Working with PhotoLab on more than one computer can a) be done or b) get you an incredible mess.
Let’s see how we can do a) without the b)…starting with your saying that you use PL for customising only.
Work consistently (Hub / Spoke model)
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Keep all your images in one structure, using something like the example shown below
Photos > YYYY > YYYY-MM-DD Occasion > YYYY-MM-DD Occasion Details -
Make one computer the “HUB”, e.g. the one with the big, calibrated screen,
while the other computer will be the “SPOKE” -
While traveling, copy new images, on SPOKE, to the appropriate place,
create branches (YYYY-MM-DD Occasion > YYYY-MM-DD Occasion Details) if necessary -
While traveling, only work new images, LEAVE ALL OTHER IMAGES ALONE
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When back home, copy new branches, on HUB, to the appropriate place
Spraying new images all over SPOKE and customising (on SPOKE) images in older branches will inevitably lead to a mess that will take a lot of time to sort out and that might also produce some loss in effort you put in your images.
Work consistently (Peer mode)
If you really want two (or more) computers to work as peers, things are getting complicated, as you’ll have to synchronise the computers on a regular basis. PhotoLab has nothing to support that yet.
Forget peer mode! Note: I can say this because that’s what I tried with my iMac (HUB) and MacBook Air (Spoke) computers. I use Spoke for testing mostly and for those rare cases when I really want to have it with me. Still, Spoke will be deleted regularly, which makes it less of a peer. Don’t try to use peer mode, unless you’re comfortable with having disparate collections in several places (like mixing knives, spoons, forks, pans and dishes in the same drawer)