Brian

That display should work.

DisplayPort has a higher bandwidth and refresh rates, so you can have multiple displays with a high resolution on one single port. HDMI is basically one Monitor per port. DisplayPort is also Royalty Free, so manufactures don't have to pay a licensing fee for each device. HDMI had ARC / eRC Tech, which is why you see them on TVs and they can not only transmit video, but also audio. Display Port has a more robust connector, usually with a release latch. HDMI is more universal because it's been around a lot longer. Basically, it's two technologies that are similar but have their own strengths. For me, I'd use a DisplayPort over a HDMI with a computer. 4K Resolution and DisplayPort just seems to "work" better, but this is due to the higher bandwidth with that technology type. For my Home Theater Setup, it's HDMI all the way. The choice for @KimMoore is based on WHAT she is using. If her Computer Monitor(s) are hooked up with a HDMI cable, then select HDMI. Likewise, if she is using a DisplayPort...then it's DisplayPort for the selection. Many higher end cards, like the NVIDIA RTX 4070 or RTX 4080 have both ports on them and it really depends on what you are using with your monitor.

You can get one of each. I'd recommend finding a Thunderbolt 3/4 or even Thunderbolt 5 if they exist, and I'd start off with one that will live on your Desk. Keep in mind, that not all Thunderbolt Ports on your MacBooks are the same, it's usually the ones on the left side tend to be the fastest. You want to use a 40Mbps or better Thunderbolt Port on your laptop.

You should get 4-5 years out of it. It all depends on how much Bloatware and AI Crap Adobe adds to Photoshop. As for a Dock, I like and purchase Anker's Stuff. How portable to you want this Dock to be? The type that acts as some sort of "Station / Hub" or one you can throw in your bag and take with you? Since you are getting a new Mac with Thunderbolt 5 Ports, you will want a Thunderbolt Port that is TB3/TB4...in which you want one that does at least 40Mbps. Here are some: Docking Stations for Mac

If you are using external IPS monitors for editing in both locations, then get whatever. That Dell Alienware is fine. I thought you were editing solely on the Laptop's Display. The only thing you will need to worry about is calibrating both Displays and then making sure the correct profile is loaded for the particular Monitor.

THE BIGGEST THING WITH A LAPTOP USED FOR PHOTO EDITING IS A IPS DISPLAY PANEL. That alone is damn near impossible to find in a lot of laptops. So while your IT guy might push Dell, which is fine...it's the stupid IPS Display that you NEED. What's so important about IPS? An IPS Display has consistent colors, contrast, brightness from corner to corner. Plus it has a better Viewing Angle. All of these things are kinda important for PHOTO EDITING WORK. I do not care how "great" a particular Dell Laptop is, if you are using it to edit photos, IT NEEDS TO HAVE A IPS DISPLAY PANEL. Period. See this? No mention of IPS. Most laptops use a TN Display Panel, which is great for everything else BUT Photo Editing. IF THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT MENTION IPS, SKIP-IT!! The other thing you need to look for is a robust video card with at least 8GB dedicated Video Memory. I like NVIDIA RTX 4070 and RTX 4080 with 8GB - 12GB of dedicated Video Memory. Photoshop has become bloated with fancy tools, AI Crap amongst other things...all use the Video GPU in order to function. So if you get a Laptop that doesn't have a high-end video card, the current version of Photoshop CC will complain and sometimes flat-out not work. Basically, you need a Gaming Laptop with a IPS Display. That Dell Alienware Laptop almost checked all the boxes, and would be "fine" if you were using an External IPS Display. But since you need to be portable, your needs are a bit different.

If I was building a computer, with a large budget...I'd just get a 4080. Is it worth the extra $$$'s...yes, but your ROI won't be achieved for another few years. The 4070 is "fine" for the foreseeable future, and a 4080 is just extra security and in a sense...bragging rights. How so? The 4080 is meant for Photoshop that is even a bigger piece of Bloatware that requires even more Hardware Resources in say...3 years or so. Will a 4070 be able to handle the PS 3+ years from now? Yes. But the 4080 will do it "better." Especially at the 7 year mark of your computer's lifespan, the 4080 with 12GB of VRAM will buy you more time than a 4070 before you are forced to replace your computer. That said, a 4070 should also work "fine." Do you want the base model with cloth seats AC and a basic stereo or the DX model that has heated leather seats, a better stereo, and a upgraded trim package, plus all the other stuff from the Base Model? It's kinda like that. I will say, a 4090 is not an option and there is no value in buying one for Photoshop work. 4070 is beefy, the 4080 is the upgraded model with extra comforts. A $500 up-charge from Dell, that's a tough pill to swallow. If I was buying computer parts and assembling my computer, a 4080 all the way. If I was buying a computer from Dell? I'd just get a 4070. By the time you are wanting a 4080 in a Dell, you are in the market for a new Dell. I'd save your money. As for the monitor, whatever you choose, you NEED a IPS Based Display for Photo / Video Editing work. It's tough to find a "30 Inch" IPS Display, it seems to jump from 27" to 32" along with the price. So what's your budget? If you do truly want a 32" Display, you are looking at around $900 for one. The 27" models will be around $500 or so. It is so tough for me to recommend a display these days, just due to the stupid "Blue Light Reduction" Tech, which we do not want, as it fucks with your colors (I don't care WHAT the sales literature says; if the manufacturer claims that reducing the blue doesn't affect the colors, Bullshit...then it's reducing color somewhere else to compensate.) Plus, the higher-end monitors are intended for Gamers, which have all sorts of High Refresh Rates, which you won't use, but it does add to the cost. Hence the $900 price-point. What you need: IPS Display Panel Matte Coating / Matte Screen or Non-Glossy sRGB 95% or better No Blue Reduction or other similar tech 60 Hz Refresh Rate Non-Curved Resolution: 2560 x 1440 for a 27" or you can go 4K. Do not buy a 1920 x 1080 screen for 27" Displays or larger; the 1920x1080 resolution is meant for 24" Displays and smaller. Everything else is just bragging rights or stuff you will never use. Damien and I usually start with the Dell Ultra Sharp IPS Displays. To get you started, here is one I would buy: Dell UltraSharp 31.5" 4K HDR Monitor. It's also on sale.

