Video editing 4K content on a Retina display or MacbookAir 13 display

[corinthos]

Aside from the fact that you cannot fit a full 4K image on a Retina display or Macbook Air 13 display, what are some other downsides/negatives of video editing on a laptop with lower than 4K display?

What if you use proxy media and create 1080p proxy files and edit them on the 1080p laptop display and then final export is in 4K? Do you risk not seeing some detail or misidentifying something due to the lower than native resolution, leading to a flawed final product?

If anyone has experience with this and could shed some light on the cons, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Commodus]

The main thing is what you said: you won't see as much detail in your video as you could. That can be important when you want to verify whether or not a shot was in focus. And you're going to notice that problem much more when you remember that the video is rarely going to be full screen -- it's usually going to take up a fraction of the display area.

Also, one important thing to consider when comparing a Retina screen to the Air: color accuracy. The Air has a fairly mediocre LCD with so-so colors where all Retina display Macs have a considerably wider color gamut and viewing angles. If you think you might have to tweak colors in any significant way, the Air shouldn't even be on your radar.

Are you looking to buy a system, or do you already have one and are considering what you can do? If you don't have one... get a MacBook Pro (13-inch if you want something as portable as an Air, 15-inch if you don't) and don't look back.

 

[corinthos]

The main thing is what you said: you won't see as much detail in your video as you could. That can be important when you want to verify whether or not a shot was in focus. And you're going to notice that problem much more when you remember that the video is rarely going to be full screen -- it's usually going to take up a fraction of the display area.

Also, one important thing to consider when comparing a Retina screen to the Air: color accuracy. The Air has a fairly mediocre LCD with so-so colors where all Retina display Macs have a considerably wider color gamut and viewing angles. If you think you might have to tweak colors in any significant way, the Air shouldn't even be on your radar.

Are you looking to buy a system, or do you already have one and are considering what you can do? If you don't have one... get a MacBook Pro (13-inch if you want something as portable as an Air, 15-inch if you don't) and don't look back.

Thanks for the reply. It just occurred to me that isn't it true when you're video editing, the playback window is maller anyway? you have the UI controls and the playback window, the timeline window, etc. So unless you're working on 2 monitors, 1 for controls, 1 for full video playback, aren't you in both cases seeing only a smaller sized playback window that shows the full frames in either case?

i asked the above because i have gotten an alienware r13 with 1080p display.. it has gtx 1060 and 7700hq quad core cpu. should be enough power compared to other laptops.. there are hardly any specs online on the srgb / adobe rgb %.. it looks like decent colors.. but how can i most easily confirm the srgb and adobe rgb % of this panel?