Lumenzia: Recommended Learning Plan

Luminosity masking is a very complex topic. If you've already mastered it, then there are just a few key things to learn about Lumenzia itself to get going. If you haven't used luminosity masks, then you should expect to invest some time to get up the learning curve. Luminosity masks can not only be used anywhere you might have previously used masks or selections, but they are likely going to cause you to use them so much more because you can do so much more. Ultimately, I believe you'll find this investment of time to learn incredibly rewarding, as luminosity masks can unlock incredible results that are difficult or impossible to achieve otherwise. And once you've learned how to use them, they can often save you a significant amount of time as well by allowing you to work more precisely.

The optimal learning plan varies for each person depending on their starting point and ultimate objectives. However, I believe the following outline is generally very useful for most photographers:

  • Watch the "Quick Start" video. This may be found by clicking the "Tutorials" button in Lumenzia or going to the overview page. This provides a high-level overview of the Lumenzia workflow to get you started.
  • If at any point you have questions on the use of specific Lumenzia features, please use the "?" button at the bottom of Lumenzia, the "Tutorials" button at the bottom of Lumenzia, and the written manual (which may be found in the root of the ZIP download for the panel or via the top-right flyout menu in the Lumenzia v10 panel). The included videos and manuals serve as a reference on specific features. The Master Courses (see below) are designed to not only go much deeper on the most popular topics, but also organized as a complete learning experience to focus on important workflows.
  • The Lumenzia Basics panel has its own written manual in the ZIP download, as well as its own support page. This optional panel is installed by default with Lumenzia. It is built as a separate panel to give you more control over how it is displayed in Photoshop (to save space or have ready access as suits your needs). It has an emphasis on providing access to important functionality in Photoshop in case you do not know a broad range of Photoshop shortcuts. However, it goes beyond this and also offers some advanced functionality, such as the ability to apply Content Aware Fill on Smart Objects, so I recommend reviewing it even if you are a more advanced Photoshop user.
  • If you have purchased my master courses, I recommend first watching the Dodging and Burning Master Course first (if you already purchased and registered, just log in at gregbenzphotography.teachable.com). This course teaches the artistic principles and luminosity masking techniques to help create depth and dimension in any image. It is designed to be applicable for all skill levels, with introductory chapters for beginners and progressively working towards advanced levels. I recommend watching the course in order, but advanced users may skip any section marked for beginners or as optional. Be sure to read the written segments, as they are a critical part of the course (ie, the course is much, much more than just videos).
  • If you purchased the Exposure Blending Master Course, I recommend watching it next (if you already purchased and registered, just log in at gregbenzphotography.teachable.com). This course goes well beyond blending exposures for expanded dynamic range. In fact, the core lessons are about "multi-processing" a single RAW file, which allows you to extract more color and detail from any scene. This course is similarly designed to be watched in order, though advanced users may skip segments marked for beginners.
  • If you have purchased my Norway: start to finish course, that logically should be watched after the Master Courses, as it brings that knowledge together into a single complete workflow.
  • If you have purchased my Focus Stacking: start to finish course, that should be watched after the above. This is a more advanced course which builds on lessons of the Master Courses (and in particular shows how to combine exposure blending with focus stacking).