How to I get high res thumbnail images?

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Level 1

20 points

How to I get high res thumbnail images?

Just discovered once I've imported images into my library Aperture 3.2.2 (running under 10.7.3) doesn't render high res thumbnail images (when the Browser Thumbnail Resize slider is set to the far right/maximum), even though my "Previews" preference settings are as follows:

"Use embedded JPEG from camera when possible" is unchecked

"Don't Limit" for Photo Preview is selected

Photo Preview quality set to 10

Deleting and regenerating thumbnails doesn't solve the issue. However, if I delete the photo from the referenced library, then reimport the image, the browser thumbnail image renders sharp. The low res thumbnail is at left; high res thumbnail (after re-import) is at right. Both thumbnails images are sharp when the Browser Thumbnail Resize slider is positioned in the middle. Photos render sharp in the Viewer, regardless.

Going back through my images, it seems Aperture stopped providing a sharp thumbnail image since around July 2010. Other than updating Aperture, my workflow or supported camera hasn't changed. Couldn't find a reference to this issue in the User Manual. Am I missing something a setting somewhere?

Thanks,

Eric

iMac 27" 2.8 Intel Quad Core i7, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 7:30 PM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,645 points

Mar 2, 2012 9:04 PM in response to MacFanInSF

Have you tried to create new Thumbnails (not Previews)?

Select the images in the Browser and go to the Aperture Application menu:

Photos -> Generate Thumbnails

Regards

Léonie

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Answer 2

MacFanInSF Author

Level 1

20 points

Mar 2, 2012 11:45 PM in response to léonie

Yes, I've tried that, without success. The only tactic producing a clean (sharp) thumbnail is to delete the file, and re-import again.

Thanks for the suggestion, though, Léonie!

Eric

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Answer 3

Mar 3, 2012 7:29 AM in response to MacFanInSF

I have never understood the connection between Thumbnails and Previews (I started using Aperture w. v. 3, and it appeared that the use of both was much changed between v. 2 and v. 3), and so I have almost nothing to offer. Have you tried "Photo→Reprocess Master" in any of your attempts at resolving this? I would throw deleting and re-creating the Previews, as well as rebooting, into the mix.

Just guessing (in case that's not obvious).

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Answer 4

Mar 3, 2012 7:45 AM in response to MacFanInSF

Its unclear if the command Generate Thumbnails actually does anything if the thumbs already exist and as there isn;t a Delete Thumbnails command like there is a Delete preview command there are only two ways to force a new thumb to be generated.

One is to import the image again and two is to delete the Thumbnail folder in the Aperture library. I don;t know for sure if this will fix you problem but as I said it is the only way to force the generation of the thumbs.

If you try this make sure you have a good working backup of the library. Nothing here will normally cause data loss but it is always a good idea before messing with the library.

Quit Aperture, Highlight the library in the Finder and right click, Select show package contents. One fo the folders you'll see is Thumbnails, delete it. Open Aperture.

Also be aware that the regeneration of the thumbs will take some time. Depending on the size of the library it could be an all day affair. Aperture is usable while this is going on but it will be slower.

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Answer 5

MacFanInSF Author

Level 1

20 points

Mar 3, 2012 10:26 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Hi Kirby: The Masters are fine, and since I've started with Aperture v3, it's a non-issue really.

Frank: I thought about deleting the Thumbnail folder, but hesitated to in fear it would create low res thumbnails. I'll have to try this technique on a "test" library. Still, it seems this is more of a bug, since I believe all my preferences, and past experience, should produce sharp thumbnails.

Thank you both for chiming in!

Eric

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Answer 6

Mar 3, 2012 10:39 AM in response to MacFanInSF

MacFanInSF wrote:

Hi Kirby: The Masters are fine, and since I've started with Aperture v3, it's a non-issue really.

Eric -- reprocessing the Masters doesn't change them at all. I thought it might force a rebuild of the thumbnail, and the rebuilt thumbnail might be different than what you have (sort of getting to what you achieve by re-importing).

The behavior you are seeing is unusual. Until you (or others) can re-create it, it's more of a nuisance than a bug.

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Answer 7

Mar 3, 2012 2:30 PM in response to MacFanInSF

There is no way to select the quality of the thumbnails as there is for the previews. If regenerating the thumbs like this doesn't resolve the problem then there is something else going on.

I don;t believe it's a bug really not something that;s been reported by other users. Hopefully it was a one time glitch in your setup.If this resolves it then I don't think you need to be to concerned going forward unless it happens again.

Keep us informed,

good luck

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Answer 8

MacFanInSF Author

Level 1

20 points

Mar 3, 2012 11:05 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

Kirby: Tried the Reprocess Masters command…no reprocessing took place, thus the thumbnails did not update. Guess I'm stuck importing images twice, or not showing thumbnails at maximum size in the Browser.

Frank: I suspect something changed from an update, since this occurred after July 2010. Just took me till now to discover it.

Thanks for everyone's advice! If something changes, I'll post back.

Eric

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Answer 9

MacFanInSF Author

Level 1

20 points

Mar 12, 2012 7:50 PM in response to MacFanInSF

I believe the probelm has been solved! Quit Aperture, opened the package contents of my specific library file which displayed low res thumbnails (my other libraries did not exhibit this issue), and moved the entire "Thumbnails" folder to the desktop. This forced Aperture to regenerate the thumbnails upon restart, and all look sharp when displayed at largest size in the browser window!

Thanks for all your help!

Eric

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