One thing to note!!! MAKE SURE ALL OF THE LENOVO DRIVERS ARE UP-TO-DATE OTHERWISE PHOTOSHOP WILL COMPLAIN. There is a Lenovo Utility Software package that goes out and finds the drivers for you. Also, make sure Windows is up-to-date as well, and I'd do this before installing Photoshop.

Buy this and be happy: Lenovo 16" Legion Pro 7i Gaming Laptop

Have you tried calibrating with Damien's instructions? This should work for you: https://www.damiensymonds.net/calibration-instructions/calibrite-colorchecker-display-pro-desktop.html

If I were to buy a new Calibrator today, I'd opt for the most up-to-date model. The Spyder X Elite has been replaced by the Spyder X2 Elite. I'm sure the cost savings going with the X Elite caught your eye and it's still a fine calibrator. The Elite has ALL of the software features turned on, and should be able to calibrate your screen nicely. Why bother with the X2 Elite then? It's for the monitor you have yet to purchase. While the Spyder X Elite will work fine for your current display, I'm worried about the one you will end up buying 2 years from now. As I've stated multiple times in various threads; I hate-hate-hate wasting money on this shit. Nothing would burn me up more than forking out a couple of hundred bucks for a Calibrator, only have to fork out another few hundred for a new one because my cheap-ass didn't fork out the money when I should have. In the end, I pay MORE than I'd expected to. Make sense? Damien wrote this article, I'd give it a read: Which Monitor Calibrator to Buy

