Photo editing isn’t just about software or even the skill of the editor. The computer used for editing makes a difference. If you’re on the market for a new laptop on which to edit images, you’ll want to read on.
Assess Your Needs
Take an honest look at your needs by starting at the present and looking into the future. Here are a few questions to ask yourself; the answers can help determine which laptop to purchase:
Do you edit images because photography is a hobby, or are you a (very) serious or professional photographer?
Where do you see your work in two to three years? In other words, do you foresee an increase in volume, or do you see yourself moving from hobby to professional working with clients?
If you’re already a professional photographer, do you see a significant difference in the volume of images you’ll need to edit?
A hobby photographer who wants to remain that way doesn’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money on a high-capacity laptop better suited for a professional. A photographer ready to move up to the next level probably should invest in the Best Laptops for photo editing to keep up with the professional demands.
Critical Elements To Consider
Memory: You need a lot of memory if you’re going to be working with any high-quality editing software. The amount of RAM is important because it runs your computer’s processing unit (CPU) and affects the speed. Your device should have at least 8GB of RAM. Not surprisingly, increased RAM means an increase in the price. Trust us when we say it’s worth investing in more RAM if you’ll be working with any decent photo editing software!
Storage: Besides speed, storage (specifically, lack of) is a common concern or complaint among photographers. The storage capacity of the Solid State Drive (SSD) and Hard Drive (HDD) matter, both to your work and your cost. The greater the storage capacity, the more you’ll pay. Given the size of some photo files, you’ll find that it’s easy and quick to use up storage. Purchase as much as your budget allows.
Speed: As we said, RAM runs the CPU. Consequently, CPU speed matters as well. The “core” is the unit inside that handles the speed, while threads (typically two per core) manage tasks. We recommend working with no less than a minimum of a 2GHz 6-Core processor. Anything less, and you’re wasting time waiting on a sluggish program.
Display: If you plan on working on a laptop connected to a bigger external monitor, the GPU (graphics processing unit, sometimes called video card) will matter significantly. The GPU affects the quality of the images you’ll see on the bigger display, particularly videos. If you’re not working with an external monitor, then a 15-inch or so display should be fine.
Color: Color accuracy is critical to the work of a photo editor. Do not undervalue a screen’s ability to reflect the full-color spectrum accurately. When you’re editing images, you’ll want to work with a screen that accurately reflects the color spectrum. Price typically reflects the quality. When you’re selecting a laptop, look for one where the sRGB is as close to 100% as you can afford to buy.
