Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo lib" is 15gb?

Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo library" is 15gb if they are supposed to 1 library used by both?

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on May 1, 2015 2:07 PM

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8 replies

May 2, 2015 4:55 PM in response to kenamac1

Yes - but it saves very little space - only the database overhead - the main part the photos ae only there once


Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support



And it is not a good idea since you might want the iPhoto library later and if it is gone it is gone -- so it is probably not a good idea to delete either library


LN

May 2, 2015 6:54 PM in response to kenamac1

kenamac1 wrote:


Thanks Larry, but sorry if I'm being dense, but are you saying that the space being used is not 13gb (Iphoto) + 15 gb (Photo) = 28gb? And that if I toss the iPhoto Lib I won't save 13gb? That's what I not getting about this 'shared' library.


Yes that is exactly what I said - and what the article I liked said with a somewhat detailed description


Basically both libraries use Linux HardLinks to the original photos - the finder sees each has containing the compete set of photos although the photos are only on disk once



And deleting one library only deletes the links and a few overhead items - so again as I said would save very little space


LN

May 3, 2015 1:47 PM in response to kenamac1

kenamac1 wrote:


OK, thanks! So bottom line, my photos take up 28gb and I would save 13gb if I tossed the Iphoto, but that's not much space as you see it and not worth the trouble.



No once again the bottom line for the third or fourth or fifth time is


And deleting one library only deletes the links and a few overhead items - so again as I said would save very little space

In your case the savings is probably about 2 GB - NOT 13 GB and you photos take up about 13 GB total


as explained and explained and explained the photos are not duplicated but hard linked and deleting the iPhoto library deletes only the links and a bit of overhead thus saving very little space


LN

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Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo lib" is 15gb?

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