Luminar Neo HDR Merge

Luminar Neo's HDR Merge is the direct technical successor to Macphun's (now Skylum) Aurora HDR, a product line co-developed with Trey Ratcliff. In 2026, the software utilizes the highly evolved Quantum HDR Engine, which leverages AI-driven semantic segmentation to analyze and merge up to 10 bracketed exposures. Unlike traditional tone mapping that often results in halos and 'crunchy' artifacts, this architecture uses neural networks to identify and prioritize the most significant data points from each exposure while simultaneously managing ghosting from moving subjects. The tool is positioned for high-end real estate, architectural, and landscape photography where dynamic range exceeds sensor capabilities. It operates both as a standalone application and a robust plugin for Adobe ecosystem workflows. The 2026 market position emphasizes 'Natural HDR'—moving away from the hyper-saturated looks of the 2010s toward high-fidelity, high-dynamic-range imaging that maintains realistic contrast ratios and color accuracy across both highlights and deep shadows.