no timing was provided. I told them to give me the refund anyway. As far as I am concerned, Luminar 4 was the high water mark for Skylum so far providing a workable/user friendly program. Luminar AI and Neo represent steps backward from the perspective of a usable program which are partially offset by the introduction of their Glitzy AI products. I am guessing that to get the AI features to work they ran into problems in their base programming so they decided to start all over with a new program - and got the AI features to work (at least in Luminar AI - yet to be seen about Neo) but they lost some of the user tools that I value as important including adjustment layers, luminosity masking. Hopefully they get their act together.
Thanks for letting me know that! I don't blame you for getting a refund - it is a frustrating situation for many right now.
Overmarketing... I am usually patient when purchasing new software but messed up this time. They make it seem great but failed miserably. Came out too early just like you said. My mistake
Ciao ,io sto avendo problemi di attivazione, si blocca la tastiera all'atto di inserire i miei dati per avviare i software , ho acquistato tutti e tre i prodotti Skylum Luminar Al e NEO + AURORA HDR, per ora quest'ultimo e l'unico che sono riuscito a far partire visto che ha un seriale,mentre con gli altri due software mi e impossibile procedere per l'attivazione pur avendo seguito tutti i consigli della piattaforma,ho scritto al supporto,mi dicono che risponderanno appena possibile causa i brutti eventi in corso,spero finisca presto tutto quel che sta succendo nel loro paese. Spero anche che risolvano in futuro questi blocchi sui loro software ho appurato che tanti hanno questa ed altre problematiche.
anybody else having alot of problems with luminar neo locking their computer up?
Si ho postato un commento a tal proposito
At the top of your screen capture it has "future product upgrades"
Well, I'm not sure about essentially capping the perpetual product, their saving grace was to get the software and the promise of a better product as time went by, now it seems not, the subscription more than anything is making me consider the refund
They are still selling the perpetual license right now.
I know, but the wording seems like it just the two features and bug fixes now, anything they add after that will only be available for subscribers.
@@Lumpsack yes, that needs to be made more clear
Thanks for this info. Hopefully they don't go to a subscription only service. I came to Luminar to avoid the subscription only model of Adobe. I didn't see actual layers in your list for the next update. I hope we don't have to pay for an upgrade before we get all the things promised in Neo.
Skylum is coming out with "extensions", which you have to subscribe annually. If you cancel say the following year, you lose the use of the extensions. I received this info from Skylum in an email.
I purchased two seats, both my computers are old Dell workstations I bought on ebay one has 8 gig of ram one has 16, Neo works fine on both computers, this software is not expensive, I am satisfied, is it slow, no not really
He tenido un rendimiento completamente opuesto :(
Concerned that they mention Catalog migration, but I don't see a migration tool for all the Templates from Luminar AI mentioned anymore
I do believe preset/template migration is coming in a future update.
Hey Matt, while the money back guarantee extension is appreciated, I’m not sure it’s going to sway me. Again it comes down to Skylum’s very checkered history with 3, 4, AI and now Neo. They rarely address all the issues in the first “dot-one” update and let’s face it they rarely address all the issues before they move onto the next greatest thing and ask us for more money. Let’s hope they buck the trend this time. As far as the subscription goes, I’d rather throw $59 down the drain as I simply do not trust them. Some people don’t like the Adobe model, but at least they provide a viable, professional grade product.
I agree - their v1.0 releases have been pretty poor lately.
Thanks for sharing, don't like what you said, but will give you a like. 2 things you maybe able to help with. 1 - do you know anything about batch processing with NEO currently unavailable. And adding templates, can't seem to do. I've added overlays, light leaks, texturs et but not Templates.
Not sure when/if batch processing is coming. Supposedly they are working on a preset/template migration tool - but again no idea on when that would be available. They have yet to publish an official roadmap showing what is coming and when.
@@MattSuessPhoto thanks for getting back to me. Losing faith very quickly with Skylum. I'll wait until the 1.1 update but the indicators coming out of them isn't promising.
Why does share app not work Windows 10 tried 50 times
No idea - I'm on a Mac - might want to connect with Skylum support.
Sounds like they are running out of money.
Moonpie
Sounds like they are doing what the majority of software companies are doing, offering a subscription for a regular cash flow to help advance development better than what they were doing before.
Not surprised it didnt work and 2 udpates in a week
Rich people want to control your lives. klaus Schwab of the world economic for says "By 2030 you'll own nothing and be happy." Don't support subscription services, unless you want to own nothing.
This subscription argument is so tired now... The majority of software I use in and out of photography is subscription - some biz software up to $300 a month. Subscriptions help software companies with a regular income stream that helps advance development. People lease cars, they rent homes and apartments, they pay a monthly cell phone bill, give Netflix $ each month, and on and on. And Skylum's subscription is less than the cost of a cup of coffee each month. The bigger issue is what comes with their subscription, not that they have one now.
How/where do I go to get my refund? Says 1.0.1 is out????
V1.0.1 that is out today is much different than the upcoming v1.1.0 that is expected possibly in March and is when the new extended money back guarantee is based on...
@@MattSuessPhoto I realized that after I commented. Your UA-cam is so helpful. I had Luminar 3 on my old MacPro. It does not work on the new Macs (which I recently got). Some of my older stuff works and some don’t. Still trying to get situated.
@@markreiman571 I do have Neo running on both my M1 macs from last year.
@@MattSuessPhoto I understand but I really liked Luminar3 which crashes all the time on the M1.
Let me ask, I Loved the Creative Kit but each time I try to load it on the M1 it tells me there is an error. Do you have any insight? Like I said the M1 is a learning curve for sure.
@@markreiman571 oh ok, I see now. I have not tried to load their earlier programs on the M1. Older programs should be able to open on the M1 under Rosetta, but this could be an M1 and/or operating system issue too where old programs just won't run anymore on new tech. This would be a problem with other old programs too outside of Skylums.
I feel so fooled by this company, i´ve bought quit some stuff from them and now this? I think this company need to be fair to their costumers and at least give them 1 year free subscription from the day they have delivered what have not been delivered
If they resort to yearly subscription, many people will switch to LR. Skylum will only lose clients.
If people leave Skylum over a subscription, I doubt they would go to LR for a subscription ;)
LR seems to be far superior to Luminar.
They made a high hype using affliates like this channel and people like jim nix... every where marketing was done and people fell for it... now telling i am disappointed is of what use... Jim nix still has no shame...he still continues the high voltage hype to snare people to neo
Not sure why you are complaining about my friend Jim Nix here on my channel... Further I have not hyped it recently and have been quite critical in the past and most recently when it was released: ua-cam.com/video/o4q_Q2dMyys/v-deo.html