Windows Based Computers for Photo Editing: What to look for in 2025. (Late March 2025 Version) Still to this day, one of the MOST asked questions that I receive, both here and FB Ask Damien, is... "What computer do you recommend for editing photos?" or "What's a "good" computer for Photo Editing?" There are several different versions of these two questions and they are all asking or requesting the same thing: Just Tell Me What to Buy!!!! So what has changed from the WTB Article that I wrote back in 2023? Again, not much. In fact, I just copied and pasted my article from 2023, with a few tweaks. Most of the time, if people are asking here, they just want general guidelines on what to buy, so I'm going to stick with the basics. So here is the run-down... Heading into 2025...Photoshop continues to require more-and-more from the Hardware that it's installed on, AND THE CHOICE OF VIDEO CARD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CPU!!! At it's core, Photoshop is still Photoshop and hasn't changed THAT much since CS6. What has changed is Adobe keeps adding "Fancy Tools" such as Content Aware, more bloat overall and the latest thing on the Market: AI Technology. It's all of these fancy tools & AI Crap that really tax older hardware; if you are trying to run the latest version of Photoshop CC, on a computer from before 2020, hell...even 2022, you are going to run into problems or error messages. Meaning, you will know just how "old" your computer is with the current versions of Adobe Photoshop CC. Heading into 2025, this is what I recommend for a Windows Computer that will be using the current versions Adobe Photoshop CC. My preferred items will be marked in bold: Intel i7 or i9 CPU (AMD Ryzen Equivalent) 32GB of RAM / 64GB RAM Preferred 1TB Main Hard Drive A NVIDIA RTX 4070 or NVIDIA RTX 4080 Video Card with 8GB - 16GB of dedicated Video Memory IPS-Based / Non-Glossy or Matte Display Windows 11Pro I realize that most folks today understand those terms in 2025, but I'm covering it for those who need this info: CPU - This stands for Central Processing Unit. It's the "Brain" of your computer. There are different types and brands which usually determines performance on how things work. This is the #1 thing that people tend to grab onto, they know that a i7 is "better" than a i5, likewise an i9 CPU is "better/faster" than a i7. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. You see, software needs to be programmed to take advantage of what makes a higher-end CPU chip so fast. Photoshop is now just taking advantage of what an i7 can offer, and really doesn't utilize a Intel i9 as much as you think it would. Intel i5 CPUs are yesterday's "Affordable" Chips; they were the middle of the road and got the job done. Since the older versions of Photoshop didn't take advantage of a i7 CPU, it didn't make sense to spend the extra money. Well, now in 2023...the latest versions of Adobe Photoshop CC do take advantage of a i7's Architecture. Intel i9? Notsomuch. There is some performance boost, but not enough to spend the extra money on a i9. In fact, I'd rather folks purchase a more affordable i7 CPU and take those savings to put towards a better Video Card. RAM - This stands for Random Access Memory. This type of memory is what your computer uses to do it's work in. The more you have, the better your computer functions and "Breathes" easier. Hard Drive - This is usually abbreviated to HD and is the long-term storage of your computer. Like RAM, there is no such thing as "Too Much;" the larger the capacity of your HD, the better your programs like it and the more things can be stored on the Hard Drive. A Main Hard Drive is where your Software Programs and Operating System reside. Computers can have multiple Hard Drives, both Internal and External, but we are just going to talk about the Main HD in this article. I will say in 2024/2025, that a Main Hard Drive of 1TB in size is non-negotiable. DO NOT PURCHASE A COMPUTER / LAPTOP THAT HAS ANYTHING SMALLER THAN A 1TB HD. A 500GB is too small, a 2TB is a bit over-kill and something like s 256GB, or less...don't make me laugh. A 1TB HD is in the "Goldilocks Zone," enough space for your OS, OS Updates and Programs, while giving you enough "Breathing Room" for your computer to work well. Side-note in regards to the Internal Hard Drive: A 1TB Internal Hard Drive is just meant for Photoshop CC to work well and to keep the Operating System happy, especially when it comes to having enough space to install Patches / Updates. While you can store images and other data files on the HD, with cameras increasing MP numbers, causes Raw files to increase in size. For example, my Nikon D850 creates around 100MB Uncompressed Raw Files, and you'd be surprised on how quickly a 1TB drive fills up with such files. So while getting a 1TB Main HD is important, you should budget for a 2nd LARGER HD TO HOUSE YOUR FILES. This could be a simple external HD, like a 12TB model, or something more robust like a NAS with multiple HDs working in unison for better redundancy and data storage. I have a future article in mind that will explore this "More Robust" option. If you still are confused, I've written yet another article on this subject, titled, "All About Memory - The Difference between Hard Drives & RAM." Please, give it a read. Anyway...if a person purchases a computer with a small main hard drive, they will ultimately run into problems, not only from lack of storage capacity, but from an operational standpoint as well. A full HD is a sad HD. Programs will come to a screeching halt, and generate all sorts of error messages when a HD becomes low on space, especially Adobe Photoshop. With a 256GB (or smaller HD,) that capacity is MICROSCOPIC by today's standards; at those capacities, that HD is meant for the Operating System and one or two programs ONLY, forget about any data files or photos. Forget about software / OS updates. Unfortunately, with today's modern computers in 2023, a 256GB Main HD is CHEAP, manufacturers use them to keep costs low, so you will need to do your due-diligence and check out the specifications of Hard Drive Capacity for the Computer Model you are looking at. Video Card - This is the device in your computer that is responsible for your Monitor to have the ability to display something. There are TWO KINDS OF VIDEO CARDS: Integrated - This type of Video Card is built into the Motherboard and instead of having a dedicated chip to do Video Compiling (The 1's and 0's that make up a image,) uses the CPU chip to accomplish this task. In addition, this type of Video Card does not have its own memory but instead uses a section of the Computer's RAM in order to function. Non-Integrated - Non-Integrated can be a physical card that resides in a Expansion Slot on a Desktop Computer OR reside as part of the Motherboard, which is typically found in Laptops. The main difference with a Non-Integrated Video Card is that it has its own "Brain" called a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and it's own dedicated memory called "VRAM" or Video RAM. You will typically see this type of memory listed below the RAM, usually in small increments...2GB / 4G / 6GB / 8GB, etc. What trips people up is when you get to the larger capacities, like 8GB of Video RAM; which is a completely different kinds of Memory than RAM. In 2023, you want at least 8GB or more of dedicated Video RAM. As I've mentioned above, in addition to creating a Video Signal that gives you something to see, Video Cards have under-utilized components that are FAST. This causes software developers to tap into this potential for a performance boost, and it is noticeable, not just with Photoshop. To illustrate, I recently tried out Topaz's Software, just to see how well it worked. I used both the Sharpness and De-Noise Programs. In each of their preferences, there was an option to "Use the Video Card" or to just use the CPU. I can say with complete certainty, there was a difference in performance when using the Video Card. For example, a photo that was being sharpened or de-noise was being applied took about 2 minutes for a large Panorama to complete. When I applied the same settings but used the Video Card, that same routine took roughly 30-45 seconds! So you can see the benefit to having a high-performance Video Card. It does make a difference. IPS-Based Display or In-Plane Switching Display - This is also one of those non-negotiable items. Your Computer's Display, if you are editing Photos, it needs to be IPS Based. Period. Why? IPS Screens have a better / greater viewing angle, and has better Contrast, Color and Sharpness that is more consistent from corner to corner. Which if you think about it, is kinda important when it comes to editing Photos & Video. I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND a Display that has Anti-Glare Coatings or is Non-Glossy for those editing photos. Windows 11 - Microsoft will continue to support at least one Windows 10 release until October 14, 2025, but has since stopped selling License Keys for Windows 10. After that October 2025 date, it will no longer be supported, patched / updated. Just like Windows XP, Window 7, etc. and other versions of Windows in the past. "End of LIfe" is "End of Life." Personally, I like Windows 11 Pro due to it being more robust and easier to deal with when things go wrong. Now don't get me wrong...the "Home" version works just fine, but I don't like Windows getting in my way with "Wizards" trying to "help" which never seem to work. That said, I'm more of a Power User and am used to dealing with Windows directly. For the average consumer, Windows 11 Home is fine.

Right now, from the information that you provided, buying a new display is not going to fix your problem. We need to get you Calibrated and straightened out BEFORE you spend money on a new display. Now, will you eventually be purchasing a new Display? It's plausible, but I want to see if we can get things working out first; I hate wasting money and would feel terrible that you fork out $500 (or whatever) only to be right back at square #1.

