Summary
The video demonstrates how to enhance golden tones in sunset photos using Luminar Neo’s Golden Hour tool combined with luminosity masking for precise control. Starting with a Colorado landscape, the creator shows how Golden Hour globally warms tones but can oversaturate skies and trees. By applying a luminosity mask, the effect is restricted to midtones, preserving white clouds while enriching golden hues in the sky and subtly warming tree foliage. Feathering adjustments ensure smooth transitions, avoiding harsh edges. The tutorial also highlights mask stacking: after applying a luminosity mask, a brush with reduced strength can refine the effect further by erasing excess warmth from specific areas like mountain tops. This layered approach provides targeted color control while maintaining natural balance.
Key Points
- Golden Hour tool enhances warm tones but applies globally by default.
- Luminosity masks give precise control over highlights, midtones, and shadows.
- Feathering smooths transitions for natural blending.
- Preserves white clouds while boosting sunset hues.
- Tree foliage gains subtle warmth without overpowering.
- Mask stacking allows refinement with brush adjustments.
Key Takeaways
- Golden Hour + Luminosity Mask = controlled, natural sunset enhancement.
- Feathering and mask adjustments prevent harsh or unrealistic effects.
- Stackable masks offer flexible fine-tuning for different image regions.
Conclusion
Using Luminar Neo’s Golden Hour tool with luminosity masking and mask stacking provides photographers with powerful, precise control over sunset edits—enhancing golden tones while preserving natural highlights for balanced, professional-looking results.