Most users obsess about the main hardware they have in their computer setup, from computers to mechanical keyboards, but lighting plays a big role, too. After all, you have to be able to see what you’re doing without eye strain (and how better to snap pics and show off your rig on social media?). Today’s MacBook Pro user asked for lighting advice and got it, below.
MacBook Pro user seeks lighting advice to brighten up setup
Redditor bottomlesscoffeecup showcased the functional but bland setup in a post entitled, “Lighting Advice? Added MacBook stand next to ultrawide but now looking a bit dark around it.” He uses a MacBook Pro open on a stand to drive an LG ultra-wide display. But he thinks his setup looks a little too dark. It appears he already has some sort of RGB light behind the desk, but he wants something else in addition to that.
So commenters offered sensible advice (as they always do on social media, right? Don’t answer that.):
- MacBook on the left corner, ultra-wide [monitor] on the right?
- Get an old desk lamp or something. Get some character and contrast in there. Break the tech minimalist mold.
- It would be perfect if you have another set of lights behind your desk! But overall, MAN THATS A NICE SETUP! 9/10.
- Light strip on the back of the desk? Or a pair of those [Philips] Hue Play Bars, etc.?
- Looks great, maybe you can add indirect lighting behind the monitor.
- Add some clutter. It looks a bit boring.
- I have a LED lamp that clamps to the desk and comes up over the monitors like a ‘T’ and really like it. Got it off Amazon. [Here’s an example of a double-hed LED desk lamp.]
- How much money you willing to spend on lighting? I’ll tell you my setup and you can maybe get some idea what you want to do. I have two cheap Amazon desk lamps with Satco Smart bulbs set to 4K color temp flanking my monitor. BenQ e-Reading Desk lamp in the center behind my monitor. You can see in my link to my battlestation pic. Just experiment with placement once you decide on the type of light you want. Like One lamp in a corner. Or two smaller lamps in each corner. Or a tall lamp in the center above the monitor. Or some combo of that.
Cult of Mac Setups articles focused on lighting:
- Don’t sleep on perfect ambient lighting
- Maximum mood indigo: Go crazy with the lighting
- iMac-based gaming rig shows off RGB lighting
- You, too, can achieve pleasing symmetry and soft lighting
- Behind-desk lighting takes MacBook Pro rig to ‘next level’
- Dazzled: A tale of two lighting schemes
Shop these items now:
Computers and stands:
Display, light bar, webcam:
Input devices:
- Magic Keyboard (mini)
- Magic Mouse 2
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually work fine). Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