You need to convert in Adobe Camera Raw. Raw File Created by Camera >> Loaded into ACR >> Converted to the sRGB Color Space >> THEN you do your Raw Edits >> Finally, your Photo is imported into Photoshop already in sRGB and you do your final edits. This way what you see is what you (should) get. WYSIWYG. No surprises. No colors changing on you. What needs to change in your workflow is when converting to sRGB takes place. You do not want to edit in Adobe RGB (1998) with ACR, keep Adobe RGB (1998) in Photoshop, then have your colors shift because the default color space with .jpg files is sRGB!!! That's why we want you to be in sRGB at the start of your edits, because as soon as you save as a .jpg / .jpeg, your colors WILL shift if editing in Adobe RGB (1998) or Prophoto (Lightroom's default and ONLY color space.) Before you drive yourself nuts, let's make sure your Photoshop and ACR are setup correctly: Setting up Photoshop

Agreed. FreeFileSync

Well, it's a different display. Direct upgrade? No. Modern 4K 27" Display that has a IPS Panel? Yes. So I guess you can call it an upgrade in a sense of the word.

Well, if the lab uses Adobe 1998, that's fine. BUT! The default colorspace for JPEG is sRGB. So if you are uploading .jpeg files to your printer, your colors are shifting. If you upload .jpg to a website or FB or whatever, you are in sRGB. This is why Damien and I jump up-and-down about sRGB, because...chances are, you are going to end up there. What are you looking for your screen replacement, and why? Is your screen not big enough? Is it failing, or are you upgrading just for something new? The good news is, your Dell U2419H is an IPS Display, so if it's working, keep rocking it. Unless you want bigger / fancier.

I usually start with recommending a Dell Ultrasharp IPS Display. Things to look for: IPS Display Panel. This is non-negotiable. If the company doesn't advertise it, chances are it's not a IPS Display. 95% or better sRGB coverage. You do not want a 1920 x 1080p resolution on ANY monitor that is 27" or greater. A 1080p Display is fine for 24" and below. Why? 1080p looks like ass on a large screen; we aren't watching TV, we are editing photos. You want at least a 2560 x 1440 for a 27" display or 4K. You do not want a display that reduces any colors, such as Blue Light. Or if it does have that feature, there should be a way to turn it off. You do not want your monitor messing with your colors, especially if you are editing photos. Matte Finish or Matte Coating, you want to avoid Glossy Screens. Avoid Curved Displays. While it sounds cool, you are editing photos, not playing video games. Do not buy a Touchscreen; we have enough issues as it is with displays, do not add fingerprints to the mix. Plus Touchscreens are a bitch to calibrate. Your calibrator should be fine, just make sure your software is up to date. I found this monitor, Dell S2721QS and this one, which really checks all of the boxes: Dell UltraSharp U2723QE. There seems to be limited supply for that U2723QE, and it's on sale, so if you have the fundage, I'd click buy sooner, rather than later.

