Luminar Neo Spring Upgrade: Cross-Device Editing & New Portrait Tools

One of the most exciting things about the AI photo editing software Luminar Neo is the number of updates the Skylum team push out over the year.

This April, we’re treated to the Spring Upgrade, which brings an efficient new cross-device photo editing workflow to users of the Neo Mobile app, as well as several portrait photo editing tools.

Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect to see as a Luminar Neo user.

Luminar Neo Spring 2026 Upgrade

1. Cross-Device Editing

The headline feature of this update is the ability to start editing on mobile and continue on desktop, or simply use your phone as a fast first-pass editing tool that feeds straight into your Luminar Neo desktop catalog.

The workflow is straightforward: edit an image in the Luminar Mobile app, return to your Luminar Space Catalog, and within a minute or two the edited file syncs automatically to desktop via Luminar Spaces.

It’s worth noting that for now, edits flow one way only: mobile to desktop. Full two-way sync is in development so watch this space.

2. Bokeh AI

Bokeh AI gets a meaningful upgrade in this release. Previously available in Neo as Portrait Bokeh, it’s been rebuilt and works not just on portraits but on any foreground subject, e.g. pets, cars, objects… or anything you want to separate from the background.

The tool generates a depth mask automatically as soon as you move the Blur slider, then gives you three controls to refine the effect:

• Blur – controls the strength of the background blur
• Focus Distance – adjusts where the focus plane sits in the image
• Bokeh Shape – changes the shape of bokeh highlights in the background (Circle, Ellipse, Hexagon, Heart, Star, or Ring)

The same tool is now available in Luminar Mobile 3.5, with full cross-device compatibility, meaning a Bokeh AI edit started on your phone carries over intact to the desktop app.

3. Face AI

Face AI, a long-standing feature in Luminar Neo, is now available in the Mobile app for the first time. On desktop, this update brings one notable improvement: a better Dark Circles Removal tool, now easier to use and delivering stronger results than before.

The tool uses facial recognition to map eyes, lips, and facial contours, and works on side-view portraits as well as straight-on shots. Controls include Face Light (to independently adjust exposure on the face) and Face Slim (for subtle adjustments to facial proportions).

4. Skin AI

Skin AI has been significantly expanded on both platforms. On desktop, what was previously a rather basic two-slider tool (Amount and Shine Removal) now offers four dedicated controls: Face Skin Smoothing, Body Smoothing, Shine Removal, and a new Blemish Removal tool.

The improved Shine Removal uses adaptive correction to reduce the need for manual highlight work, while Blemish Removal applies corrections through intelligent masking without over-smoothing surrounding skin.

The Mobile app gets the same Blemish Removal improvement, with noticeably more accurate and natural-looking results than the previous version.

5. Mask Feather (Desktop only)

A new dedicated tool for desktop users, Mask Feather softens the edges of any mask to create smooth, gradual transitions between adjusted and unadjusted areas.

Feather (edge softness) and Shift Edge (expanding or contracting the mask boundary) give you precise control over how effects blend into the surrounding image. It’s a useful addition for anyone doing detailed local adjustments.

Spring Upgrade Pricing

New customers have three options: a standard Desktop License ($119/€99), a Cross-device Perpetual License ($159/€139) that adds Luminar Mobile and cross-device editing, and a Max License ($179/€149) that also includes a year’s free access to the Creative Library. All three include one year of generative tools.

Existing users can upgrade via the Ecosystem Pass ($69/€69) — which includes generative tools through end of 2026, the Spring Update permanently, and Luminar Mobile/cross-device editing — or the cheaper Upgrade Pass ($49/€49), which gets you the Spring Update and generative tools through 2026 but doesn’t include cross-device editing. Neither existing-user option includes the Fall 2026 update.

The Luminar Spring Upgrade makes a strong case for Luminar Neo as a cross-device editing ecosystem rather than just a desktop application.

The portrait tools are more capable than before on both platforms, and the mobile-to-desktop sync opens up a more flexible, location-independent workflow for photographers who don’t want to be tied to their desk.

Learn more about the upgrade and download Luminar Neo here >>