In ON1, Photoshop and Luminar Neo
First the Basics
Colour grading is a vital post-production process in digital photography that goes beyond technical adjustments. It’s an artistic and scientific approach to manipulating colours, enhancing the mood, emotion, and visual style of an image. This process plays a crucial role in storytelling, brand identity, and achieving a professional aesthetic.
By using various techniques, such as adjusting basic parameters, working with curves and colour wheels, applying LUTs (Look-Up Tables), and utilizing masking, photographers can exert significant creative control over their final images. A range of software and tools, like Adobe Photoshop, ON1, Luminar Neo to specialized platforms like DaVinci Resolve, cater to the evolving needs of digital artists.
Understanding the fundamental difference between colour correction, which aims for accuracy, and colour grading, which focuses on artistic stylization, is essential for photographers seeking to elevate their work. Colour grading is a powerful creative tool that enables photographers to refine their images and evoke emotions by telling compelling visual stories through the intentional use of colour.
Experimenting with these techniques and software will empower photographers to unlock the full potential of their digital imagery, enabling them to produce high-quality visuals that resonate with their audience.
Back to basics –
- the overall concepts a 20 minute ‘radio’ show.
- Detailed slides covering Color Grading in Luminar Neo, ON1 Photo RAW and Adobe Photoshop / ACR
Quick Comparisons
| Aspect | Photoshop | ON1 Photo RAW | Luminar Neo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth of Control | Most granular, pro-level | Moderate to high | High, AI-enhanced |
| Key Tools | Curves, Camera Raw, LUTs, Layers | Edit/Match Color, Split Toning, LUTs | Color Harmony, Mood AI, HSL, Split Toning |
| Ease of Use | Steeper learning curve | User-friendly | Very user-friendly |
| AI Features | Limited (mostly plugins) | Growing presence | Strong (Mood AI, etc.) |
| Best For | Professionals, complex projects | Enthusiasts, batch consistency | Creatives, speed, stylization |
Summaries
Luminar Neo stands out for its AI-driven approach, combining ease of use with advanced color grading features and excels at combining AI automation with powerful manual controls, making advanced color grading accessible to all skill levels. Its tools are especially suited for creatives seeking speed, mood-based grading, and unique stylization.
ON1 Photo RAW emphasizes user-friendly yet powerful color grading tools, with recent updates enhancing its capabilities. Its’ color grading is approachable and effective, with strong AI-assisted and one-click style transfer features. It is ideal for photographers who want powerful tools without the complexity of Photoshop
Photoshop offers industry-standard, highly precise color grading tools suitable for both beginners and professionals. Its color grading capabilities are robust and deeply integrated into its editing ecosystem and provides the most granular and professional-level control, suitable for complex color grading workflows, especially when combined with layers, masks, and adjustment layers.
Conclusion:
Photoshop remains the choice for professionals requiring the highest level of control and integration. ON1 Photo RAW strikes a balance between power and usability, with excellent one-click and batch features. Luminar Neo leverages AI to make advanced color grading intuitive and fast, ideal for users prioritizing creative results and efficiency.