I've might have missed a few talking points and I'd like to add a bit of Postscript here in this section. It seems that my integrity and authenticity has come into question, and I was even accused of being some sort of AI Bot. Which is ridiculous. I am as real as it gets. So I will add a bit of a FAQ, or at least some clarification questions that might be on someone's mind. Q: Can I use my existing Calibrator with the Mac Studio Display or should I purchase a new model? A: Thank you for bringing this up!!! I completely forgot about adding a new Calibration Device into the mix. The real answer is, "...it depends." Some modern Calibrators, Like the SpyderX Series should be compatible, but if you have a older device, like a Spyder5 Series...then you WILL need to purchase a new one, as the Display Panel itself may not be compatible. Check your Manufacture's website for additional information, and make sure the Calibration Software is compatible with the current MacOS. I'd hate for you to waste money on something that you do not need. That being said, I'd budget for one regardless. Q: Do I really need to Calibrate? It's a Mac, I thought they were good? A: The reality is, ALL SCREENS NEED TO BE CALIBRATED if you are doing things like editing Photos and/or Video. If Color Accuracy is critical, then you need to Calibrate. Period. I have never-ever stated that you do not need to Calibrate. You should Calibrate MONTHLY and compare your screen a set of PHYSICAL PRINTS; you simply do not run the calibration routine and call it good. It doesn't work that way. As for Mac Displays...yes, they tend to have a premium look to them, BUT! they also tend to run on the cool / blue side of things. Why? Because manufacturers like to sell Displays and TVs, so they will make their screens a bit blue and bump up things like saturation and contrast. It creates a "Wow" factor that makes people want to buy them. Same thing goes with Camera Body LCD Displays. Unfortunately, if your screen is too cool, then you will make you prints too yellow. Likewise, if your screen is too bright, and Mac Displays are REALLY BRIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, then your prints will come out dark. Getting Calibrated not only straighten things out, and gets things matching, by Calibrating monthly, you are ensuring your screen hasn't changed. After Calibration, you will find out on just how COOL the Mac Screens are AND how much detail you don't see. So yes...for those in the back, you do need to calibrate, even a Mac Screen. Q: $4500?!?!!! Forty-five Hundred?!?!?!!!! Are you insane? Are you sure there isn't a cheaper option? My 2012 iMac wasn't this expensive!! A: I know I'm asking a lot. Things just cost more in 2024/2025. Just think, the average cost of a home in 2024 is around the $420,000 mark, and can go higher depending on the local housing market that you might be located in. These same homes would sell for around $219,000-ish if this was 2019 or earlier. Inflation and Tariffs on Chinese Imports, (and it's all Made in China,) plus COVID shutting the supply chain down opened "Pandora's Box," and I don't think we will ever see the prices that people paid 5 years ago, let alone 10+ years ago; the days of the $999 computer that is "Good Enough," are over. There is also a "Method to my Madness." Can you go with a cheaper option? Of course...but you will be purchasing a new computer sooner, rather than later. The Apple Studio Display should last a couple of Mac Desktop Upgrades over the years, so while you are forking out the extra money in the beginning, you are saving it on the back-end. Plus, even though a lower-cost (less powerful) Mac should work for the current versions of Adobe's Products, that might not be the case within 18-24 months. With each Photoshop / LR / ACR / Bridge Update, more and more is being required from the Hardware Specifications; if you don't have the "Beefy" and "Robust" Hardware to begin with, compatibility problems increase, and error messages are almost guaranteed. It seems there is always an up-tick in posts when folks upgrade their Adobe Software and have nothing but problems or ACR / PS / LR complains about something not being compatible, or flat-out not working. Then you are forced to downgrade to the last version that worked with your computer and stay there. No updating for you!! Not yours!!! With each and every update, Adobe adds more AI Features / Bloatware that convince people that they want to continue their Adobe CC Subscription; it keeps people hooked convincing them of things that they want, rather than what they need. Are the AI / Content Aware Features a good thing to have? Absolutely, they can be a huge time saver. But this is at the cost of having powerful hardware in order to run those fancy modules & tools. In fact, ACR has been warning people for YEARS that their particular Graphics Cards aren't powerful enough and ACR will soon not be compatible with those under-powered Graphics Cards. Adobe is now making good on that promise, and the problem is only going to get worse as time goes on. When I configure my recommendations, I have a 7-8 year lifespan in mind, Especially when it comes to Apple's products, since there is NO UPGRADING AFTER THE INITIAL PURCHASE! I also hate wasting money by either not purchasing the right thing...or worse yet, not purchasing "enough." I would hate for someone to blow a large sum of money, at least from my POV, only to be told that they bought the wrong thing and they should have bought ___________. Or be told that they need a new computer to replace the one that was purchased less than 18 months ago, because software upgrades move fast these days. Speaking of which, at its core...Photoshop is still Photoshop. In fact, not much has changed since CS6! It's all the other stuff being added to PS that is requiring more horsepower from computer hardware; remember Photoshop is Professional Grade Software, even if you aren't a Professional and are more of a Hobbyist. Adobe expects you to keep your Hardware current, in order to take advantage of the latest versions, and that's where people get tripped up. Q: Are you sure that I need the Studio Display? I mean, $1600 is A LOT for a monitor. A: Short answer: Yes. Apple has done this intentionally. Long Answer: Also Yes...but you aren't just buying just a display. There is more to the Apple Studio Display, that helps drive up the cost. From Wikipedia: So as you can see, there is more to it than just a Display. Now, do I personally think Apple should have a lower-cost option, and just have a Display? Absolutely!!! I have a perfectly fine and working set of speakers, and I have enough charging ports that I don't necessarily need the extra Thunderbolt Ports, and I would LOVE if they had a $999 Display-only Version, minus all the other fancy technology. Always remember, this is Apple we are talking about, they have never been cheap. "Go Big or Go Home." Q: Are you a real person? You have a lot of AI generated photos on your FB Profile... A: I am a real person. I've been involved with computers in one form or another since 1981/1982. I was first exposed to the Timex Sinclair ZX80 and later a Tandy 1000. Then when I hit 6th grade in Junior High, I was exposed to the Apple IIe computers, then played with the Apple Macintosh in 1984. I started in Computer Sales, actually sold Nintendo Video Games / Systems in the late 1980's during High School, and switched over to being a Professional Computer Technician in January 1993. I'm very good at spending other people's money, it's a gift, and have a knack for explaining things to people who aren't necessarily tech-savvy. I've been doing this very thing FOR YEARS. Actually, Decades. Q: How much do you really get paid from Manufactures? Do you receive any kick-backs for your recommendations? A: I receive absolutely no money from any Manufacture or reseller, whatsoever. Yep. Read that again. I receive ZERO Dollars from any Manufactures. I do not have any sort of commissions, and would actually love it if a company that I recommend on a normal basis sends me either free shit or better yet...actual money. But that doesn't happen. Rest assured, ANYTHING that I link to is just me pointing you in the right direction to go buy something. I do not even have an Amazon Affiliate Link Account Setup. If you are wondering why, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania likes to charge taxes on those type of things...and I don't want to fill out any more forms/paperwork or pay any additional tax to PA for ANYTHING. That said, sometimes members want to make a donation for me helping them out, AND saving them a boatload of cash; this is more of a "Buy Brian a Beer" amount than anything. It's always on a case-by-case basis, is initiated by the person and is NEVER a form of compensation. It’s also rare for it to happen. From time to time, you will see me post my Donation Link, when a member asks for it, such as this: >>> What I recommend is what I would buy with my own money, and I hate wasting money on technology. <<< I'm also a firm believer in "Buy it Right, Buy it Once..." and will tell people to buy _______________, which often is the higher-end model. I do not buy cheap shit. Period. I will save up, wait, and then purchase the item in question if needed. The phrase, "...well it's just as good as..." almost NEVER enters my vocabulary. As for the AI stuff, those photos / images on my Facebook are just goofy things that I swiped from the internet and use for my own personal amusement. Most of the time, you will see the "South Park" Version of me, or something similar; like the Angry Birds Blackbird that Explodes. This character is just a visual representation of my usual grumpy & brutally honest self and is not intended to fool anyone. I also am not very photogenic and never take selfies or have many photos of myself. (Yes, I'm one of THOSE people who's F&F will be scrambling for a photo of me when I die.) Plus, I work in IT, and you would be surprised on what you don't know and how your data is used; I like to try and keep a small digital footprint, though truth-be-told, my info is out there for all to see. Stupid Internet / Social Media. I really need to reel that in, come to think of it. But I digress... At the end of the day, this forum is my opinion on what I recommend and what I would purchase. All I can do is give away my knowledge for free, and it's up to you on how to spend YOUR MONEY. If you decide to not take my advice, that's fine. Fantastic!! I only hope that my opinion / statements give you an additional perspective before making a certain purchase. I just like helping others and sharing my head full of worthless knowledge. (My Wife asks, "How the Hell do you know that..." on a normal basis when watching Game Shows like Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune; everyone wants to be my Trivial Pursuit Partner. Now the question of, "Why do you do this for free?" Because I enjoy helping others, and am a firm believer in Karma. I feel what you put out into the world is returned to you in some way. If I can help a person out, awesome. If I can make them think, before making a dumb decision, that's also a good thing.

