Dual Monitor Question

I need a bit of education here. Why do some people connect an additional monitor to the computers for post processing? One obvious reason would seem to be that a computer's display might be woefully small (e.g. a laptop). Other reasons?

Thank you for the info.

In my case the second monitor is used for a lot of Photoshop tool menus. I can leave them open and displayed there without them interfering with the image I'm editing on the main screen. Other times I can view two internet web sites simultaneously. Comes in handy too for creating slide shows. Music files on one and the slide-show program on the other.

I LOVE using two monitors. At the moment, I don't have a second that's "all that great" but I just really like the setup. Even searching Efray, or Gargole you can open up a search page on the left, size it down a little, and have a second page under, as well as one or more on the right. As one page is loading, you can concentrate on the other.

I've been using Ubuntu Linux. I REALLY didn't like with IE went to "tabs" nor do I like them on firefox. The thing is to "change the page" you have to go DOWN to the toolbar with the mouse, but then back to the TOP if one or more pages is "tabbed."

Originally, I setup a 2nd monitor when I was watching instructional videos on lynda.com. I'd run the video on my 2nd monitor while following along on my primary monitor. Once I had the setup, I realized how handy it was to have so much real estate.

I usually keep IM's, email, and secondary windows up on my 2nd monitor, while browsing or photo editing on my primary.

I currently have three attached to my desktop.

In the middle goes Lightroom/Photoshop, on the right is Bridge, and on the left is either Firefox or iTunes . My workflow is much faster, although color management becomes an issue.

Oh, and games are spectacular on such a wide aspect ratio .

I have two monitors for processing so that I can open up the image in one and the tool pallet in the other. Both are 24"

Also, one screen is landscape orientation and one is portrait. That helps too.

When I am not processing pictures on my computer I am working so reading spreadsheets while having a browser, email application and a calendar open at the same time and large enough to read without having to flip between them is nice.

kitjv wrote in post #9450373
I need a bit of education here. Why do some people connect an additional monitor to the computers for post processing? One obvious reason would seem to be that a computer's display might be woefully small (e.g. a laptop). Other reasons?

Thank you for the info.

Only reason for dual monitors: productivity.

Some people put tools and open folders on the second monitor. Some have other programs open in the second monitor. Some have premiere pro on one and aftereffects on the other. Some have one in landscape and another in portrait to view things as they should be. Some use the second screen function in LR2.

Me? I have LR2/photoshop on one screen, random videos/movies/music program on the other

OK, now this makes a lot of sense.

But I have to ask one bonehead question: How are different things displayed on each monitor simultaneously? (put "laugh track" here).

Thanks.

basroil wrote in post #9450574
Only reason for dual monitors: productivity.
Some use the second screen function in LR2.

And don't forget Bridge. Panels and Content on the Right, Preview on the left.

kitjv wrote in post #9450615
OK, now this makes a lot of sense.

But I have to ask one bonehead question: How are different things displayed on each monitor simultaneously? (put "laugh track" here).

Thanks.

In most cases, the two screens become one large desktop. You can position windows or panels pretty much wherever you want to, and use the Workspace menu item in the Window Menu in both Bridge and Photoshop to save the arrangement you set up.

I'm not sure if this answers your question about how they look together.

Left monitor

I have mine set up a lot like solinger's. I run lightroom on dual as well. as you can not edit on the second monitor, I set it at 1:1 and have a great close up/overview.

I also use it when hand coding things like galleries or web pages. I keep a "live copy" open in a browser on the second monitor as I code, simply crtl+S then refresh the browser and I can see the changes I made and the code at the same time.

kitjv wrote in post #9450615
OK, now this makes a lot of sense.
But I have to ask one bonehead question: How are different things displayed on each monitor simultaneously? (put "laugh track" here).
Thanks.

You have a choice, the second can be a "mirror" that is identical to the first monitor. Or you can chose. "Extend desktop" where it streaches the desktop to cover both monitors. You need to tell the OS where it sits in relation to the first monitor. You cab chose left, right, over, under, or even diagional to the first monitor. When you tell it where it is, the mouse knows how to jump screens.

kitjv wrote in post #9450615
OK, now this makes a lot of sense.

But I have to ask one bonehead question: How are different things displayed on each monitor simultaneously? (put "laugh track" here).

Thanks.

Drag an open screen from the main monitor to the other (web browser for instance). Open another web browser on the main screen - you can now surf both browsers independently. Just one of many things you can do.

I misunderstood your question...

It has been answered, your dual monitor set up can be used like a larger desktop. When you move your mouse to the right edge of your left monitor it will then move to the right monitor.

So not really two independent work areas, just one big one.

There is software that lets you swap between them, not sure why or how. Also, you can mirror your desktop from one to the other, again I have no idea why or how.

solinger wrote in post #9450761
I'm not sure if this answers your question about how they look together.

Left monitor

Right monitor

Adobe Bridge is open on my right monitor behind photoshop. I used to edit my portrait orientation photos open on the right with the tools on the left, but now I just zoom in as needed. I like the portrait orientated screen for work though

If you had windows, I would have told you to press ctrl+printscreen so both monitors show up on the same image. I'm sure OSX has something like it too. Would be easier to see than two different images