User profile for user: Johnwing
Johnwing Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Optimizing photos

If I optimize photos on my iPhone, take a picture then want to view the synch image on my non-optimized iMac, will I only see the optimized image or the full resolution image

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 3, 2024 1:49 PM

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User profile for user: FoxFifth
FoxFifth
User level: Level 10
475,407 points

Posted on Jun 3, 2024 1:53 PM

Optimization is specific to each device. If you turn on Optimization on the iPhone but not on the Mac, the Mac will have full-sized (non-optimized) photos. The option on the Mac is in the Photos app in Preferences > iCloud (at the top of the Preferences windows).

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User profile for user: Richard.Taylor
Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 6
17,447 points

Jun 4, 2024 7:56 AM in response to Johnwing

In addition to what FoxFifth said, the full image is also available on your iPhone or on your Mac, even if "Optimize" is selected.


When you decide to Edit a picture, the full sized image is there. If you have "Optimize" selected, then that full image may have to be downloaded from iCloud, and you see a little circle fill up as it is acquired, but this is high priority, and it comes in pretty quickly. This is also true for printing, zooming, or any process that requires a full sized image.


So, optimized or not, you can always zoom in to the pixel level of pictures on the Mac. (Well, it has to be connected to the internet...)

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Optimizing photos

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