Yep. Do that.

Head to Apple's Website, Apple.com, and click the Mac Menu at the top, select MacBook Pro: Wait for the animation to complete, then click "Buy." Select 16" Then click "M4 Max." Look towards the one on the right, which should be the most expensive model. Remember, when it comes to the Modern Versions of Photoshop CC, it's ALL ABOUT THE GPU CORES. Be sure to choose the desired color, either Space Black or Silver. Click Select at the bottom of the column on the right. Stick with the Standard Display I'd upgrade the RAM to 64GB unified memory. Remember, there is NO UPGRADING ANYTHING AFTER THE INITIAL PURCHASE. 128GB is complete overkill for Photoshop CC and 64GB is more than enough, even with large MP cameras. Leave the HD at the default, 1TB. It's completely up to you if you want to spend $400 more. For me, 1TB is perfectly fine, even headed into 2025. The subtotal should be $4199, before Apple Care & Applicable Local Taxes. Click Add to Bag. Select the AppleCare+ for your Mac. Some want to pay a flat fee and just have a block of coverage and some folks plan on keeping their MacBooks for 7 years or so, in which case they pay annually for it. Since Apple is the only ones that supply parts, and they are the ones to fix things, then it makes sense to fork out the extra $$ for AppleCare+. Just be sure to purchase AppleCare+ by clicking Add to Bag after you have made your choice! Click Review Bag. It should appear as follows: Then make your selection for Payment at the bottom. Conversationally speaking, the cost should be around $4500 for a M4 MacBook Pro. This configuration should last you at least 5-7 years, if not more.

Head to Apple's Website, Apple.com, and click the Mac Menu at the top, select Mac Mini: Click Buy after the animation completes. Start by selecting "Mac" and choose the M4 Pro. Please keep this in mind!! At the time of this writing, THERE ARE FOUR COLUMNS TO CHOOSE FROM, instead of the usual 3!! We are after the GPU Cores, and the ONLY way you can obtain them is by going with the more expensive 12-Core CPU / 16-Core GPU option!! That said, we will be upgrading to an even more powerful version: Select the "Apple M4 Pro chip with 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine" for $200 more. (Remember!! It's all about the GPU Cores now with PS & LR. The more the better!) Increase the RAM to 64GB of unified memory. Sure, you could get by with 48GB, but since there is no upgrading after-the-fact, might as well go the "Full Monty" and get 64GB. It's only money, right? Increase the Hard Drive to 1TB. It's up to you if you want a larger internal drive, but 1TB is still "fine" heading into 2025. Chances are, you are going to have a large 20TB External Thunderbolt 3/4 Drive anyway. Ethernet. If you are planning on upgrading your Internet to your home that is above 1Gbps to something like 2.5Gbps or faster, then you will need the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Port. If you are in an area that doesn't have those internet speeds, the default Gigabit Ethernet is also fine. This option is totally up to you. For Techno-weenies like me, spending this much money on a stupid Mac Mini, might as well spend the extra $100. I plan on upgrading to 2.5Gbps (hell, I will probably get 10Gbps,) so the higher end Ethernet Port is what I'm after. For the other 99.999999% of the folks here, 1Gbps is perfectly fine. So for this example, we will leave it at the default. By now, the specs should look like this: The cost should be $2399.00 before Shipping and Tax. Click Continue. Choose the Apple Studio Display with the Standard Glass. Yes, if you desire to have the "Apple Experience" that you are used to, you need to purchase the Apple Studio Display. Apple did this on purpose as they have changed the Video Signal coming out of the HDMI Port. So even though you can use a 3rd party display, by going this route will not yield the optimal results that you are used to. Yes, the Studio Display is expensive. Yes, again...Apple did this on purpose. No, I'm not going to recommend another 3rd Party Display. It's not worth it. Remember, "Go Big or Go Home." I'd choose the standard Tilt-adjustable Stand. If you want to be able to adjust the height up and down, then you will have to upgrade. But in reality, the standard Tilt-adjustable stand is similar to how your 27" iMac is now. Add Apple Care for the Studio Display: A choice will appear. Either choose 3 years coverage or pay annually $49.99 / year until cancelled. Which one? Either. 3 years is more than enough, but paying $50 a year also works and is a easier pill to swallow over time, especially if you plan on keeping the Apple Studio Display for at least 7 years. Or you can pay the flat $149 and be done with it. Honestly? If your equipment hasn't died within 3 years, there is a good chance, (minus external forces, like a power surge or flood,) that it will last 7 years without issue. But this is your decision. For now, I will leave this example at the $49.99 subscription. Click "Add to Bag." Choose Apple Care. I'd pick three years of coverage for the Mac Mini. It's a Mac Mini and is easily replaceable. Choose the Keyboard Color you'd like, along with a new USB-C Charging Port Mouse. Click Add to Bag for all three. Click "Review Bag" and it should look like this if everything is done correctly. Pay attention and make sure Apple Care is attached to both the Studio Display and Mac Mini. If you purchase the Apple Care with your Mac Mini, AND add the Keyboard & Mouse, Apple Care on the Mini should cover those two items. If not, it's just a Keyboard & Mouse. The subtotal should be $4355 and the Shipping should be free. Then add the applicable taxes and you should be around $4600-ish for the whole thing. Oh! one more thing!! I HIGHLY-HIGHLY-HIGHLY RECOMMEND BUYING THIS APC SINE WAVE 1500VA UPS TO PLUG EVERYTHING INTO. Not only does that UPS provide power in the event of a power outage, the "Sine Wave" portion actively monitors the current, which makes it better for sensitve electronic equipment. If you are going to spend $4600-ish on a computer, do not use an el-cheapo power strip. Plug the Mac & Studio Display, plus external Hard Drives into the "Battery+Surge" Side, and things like Laser Printers and Speakers into the "Surge Only" Side. Some external Hard Drive Power Bricks might be a bit large, in which case simply use these Cable Matters 2-Pack 16 AWG Heavy Duty 13A Short Power Extension Cord 1 ft to give you some room.

