Correct color with a lap top: So I just bought my first lap top and absolutely love it. The only issue I have is that I don't know what angle I should have the screen in in order to...

stina3246 Loc: Orlando

So I just bought my first lap top and absolutely love it. The only issue I have is that I don't know what angle I should have the screen in in order to get the true color, exposure, contrast etc when editing photos in Lightroom.
In other words, if I have the screen tipped slightly back from a 90' angle and edit so I like it, then tip it to 90' it looks totally different. What angle should the screen be at in order to get a true idea of what the photo looks like when viewed on a PC?

EstherP

stina3246 wrote:

if I have the screen tipped slightly back from a 90' angle and edit so I like it, then tip it to 90' it looks totally different. What angle should the screen be at in order to get a true idea of what the photo looks like when viewed on a PC?

I'm on my third laptop, and always find that if I set the screen so that a little bit above the centre of it is at a right angle to my line of vision, the colours are best.
EstherP

stina3246 Loc: Orlando

Thanks but I don't mean for my own vision. I'm editing photos for a wedding so I want to make sure when they go to print them they will look good. I guess I should have mentioned that before.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

stina3246 wrote:

Thanks but I don't mean for my own vision. I'm editing photos for a wedding so I want to make sure when they go to print them they will look good. I guess I should have mentioned that before.

I know tons of people do it and get great results, but laptops are not considered the best tool for critical post processing as it applies to color issues for exactly the issues you stated.

So ya'll be careful, now, yahear.

EstherP

stina3246 wrote:

Thanks but I don't mean for my own vision. I'm editing photos for a wedding so I want to make sure when they go to print them they will look good. I guess I should have mentioned that before.

But in order to see the most correct colours, you do have to start with your own vision.
Like you said, if you tilt the screen differently you get different colours and you wouldn't want a blue wedding dress that should be white, would you? This happens with my laptop, if I don't tilt the screen far enough back: whites show as blue.
Having said all that, wedding photos are a pretty special thing to be editing, and for something that important, why not use a desktop?
My granddaughter is getting married in August and I'll be "doing" the wedding. Even though my laptop will go with me for my convenience, she is going to have to wait till I have edited the photos on my desktop at home!
EstherP

olcoach Loc: Oregon

If there is $ and professionalism involved you really need a desk top.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I do most of my editing on a laptop, and even calibrated, the viewing angle is critical. Even if I move from one chair to another, the view changes. For anything that really matters, I use an old, but very good CRT monitor. Since everyone's gone LCD you can pick them up for next to nothing.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

stina3246 wrote:

So I just bought my first lap top and absolutely love it. The only issue I have is that I don't know what angle I should have the screen in in order to get the true color, exposure, contrast etc when editing photos in Lightroom.
In other words, if I have the screen tipped slightly back from a 90' angle and edit so I like it, then tip it to 90' it looks totally different. What angle should the screen be at in order to get a true idea of what the photo looks like when viewed on a PC?

This little $15 device actually works:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/652830-REG/Acratech_6005S_Viewing_Angle_Gauge_Silver.html

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

robert-photos wrote:

This little $15 device actually works:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/652830-REG/Acratech_6005S_Viewing_Angle_Gauge_Silver.html

True, Robert, as long as you always sit in the same place, in which case, what's the point of having a laptop. To expand on my previous post, if I'm sitting at the kitchen table and have the screen to keyboard at a constant angle, good. If I move to the living room and sit my laptop on the coffee table, I'm viewing at a different angle.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

OddJobber wrote:

True, Robert, as long as you always sit in the same place, in which case, what's the point of having a laptop. To expand on my previous post, if I'm sitting at the kitchen table and have the screen to keyboard at a constant angle, good. If I move to the living room and sit my laptop on the coffee table, I'm viewing at a different angle.

Not true, you just adjust the screen vertical angle based on the indicator and your angle of view is 90 degrees. It is a simple device and I can attest that it works. It is attached to your laptop with a bit of velcro.

If side to side viewing is a problem then you must center yourself on the screen but that is a given for any screen, laptop, desktop, LCD or CRT.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Okey dokey, since you have one and I don't. It just doesn't look adjustable in the link.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

OddJobber wrote:

Okey dokey, since you have one and I don't. It just doesn't look adjustable in the link.

It is not adjustable. Your screen is the adjustable part.

Here is a video:

http://acratech.net/pages.php?pageid=12

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Okay, that's much clearer now. I didn't understand how it mounted. Looks like I gotta get one of those! Thanks, Robert.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

And I don't sit off center. I just shove a couple of couch potato dogs out of the way and sit wherever I want to. ;)

The Watcher

stina3246 wrote:

So I just bought my first lap top and absolutely love it. The only issue I have is that I don't know what angle I should have the screen in in order to get the true color, exposure, contrast etc when editing photos in Lightroom.
In other words, if I have the screen tipped slightly back from a 90' angle and edit so I like it, then tip it to 90' it looks totally different. What angle should the screen be at in order to get a true idea of what the photo looks like when viewed on a PC?

Here's an article about laptops and photo editing that will tell you why you may be having problems with your laptop.

http://www.laptopreviews.com/laptop-guide-advantages-of-ips-display-laptops-and-where-to-find-them-2011-12