When is the best time to edit?

Wow, I usually edit my pics (RAW files) at night (in a dark room), but they seem pretty blah and dim when I view them in the light of day! What is the best time to edit, in your opinion?

Anytime I can edit is the best time to edit for me. I think the key is to keep the lighting consistant in the room that you edit in. I keep the curtains closed and the room well lit. The lighting looks the same wether it's day or night.

Q

I actually edit during the evening and night-time for the same reasons as you, YankeeMom. I don't really have the option of blocking out day-light. Moreover, during the weekdays I'm working, and on Saturday and Sunday I am OUTSIDE! lol.

I've been a "mixed bag" over the years. I never have "direct light" shining on my monitor. The most has been daylight coming from a northern window, so no sun. And then in the evening I've typically had an indirect lamp going, not really strong, either, although in my current situation I'm setup in my rented bedroom and, well, I don't have as much control of the lighting, I'll have to give that some further consideration...

But, all that being said, I'm pretty fastidious about having my monitor(s) turned down as soon as I get ahold of a new one. I'd rather crank an image to a brightness that looks good to me, not blown highlights but at the same time good shadow detail. If it produces a good print, that's pretty much what I aim at, even if the shots come across a bit bright on a "generic" display.

YankeeMom wrote in post #15462994
Wow, I usually edit my pics (RAW files) at night (in a dark room), but they seem pretty blah and dim when I view them in the light of day! What is the best time to edit, in your opinion?

I typically perform the deed early morning and watch my new creations reveal themselves as the sun rises.

tonylong wrote in post #15464123
...The most has been daylight coming from a northern window, so no sun...

Since when is there sun in the PNW?

KirkS518 wrote in post #15465372
Since when is there sun in the PNW?

Every so often we get a little sun lol. And when it does happen we all freak out.

I edit on my couch while the wife watches her tv shows in the evening. So lights are normaly all out. I also turn down the brightness of the laptop. I think I have found a good point to start from and the prints always look very close to what I see on the screen.

Thanks, everyone -- great feedback. I just wonder if an all-dark/black room is ideal for editing pics? (My monitor is calibrated and I watch the histogram closely.) Or is daylight (coming in), better? Looks like a mixed-bag so far, but thinking of the ideal.

http://www.kevinmillsp​hoto.com …/lighting-your-workspace/

Good link Rene.

I have a room with cardboard over the windows, permanently. This is where my computer is set up, so I am always editing in a dark room. Day or night doesn't matter - everything in "my area" is always drab and dark - except my screen!
I cannot stand any light or glare reflecting off my monitor - drives me nuts.