It seems that people have money burning a proverbial "Hole" in their pocket, or they just can't help themselves and blindly update their Adobe Products to the latest version, which causes all sorts of issues on a older computer. Unfortunately, we are at that point that software is over-taking the hardware, and it's time for a new computer. Error messages galore these days, with Photoshop CC really complaining about under-powered Graphics Processors and lack of dedicated Video Memory, or the MacOS creating weird issues with the computer. If you have a Mac from 2017 - 2020, including Mac Laptops purchased during this time frame, it's time for a new one. Every 3 years or so, the manufacturers release the newest technology; you know the models, these are the "Game Changers" that the Media and YouTube Personalities review. Around 5 years, you used to upgrade things like the RAM or HD, to keep things going. Then when the 7-8 year mark hit, the software requires so much resources that the computer can't keep up. Which brings us to this point: 2017 is 8 years away from 2025, so that's why a lot of folks are now asking about buying new Macs. The good news is Apple finally released the M4 line, with the Mac Mini and Mac Laptops. Even better...is Apple tends to keep pricing the same with each annual / bi-annual release, so there are no surprises there. In some cases, things are a little cheaper than they were. The bad news is...you are going to be spending more than $4200 for either a Mac Laptop or Mac Desktop that's "Good for Photo Editing." So start saving. So what's different now as opposed to prior years? Not much, with the exception of two things: It's all about the GPU Cores and dedicated Video Memory, the days of having a power CPU, lots of RAM and a big HD aren't the only concerns. You NEED-NEED-NEED a POWERFUL GRAPHICS PROCESSOR (or the most GPU Cores you can afford) with at least 8GB-12GB of dedicated Video Memory. There is NO upgrading ANYTHING after the initial purchase with a new Mac, either Desktop or Laptop. This has been the case starting with the M1 Line of Mac Laptops / Desktops. The reason that I mention this, is end-users could upgrade their Intel-Based iMacs, and that's no longer the case. Think of your Mac products like glorified iPads; if you need ANYTHING, like more RAM, a bigger HD, etc., you are buying a new computer. PERIOD. The other thing that hasn't changed is Apple STILL wants you to "Go Big or Go Home." You are still penalized for going cheap...ahem...affordable, than if you just forked out the cash and bought the higher-end model. The other thing is that the 27" iMac Desktop design HAS BEEN ABANDONED AND APPLE WILL NOT BE CREATING A DIRECT REPLACEMENT. Don't even THINK about buying a 24" iMac, they are meant for General Computing and NOT Photo Editing with Adobe's Products. Plus, we haven't been able to get a 24" screen calibrated, even with brand-new Calibration Devices. So just skip the 24" iMac and save yourself the stress / headaches. I will guarantee you, if you buy a 24" iMac, you WILL be posting "Begging for Help!" threads on this website and FB Ask Damien. Unfortunately, you won't be getting help from either me or Damien, because we can't help you. So again...for those in the back: >>> DO NOT BUY A 24" iMac COMPUTER for editing photos!!! <<< So what computer do you purchase? This will be covered in the next two sections, starting with a Mac Desktop. Keep in mind, if you can wait until June of 2025, you will get a MUCH more powerful computer, the M4 Mac Studio, for about $60 more than my configuration of the Mac Mini. Unfortunately, some folks can not wait and NEED a new Mac right away, as they have sessions to edit and can't deliver things to clients; this next section is really meant for them. Again, if you can wait for the M4 Mac Studio, DO SO!!

