Michael Wilson
@atikusphoto9 Jul
Editing: Does screen size change your style?
I regularly edit in Lightroom across my desktop, iPad, and mobile. Today, I noticed something: I think my final images actually turn out differently depending on which device I used to edit them. Because it’s much easier to be granular on a desktop with a mouse, I find my desktop edits tend to be a lot more subtle and precise. On the other hand, when I'm using a touchscreen and dragging sliders with my thumb on a phone or iPad, my adjustments lean a bit heavier. Environment is also a factor. Desktop editing happens in a controlled room, whereas mobile editing usually happens on the go, under changing light or in transit, which definitely impacts how I perceive contrast and color. Does anyone else find this happens to them? Do you notice your style or the intensity of your edits shifting based on the hardware you're using?
For me, a photo almost always looks different after I’ve edited it on my computer and then viewed it on my phone. Sometimes I even wonder why I spent so much time perfecting all those tiny details when they aren’t even noticeable on a phone screen.
That’s why I follow a simple rule: edit photos on the device where they’ll actually be "consumed". For example, if I’m editing for social media - where the majority of people are viewing content on their phones (most likely iPhones) - I’ll do the final edit on my iPhone too, even though editing on a computer is a much more enjoyable experience.
100% this. I never shoot or process on or for mobile as I feel it's such a crap way to consume photography...
Nailed it! "such a crap way to consume photography" how very true. A good reason I rarely post on Instagram now
The majority of our outputs are seen on a phone (sadly) so I'll do it on a phone to make sure it looks OK. If I want to print or add to website, I'll likely revisit on desktop.
Saying that, I'll always do the edit (picking) on a laptop. Then edits I like doing on a phone.
All the things you've said are true Michael.
This lack of consistency is in my opinion a great shame.
Furthermore viewing images on larger screens (Desktop, laptop ipad etc) is a different experience and can have a distinct impact on the viewers visual reaction to an image. Phones,in my view never do justice to seeing a photo ....not just to see the sharpness but to get a real flavour and ambience of an image. I therefore spend much more time vewing photos on my desktop and sometimes on a TV screen. I also think there is a likelihood to avoid rapid scrolling on a desktop or TV, so to give a photo image enough tme to be 'taken in' by the brain. What do you think?
I actually often do all my editing on my phone. I really need to sort out a better set up.
If that is what works for you, I wouldn't stress about it. Feels like a totally valid way to edit