Why should you stop using your phone to edit photos?

Smartphones are great for editing photos, but you should consider using a computer instead. There's a reason the pros do things differently.

5. Some editing apps have more features than desktop ones

Photo editing apps on smartphones are often stripped-down versions of their desktop counterparts. This makes sense, as developers need to consider responsiveness and screen space. An example is Adobe Lightroom ; while the Calibration feature is available on desktop, it is not available on mobile.

You may not need a full feature set if you are just starting out in editing. However, it becomes significantly more important as you gain experience and want to create your own style.

4. Smartphones are too small for detailed editing

Smartphones are great for simple photo editing. However, the screens are too small for more detailed adjustments.

It’s difficult to adjust sharpness and add masks to certain parts of the photo from the phone screen. Plus, you can’t see how clearly defined some areas of the photo are. This will definitely become more annoying as you get more serious about your photography.

Tip : At the very least, you should use a tablet for more comprehensive adjustments. You'll find many great photo editing apps for iPad that help with this.

3. Long editing sessions are annoying

Sometimes, photo editing can be simple; in some cases, all you have to do is add a preset or filter. But in other cases, you'll have to sit in front of your screen for hours.

Doing long editing sessions on a phone is difficult, if not impossible. Holding the phone in your hand for too long can become uncomfortable and cause your eyes to tire more quickly.

Of course, you should still take breaks when editing on a larger screen, but it's much easier to do so without losing focus.

2. Touch screens make precise editing more difficult

Even for short editing sessions, you'll find it harder to get the results you want when moving sliders on a touchscreen. More complex adjustments, like the Color Grading and Tone Curve features, are prone to overuse when using your hands.

You can get around this by using a stylus, but these tools are still more effective when editing with a tablet than a smartphone. Plus, not everyone wants to buy an additional device to adjust their images.

Even when using a stylus, you may find it easier to edit photos with a computer trackpad or mouse instead of a smartphone screen.

1. Phones are a distraction

Some people may argue that computer distractions can still happen, and that’s true. However, there are more barriers to preventing you from being distracted from editing photos. For example, you can simply turn off Wi-Fi when editing photos in a downloaded app.

While you can do the same on your phone, some apps won't work properly after you turn off the Internet . Another downside to smartphones is that you're more likely to get distracting notifications — like text messages or someone trying to call you. It's not easy to ignore these notifications, even if you have Do Not Disturb turned on .

You can also set boundaries with a website blocker when editing on your desktop browser. Since you won't be distracted as often, you can complete your editing session in less time than usual.

When it comes to more comprehensive editing, your phone often doesn’t offer as much flexibility as your computer. Desktop apps often have more features, and editing on a larger screen is easier. Since you’re not using a touchscreen, editing is often more precise.