That would likely be Chromatic Aberration. Usually it's Purple fringes around something, but it can manifest in different colors. Why does this happen? It's the Lens showing its limitations with HUGE contrast swings. The other likely culprit is that you are trying to do a Macro Shot with a walk-around / street photography lens @ 35mm. Wrong tool for the job. You need to step back about a foot or so, and then crop in post. But your 35mm, & 50mm lenses are fine. I'd recommend a 105VR Macro or a 85mm f/1.8G lens to round out your kit. Otherwise you are buying a 70-200 f/2.8E lens, which is pricey. Remember with Macro, you are stopping down, so you will need to be in bright light, use ISO 4000-ish (which isn't that great with your camera) or have external lights helping you out; when it comes to a Macro Lens, you first learn how to shoot with it at f/8, and will use it mostly between f/11 - f/16. Why? Because of the DoF being so narrow. The closer you get with a Macro Lens, the more you have to stop down to compensate which requires a bright light source to keep your ISO low. I would NEVER go below 1/60th of a second hand-held when you are 1st starting out. You can push things if you have VR technology, and have good technique. But since you are learning, don't go below 1/60th with either the 35mm or 50mm. In reality, you want 2x's over the focal length, in this case I'd be at 1/125-ish, and if you had a higher MP camera (i.e. 45.7MP) it's 4x's over the focal length for your shutter speed. You are going to need training material. I know you aren't a big reader and prefer videos, but the problem with videos is they go so fast and you are tempted to pick up your camera right away and go shooting. I started with B&W Film in 1986 and a Darkroom, and I'm still learning 38 years later. Sooner or later I recommend this book: Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera -- Bryan Peterson This book is the standard for beginners and he goes into WHY the things the way they are and what you should be thinking for a particular scene. I'd pick up that book, it's fairly inexpensive and go reading for a weekend, THEN pick up your camera. Let the info soak in, there is A LOT of stuff with cameras and producing good photographs, it's like learning a musical instrument; you simply don't learn a C Major Scale / Major Pentatonic and then expect to be on stage two days later performing in front of people.

Yeah, I HATE-HATE-HATE-HATE THE STUPID F&@K#$G!! NIKON 50MM F/1.4G LENS. That stupid lens caused SO MANY POSTS when I had "Ask Brian" on Facebook. Complete waste of money and I'm a OEM Snob. The 50mm 1.8G is better. Now, at 1.8, your DoF will be thinner than you think; I would seriously mount that lens and shoot everything with it. Fiddle, practice...figure out what it can and won't do. There is about a stop difference between a DX Camera and a FX. Meaning, you buy a f/1.8 lens to be sharp around 2.2. A 1.4 lens is sharp around f/2.0. Used to f/2.8 on a DX? You are going to be at f/4 on a full frame to obtain the same results, DoF-wise. You will find just how bad your lenses are or your technique is, when you shoot wide-open. Holding the camera, breathing correctly, standing correctly, lots of ingredients in the stew of photography will make your images better/worse. It's very much like shooting a rifle or a bow. Want to make your photos more interesting and "better?" Take photos of more interesting things!! Duh! Meaning, get out of your comfort zone, go on a trip. Photograph a subject that you haven't before. Or try creating images of your Cat that could go into a Magazine. Move around implore the 360 Rule. Get Down & Dirty, pick a different angle to shoot your subject. Lay on your belly and photograph your Cat. Give yourself homework assignments; shoot pictures not only using the "Rule of Thirds," but use other composition methods, e.g., Golden Ratio, Leading Lines, Framing / Frame-within-a-Frame, Rhythm & Repetition, C or S Curve, Diagonal Lines, Negative Space, Rectangles & Triangles, etc. (I use this last one A LOT with my Landscapes.) Try telling a "Story" with 6 photographs; this similar to a Cartoon Panel in a Newspaper or think of it like a Storyboard for a Movie. Now, there is a difference between a pro-grade Nikon Lens and a Tamron. I feel that Tamron lenses add a bit of "Red" to photos, as well as eat a bit of light. Fortunately, with everyone ditching DSLRs for Mirrorless, used Nikkor Lenses are CHEAP on the used market, even for the "Like New-" or "Excellent +" ones being offered. I get that you are a visual person, I am the same way. But reading the setup portion of the manual will help; if you only just go through the settings menu OR figure out what each setting selection does, then you can make your selections based on what you are shooting. Honestly? I shoot in Full Manual 98% of the time, with Aperture Priority making up the remaining 2% if I'm "Running and Gunning" during a Wedding and I need the camera to do some thinking for me. There are three settings I want you to change on your D750 right now: Set the LCD Brightness: Menu Button >> Settings (Wrench Icon) >> Look for Monitor Brightness. SET IT TO -1 OR -2. The LCD shows you the JPEG PREVIEW that is contained within the Raw File, AND NOT THE RAW IMAGE ITSELF!!! So if you are judging exposure by looking at the LCD, you are going to be disappointed when you view things in LR/PS. In reality, you should learn how to read the Histogram, but people like taking the easy way out and look at the LCD. By lowering the brightness on the LCD will help you with under-exposed images. I'm usually at -1 with my Nikons; one camera body is -2. Set the LCD Color Space to sRGB. Menu Button >> Photo Shooting Menu (Camera Icon) >> Color Space. SET IT TO SRGB!!!! Set the Picture Control to Neutral. Menu Button >> Photo Shooting Menu (Camera Icon) >> Picture Control. SET IT TO NEUTRAL!!! While in the Photo Shooting Menu, it's best to change the Picture Control to Neutral. This way the image on the LCD will not only be in sRGB (see step 2,) the colors will look more like the Raw file when imported into LR/ACR. Camera Manufacturers like to sell cameras, so they will often make the image on the LCD look all sorts of pretty / saturated and bright. This way the potential customer has a "WOW!" factor; this is the same reason what Flat Screen TVs are usually cool / on the blue side...they look better on display at the stores. That should get you started. I have found that setting my AUTO ISO to max out at 3200 helps a lot, so that when I use that feature, I don't take an image quality hit as I would at ISO 6400 and above. Why is ISO so bad when it wasn't on a lower-end body? It's the amount of Pixels Crammed into the same physical area of the camera sensor. You will have more noise at a higher ISO with a camera that is 45.7MP as opposed to one that is around 16MP. There is just more "room" between the pixels for them to soak up light. Alright, I've gotta run. Go practice.