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Who uses 2 monitors?

bcgal00

bcgal00

Say, "birdseed!"
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Nov 18, 2010
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My daughter and hubs surprised me with a new monitor for my birthday. I've often talked about wanting to set up two monitors to use together but had never done it. So they got me a UHD 4K monitor. Is there anything I need to know before we set this up? Any tips or thoughts about using two monitors? I was thinking of watching a few youtube vids about it.

If you use 2 monitors, how do you use them? I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they didn't like using 2 together.

I'm super excited to get this set up.
 
I do! I love it.
I open pscc on one monitor and drag from the supplies on the other monitor. And usually stream a show on the second monitor too.
Mine aren't 4k, so I don't have specific thoughts for you.
 
I do at work. I don't think I could ever go back to using only one. It makes life so much easier.
 
I do have 2, but the one I use for shows to watch
 
I only use 1.. 2 always fascinated me though!
 
I LOVE LOVE LOVE having 2 monitors. And when my other went out last year I was devastated until I could get another.

I use mine for scraplifts. Works great for those. I use it to watch TV on one and scrap on the other. I use it to preview when I'm designing. I love it!!!
 
I definitely use 2, both at home and work. If I could use 3, I would. I have my 2nd one set up as an extension of the first one instead of a clone. I don't see the need to view the same items in two places.

When scrapping, I have PS open on one, and I use the other to move around in between my kits to drag and drop things, search for pics, etc.

Congrats on your new gift. You'll LOVE it! @bcgal00
 
I'm going to go watch a video on this now and see how it works exactly. Oh, and make room on my desk too. That's going to take a bit of thinking about. I don't have a huge desk so need to figure out how this can all fit on there. What a fun day!
 
I use 2 monitors at work....and sometimes wonder if I should use 2 at home but I don't have space of my own yet for scrapping. I use a laptop and move it wherever in the house.
 
I had 2 monitors when I worked. Wonderful for the times I needed 2 or more spreadsheets open!

I have also used 2 monitors at home for years. In the beginning it was the regular monitor and a laptop monitor until I replaced the desktop unit. Now it is 2 monitors with the desktop unit. My desk doesn't actually have space for 2 monitors so the 2nd one is to the left of the desk on top of a 2 drawer filing cabinet. The main monitor is the one right in front of me, the second one is for things that I am not directly working with or on. Like others when I scrap the second monitor is where I can look for kits and pictures in Picasa with PSP open full screen on the main monitor. I don't scrap much these days so the second monitor isn't used quite as much... but I sure won't get rid of it! I still use a lot of spreadsheets so it is wonderful when I want to update those.
 
I love having 2 monitors. I get so frustrated at work trying to do anything with just one! I use mine like Courtney...I open PSCC on one and supplies on the other and drag. I'm sometimes streaming on one when I'm working on the other. I'd love to have a third for that reason :). Enjoy!!!
 
Hubby has two monitors, and I am so jealous. And jealous of all of you who have two as well!!
I would love to have two monitors, but it isn't in the cards at the moment. I don't even have a proper desk, I have an end of our lovely big dining table.
One day, one day...
 
I loved having an extra monitor for a couple of years before I got my iMac in 2011. I had a laptop back then. But I didn't like scrapping on it. So I had a monitor on my desk for times when I wanted a bigger screen. But when I wanted to be mobile, I just unhooked it and took off. I miss that mobility sometimes. I actually carried my iMac to a Lightroom class once (and twice I've carried it to Apple store for service). It is NOT fun carrying an iMac.

But yes, two screens is going to be awesome! If I recall correctly, I would have Photoshop open on my big screen and my files open on my little laptop screen. Have fun!
 
Michele - yes, for PS this is awesome! I had my LO on one monitor and the panels and ACDSEE on the other.

The only weird thing is that the new one (bigger than the other) has the proper resolution/font size set up, the settings carry over onto the second monitor which is super large and I can't change the settings b/c its an extension of the main monitor, so everything is oversized on that one b/c it is supposed to be a lower resolution. Its a small hassle for the advantages but its bugging me to see one normal monitor and one oversized text/images.
 
@bcgal00 I think I have the same problem as you with the oversized text/images on the second monitor. In my case, I open photoshop cc on my laptop and then like to drag it over to my bigger monitor so my work space is larger. However, photoshop cc is so oversized on my bigger monitor that I can't even see (or get at with my cursor) all parts of the program. I've googled the problem and was once able to get it resized but it then resizes everything really really small on my laptop. Super frustrating. Of late, I've just been using my laptop and not using the 2nd monitor which defeats the whole purpose of having it. I'd love to hear if you find a solution/work around to this. I'm not sure if it's a photoshop cc issue or and an issue between my laptop and my second monitor not playing nice with each other. Ugh!
 
@bbachand Because the larger monitor is the primary and the 2nd monitor is the stretched extension of the primary, the settings are the same for both monitors unfortunately. Its not a huge problem I'm discovering b/c although the text size is larger for the 2nd monitor, everything else seems to be ok. Youtube, netflix, smugmug gallery, etc are fine. So, I can live with that. Its still so weird to drag from one screen to the other LOL....but in a good way :) If I find out any other tips about this I'll be sure to share.
 
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