What method do you use to set the ‘correct’ tyre pressures on your bike(s)? And how do you know you’ve finally hit the right pressures?

The method I’ve been using so far is to check the max PSI on the tyre wall and inflate to a value close to, but slightly below, the max pressure. However, I think that this is probably not giving me the best ride quality given that there is a variation in fore and aft load on the bike wheels. Am I right I thinking that the rear tyre should probably have a slightly higher tyre pressure than the front, and bike weight plus body weight also play a role?