Ability to Use Tools on Primary Display while Keeping Palettes on Secondary Display

[willruggles]

In Develop Mode I would love to be able to have my palettes on my secondary, smaller monitor, and have the tools enabled to work on the image isolated on my primary graphics monitor.

As it is, I can either work on my primary display with the palettes, or put the main window with palettes on my secondary display, and view the image uncluttered on my primary display. But this is cumbersome, having to work on one display and do refined viewing on the other display. Alternately, if I put the main LR window on my primary display, I can isolate the image by hiding the palettes but then find it cumbersome having to mouse them open and perhaps scroll to get to the tool I need. I would find it much easier to have all my palettes up and available on a secondary monitor.

Lightroom is obviously still evolving from an app designed for a single monitor, but the Develop tools have become so good that I could do subtler and better work if my image was viewed and able to be worked on without the visual distraction of pallets. It is so much easier for me to perceive subtle tonal variations and enhancements on a display with only the image.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

 

[Brad Snyder]

Will, very frequently requested feature since day one. Rest assured that the design team is well aware of the user community's desire in this area. Impossible to say what they'll do with that knowledge.

Personally, I've learned to deal with the ergonomics of the situation, but what frustrates me is the lack of casual access to Library functionality while in Develop Module. Even something simple like tweaking a keyword, requires a concentration-breaking context switch.

In the meantime, if you haven't already, cast your vote, and register your opinion with an official Feature Request, there's a link on the toolbar at the top of the thread.

 

[willruggles]

Hey Brad,

Thanks for your response. I couldn't find posts about this in my search of Bugs and Requests, so I made a new post. This did surprise me though, and it makes sense the request went way back.

I agree on the Develop to Library easy access desire. These tools are getting so good that it enables us to dream of working in an expressive mind without distractions.

I did notice the Sticky at the top of the Forum Page and sent the request to Adobe, but thanks for the reminder.

Thanks,

 

[jid9p80vph]

One somewhat inelegant alternative (on a Windows machine, at least) is to use Lightroom in a window rather than full screen, and just drag the edges of that window over to the second monitor.

 

[ernie]

I too do what Marc suggests. In addition I use the dual monitor feature (located just above filmstrip when it's open) to have grid view open on the 2nd monitor. That way I don't need filmstrip taking up screen space. I have a 22" main monitor and the only way I could get the image any bigger would be to have a 24" or more so it could be taller.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Funnily enough, I always felt the same way, wanting to put the palettes on the other screen....

Then I had to use Capture One Pro (at a customer's request) the other day, which does have the detachable panels... and weirdly I found myself setting it up to look like Lightroom, complete with all the panels down the sides of the main screen!!!!!

That said, widescreen monitors are a huge advantage on this one - I can't imagine trying to use it on a 4:3 screen.

 

[willruggles]

Marc and Ernie,

Thanks for the tip. I think this is a decent answer if the displays are the same resolution, but unfortunately my second display has a lower resolution, so I am left with a big space below the image on my viewing display.

Victoria,

I think it is all what we need and how sensitive we are to visual distractions. My Primary display is 192'x12'' (wide.) If the palettes are on the side of that monitor they are easy to get to for quick work, but they are still visually distracting to me. Doable, but not what I prefer. I have Photoshop set up with the palettes on the other monitor, and the image all alone on the main one, and I find the quality of my work better this way.

Thanks,