Novice Seeking Advice on Color Management

richardplondon wrote:

In a little more detail: each Photoshop license (as with most software) is either for Windows, or for MacOS. You can install up to twice on whichever platform you have bought for. If you need to switch, there's a fee AFAIK to get a different license number from Adobe and you need to cease using the software on the prior OS. However, I am pretty sure you can switch platform as part of a paid version upgrade.

On the other hand, each Lightroom license is installable up to twice on whichever you like: both Windows, both MacOS, or one of each. It's no problem at all to switch later.

Another option is to combine LR with either PS Elements or else some older version of PS - which may prove sufficient. Many of the added automation, up-to-date Raw support and Bridge workflow features that you get by having a current copy of full Photoshop, are not so relevant in a setup where LR already has much of this covered. Also the ongoing costs of keeping up-to-date are then much lower.

Definitely the case for cheaper laptops - very frustrating (viewing-angle problems) and imprecise for both hue and tone, even if you do clamp your head in one place.

I read somewhere of an interesting setup using an iPad as a second monitor - which is at least of good quality.

However a good desktop monitor, with a reasonably high vertical resolution in particular, makes especially the Lightroom interface much nicer and more comfortable. Some widescreen aspect laptops are much less than 1000px high, so can show only a narrow window onto the LR or PS adjustment panels. You spend your whole time scrolling, collapsing and expanding things in order to get to the subpanel you need.