Bug 501292

Did you try the Slideshow tool which can be displayed on another screen ?

https://docs.digikam.org/en/slideshow_tools/slide_tool.html

Best

Gilles Caulier

I was going to add a new feature request but I found this one that seems pretty much what I want, so I am just adding my comments to it.

I’m a long-time Lightroom user and I am looking at possibly transitioning from Lightroom Classic to digiKam (currently trying version 8.7). 
One key workflow feature I’m missing is dual-monitor support for previewing selected images.

In Lightroom Classic, I could:
	View the thumbnail grid on Monitor 1
	Have the selected image automatically display full-screen on Monitor 2
	Navigate images in Grid view and instantly preview the selection on the second monitor

digiKam used to offer an option to open previews in a separate window (sometime pre-8.x), which allowed similar behavior. That option seems to have been removed or deprecated in newer versions.

While the Light Table provides some level of dual-monitor use, it:
	Requires manual setup every time;
	Doesn’t automatically follow thumbnail selection, and;
	Isn’t ideal for quick single-image review

Request:
Please consider restoring or adding:
	A setting to open image previews in a separate window;
	Or a proper "second monitor" preview mode that tracks the selected image in the main view

This would dramatically improve dual-monitor workflows and bring digiKam closer to the experience many photographers are accustomed to.

Thank you for your fantastic work on this open-source project!

Did you find the slideshow preview using the "Play" button in the thumbnail or preview image?
The slideshow preview can open on a different screen (configurable).

Maik

Thanks for the suggestion Maik. Yes I have seen that and played with it a while. It does work nicely for a slideshow. Unfortunately a slideshow is not what I am after. I would like to have the thumbnails display on one monitor, and the large 'Preview' window display on my second monitor. When I click one of the thumbnails I want it to display on the preview screen on the second monitor. It should function just like the current 'Preview' view, only the large preview window needs to display on the second monitor. I have used this feature in Lightroom for years, and I don't think I could give that up now. 

Thanks again!

Same needs and same habits for me, coming from Lightroom.

To Rob from Comment #2:

>digiKam used to offer an option to open previews in a separate window (sometime pre-8.x), which allowed similar behavior. That option 
>seems to have been removed or deprecated in newer versions.
...
>Please consider restoring or adding:
>	A setting to open image previews in a separate window;
>	Or a proper "second monitor" preview mode that tracks the selected image in the main view

This feature exist through the image editor which is a separated windows. Place the icon view on monitor 1 and editor in monitor 2 "Et voilà". Both will be synchronized...

Gilles Caulier

Both will be synchronized only if you "Open" the image from the icon view, not if you only click on it.
The idea is to navigate on the icon view with mouse or arrow keys and the preview show the image on a separated window, generally full screen on the second screen.

yes. F3 => preview; F4 => open in editor.
The behavior of click on icon view is configurable : preview or open in editor.

I think it's a matter of perspective. Rob's proposal was clear and describes exactly how Lightroom behaves.

I believe the editor window is intended for editing the image, not just viewing. You cannot make the editor window fullscreen to display only the image (or perhaps I missed a setting).

However, the workflow isn't smooth even after correctly configuring the icon click behavior (thanks for the tip—I had missed that setting). Here's the issue:

- With mouse input: Double-clicking a thumbnail is required to display it in the editor window, whereas a single click should be sufficient
- With keyboard navigation: Arrow keys work correctly (only left-right, up-down acts as left-right once icon click behaviour is set to open in editor, that's another issue) and automatically update the editor window—until any mouse click occurs anywhere in the interface
- After any mouse click: The editor window stops refreshing on thumbnail clicks, requiring a double-click on a thumbnail to restore the automatic update behavior
- If the file is a video the editor window does not display the content

This inconsistent behavior disrupts the workflow for classifying and rating images, particularly when switching between mouse and keyboard navigation.

I'm using the Mac version, maybe this behavior is specific to this platform ?

>I believe the editor window is intended for editing the image, not just viewing. You cannot make the editor window fullscreen to display only >the image (or perhaps I missed a setting).

yes you can all windows provided by digiKam in fact. Editor can be started in fullscreen on the 2nd monitor...