Luminar 4: Simplified Management of Your Photos

You have already learned how to create and manage albums with Luminar 4. In this second part of the tutorial, we will delve into the various ways of rating, tagging, and the even more flexible management of your photos. Whether you want to rate your images, mark favorites, or use color tags, it’s time to take your photo management to the next level.

Key insights

• Albums can be deleted or renamed at any time.
• Images can be marked with star ratings, color tags, or favorites.
• Quick navigation and ratings are possible through keyboard shortcuts.
• Current limitations in the image management of Luminar 4 exist, especially concerning keywords.

Step-by-step guide to image management

Delete and rename albums

If you no longer need an album, you can simply delete it with a right-click. You will then be warned whether you really want to remove this album. The album remains virtual; the images stay in their original location on your hard drive. Therefore, deleting an album does not affect the photos themselves.

Do you want to rename the album instead? Then right-click on the album and select the “Rename Album” option. This gives you the flexibility to shape your folder structure according to your needs.

Rate and tag images

Rating your images is done through a simple system of stars. When you hover over an image, these stars appear in the bottom left, and you can rate the image with up to five stars. If you want to mark an image as a favorite, click on the heart icon that appears in the bottom right. This makes your selection more organized.

For efficient rating, you can also use keyboard shortcuts. Select an image and press the number keys 1 to 5 for star ratings. Press zero if you don’t like an image, or use the key “P” to mark the image as a favorite. If an image is unsuitable for you, simply press “X” to reject it.

Apply color tags

In addition to stars, it’s also possible to color tag images. Color labels are available which you can activate using the keys 6 to 9. Red for less successful photos or other colors for special categories. This allows you to browse and categorize your images more quickly, already at the initial rating.

Quick navigation through your images

One of the strengths of Luminar 4 is the easy navigation through your photo content. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to quickly switch between images and give ratings. This method not only helps you create results quickly but also builds a complete image collection at once.

If you want to take a closer look at an image, just double-click to switch to single view. There you can also show stars and make your ratings. The familiar keyboard shortcuts are available here as well.

Filters for targeted image selection

Another highlight is the ability to filter your images. You can say, “Show me all images with four or more stars,” and Luminar 4 will instantly show you the corresponding photos. This is especially useful if you want to see only your best work at a glance.

Unfortunately, the software currently does not offer an option for smart albums or keywords, which complicates comprehensive image organization. Nevertheless, you can create order with the available tools.

Manage RAW and JPEG pairs

If you have taken both RAW and JPEG images simultaneously, you can set how they should be displayed in the “Display” area. Whether you want to see both formats side by side or display only one of them, Luminar 4 also supports your workflow here.

Summary – Luminar 4: Simplified Management of Your Photos

In this tutorial, you have learned many strategies and tips on how to manage your images in Luminar 4. Through intuitive rating, targeted color coding, and flexible navigation, you can work more efficiently and optimally organize your photos.