Pangolin1
Level 1 (5 points)
iCloud

Q: Optimize storage on your Mac - what does it really mean

I had a large iphoto library.  I let photo's "assume" it.   The drive is 220gig.  Photos reportedly was taking 130gb in it's library and iphoto 160gb.  I moved the iphoto library to an external drive.  I figured that while the numbers didn't add up - it would at least free some space but it only made 3 gig available.  So where are the photos?  I turned on the icloud options with optimize storage on the mac  - and it's syncying the photos to the cloud now - but what is the criteria for storing low res images vs high?  It says it will keep both if there's enough space.  I'm continually running out of space because of all the photos - so I was hoping that this feature would be the solution but so far I'm a bit disappointed.  What should my expectations be?

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 12, 2015 9:25 AM

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Pangolin1

Q: Optimize storage on your Mac - what does it really mean

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  • by LarryHN,Helpful

    LarryHN LarryHN May 12, 2015 9:33 AM in response to Pangolin1
    Level 10 (85,678 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 12, 2015 9:33 AM in response to Pangolin1

    Photos and iPhoto share access to the same originals via HardLinks so moving or deleting one library makes very little change in space requirements - Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

     

    As to your question Optimize storage on the Mac is one of two choices when you are using iCloud Photo Library - download all originals to this Mac or optimism store optimize on this Mac in which case originals will not necessarily be downloaded to the Mac - the Photos Preference panel seems very clear on this

     

    And the optimize storage should keep your Photos library on the Mac sized so as not to interfere with anything

     

    LN

  • by Pangolin1,Helpful

    Pangolin1 Pangolin1 May 12, 2015 10:01 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iCloud
    May 12, 2015 10:01 AM in response to LarryHN

    Larry,

     

    I appreciate you taking the time to reply.  My question is more technical about what the expecations should be. 

     

    When should I expect that the new Photos application will remove my full resolution images from the OS/X local hard drive?

     

    Right now it is uploading the full resolution images.  My question is about thresholds and this deletion.  Does the Photos application have to be running on order to delete the full resolution copy?  Is there anything that can be done manually to help it along?

     

    Thanks

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 12, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Pangolin1
    Level 10 (85,678 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 12, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Pangolin1

    So far as I know none of that has been published

    basically the answer is when it need to

     

    LN

  • by Pangolin1,

    Pangolin1 Pangolin1 May 13, 2015 12:48 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iCloud
    May 13, 2015 12:48 PM in response to LarryHN

    I'd also like to know if it happens only when Photos is running or in background even if it's not should space become an issue.

  • by Mallwill,

    Mallwill Mallwill May 26, 2015 2:42 PM in response to Pangolin1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 26, 2015 2:42 PM in response to Pangolin1

    MY MacBoo air 128gb optimises to around 10% free space. If the free space is too low it doesn't work. All your photos need to be synched to the cloud before it will start rearranging things.

     

    I Also have a hunch that TimeMachine needs to be on but that may be coincidence.

     

    IM not sure about whether Photos needs to be open; you could try opening the activity monitor > Networking and look at what process is uploading with Photos open, close photos and see if it continues?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 26, 2015 2:46 PM in response to Pangolin1
    Level 10 (85,678 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 26, 2015 2:46 PM in response to Pangolin1

    .