You open your laptop to find that the once stunning edits now look completely off. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The question arises: does the ambient light in your editing environment really impact how your photos turn out?

Understanding Ambient Light and The Impact

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: yes, your editing environment can significantly impact the way your edits look. The color temperature of the light surrounding you, the brightness, and even the colors of the walls can alter your perception of the images you’re editing. So, what’s the ideal scenario for editing, and which environments should we avoid? I decided to take my laptop and some raw files and test out four different scenarios in my home to see how they compare.

Scenario 1: Editing in the Dark

For my first scenario, I mimicked the experience of editing in a car at night. Picture this: it’s pitch black, with only the glow of the laptop screen illuminating the workspace. To replicate this, I shut off all the lights in my studio, creating the darkest environment possible. This is a common scenario for many photographers who edit while traveling (of course Michael was driving!), and I wanted to see how it would affect my edits.

I adjusted the brightness and warmth as I normally do, relying more on what I see rather than specific numbers. After making some basic adjustments, I completed the edit. It felt comfortable, but I was curious how it would compare to other environments.

Scenario 2: The Couch Edit

Next, I moved to the couch, replicating that late-night editing vibe again. This time, I turned on some soft white LED lamps to create a warm, cozy atmosphere. The room was still dark, but I had the additional light sources that might skew my perception of color and brightness.

I dove into editing again, making adjustments similar to the previous scenario but with the added challenge of the ambient lighting influencing my decisions. Would the warmth of the lamps lead me to make different choices than I would in complete darkness?

Scenario 3: The Office Edit

For the third scenario, I chose my office, which has a lot of natural light. I positioned myself under a porch, ensuring no direct sunlight hit my screen. This environment felt like the most ideal place to edit due to its neutral walls and ample light. The natural brightness allowed me to see the details in my images more clearly without the distractions of colored light sources.

As I edited, I noticed I could make adjustments more accurately. The neutral background and lighting helped me gauge the skin tones and colors better than in the previous scenarios. This was the environment I felt most confident in for achieving accurate edits.

Scenario 4: The Starbucks Edit

Finally, I ventured outside to simulate editing at a Starbucks. Now, you might wonder why anyone would choose to edit in such bright light, but many people do it! I found a spot under an umbrella, with bright sunlight blasting onto my screen. It was challenging to see the details on my laptop, and I felt like I was editing blindly.

Despite the difficulties, I made my best attempts at adjustments, relying on instinct rather than clear visibility. The experience was eye-opening, and I was eager to see how this environment would compare with the others.

Comparing the Results

After completing edits in all four scenarios, it was time to compare the results. I pulled up the images side by side to analyze the differences in color, brightness, and overall quality.

Results from the Car Edit

The first edit from the dark environment showed warmer skin tones but also had a slight green undertone. Initially, I thought it looked decent, but upon further inspection, it became clear that the lack of ambient light had skewed my perception. The skin tones appeared gray, particularly in the shadows.

Results from the Couch Edit

Moving on to the couch edit, the warm indoor lighting affected the color balance. While it was a step up from the car edit, I noticed that the skin tones were still a bit off, likely due to the warm glow of the lamps around me. This environment produced a more acceptable edit than the first but still required some adjustments.

Results from the Office Edit

In contrast, the office edit yielded the most accurate results. The natural light allowed me to make precise adjustments. I found that I could soften the skin tones and remove some of the yellow hues effectively. This environment provided clarity and confidence in my editing choices.

Results from the Starbucks Edit

Finally, the outdoor Starbucks edit was surprisingly better than I expected. While the skin tones looked a bit green, the overall edit wasn’t a complete disaster. However, I realized that if I had started from scratch in that bright sunlight, the results could have been much worse. The inability to see the screen clearly made it challenging to achieve the desired outcomes.

Key Takeaways and Solutions

So, what can we conclude from this experiment? Editing in a pitch-black environment, like in a car, is not ideal. The lack of light can lead to overly warm or incorrect edits that you might not realize until it’s too late. Similarly, while cozy environments like the couch can feel comfortable, they can also skew your perception of color.

On the other hand, natural light environments, like an office, provide a more accurate editing experience. This confirms that the surroundings have a significant impact on how your edits turn out. But what can you do if you find yourself editing in less-than-ideal conditions?

• Create a Skin Tones Guide: One effective solution is to develop a skin tones guide for yourself, or you can download mine HERE! Collect a set of images that represent the skin tones you love and use them as a reference when editing.
• Adjust Your Environment: Whenever possible, try to edit in natural light or environments with neutral-colored walls and controlled lighting.
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: If you must edit in challenging environments, be mindful of how the ambient light may affect your perception. Take extra time to review your edits under different lighting conditions.

While we can’t always control where we edit, we can control how we prepare for it. By creating a reliable skin tones guide and understanding the impact of our surroundings, we can improve the accuracy of our edits, no matter where we are. So next time you find yourself editing late at night or in a bright café, remember these insights and adjust accordingly.

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