HT204655: Updating from iPhoto to Photos for OS X

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karolisk
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Photos library size

Photos library increasing by 30GB when i import 30gb of photos, even with the option "Copy files to Photos Library" unchecked. Anyway to use Photos without doubling the size of my images on my mac?

Posted on Aug 6, 2015 8:23 AM

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karolisk

Q: Photos library size

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  • by boisebimmer,

    boisebimmer boisebimmer Aug 6, 2015 9:45 AM in response to karolisk
    Level 1 (130 points)
    Aug 6, 2015 9:45 AM in response to karolisk

    If you import 30 gb of photos into Photos it's going to increase in size. Importing is the act of copying images to the computer, you're going to increase the amount of data on the computer.

  • by karolisk,

    karolisk karolisk Aug 6, 2015 10:30 AM in response to boisebimmer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2015 10:30 AM in response to boisebimmer

    So what's the point of having the option "copy images into Photos library" ? As

    it sounds that regardless of the option - photos will copy images to the library

    anyway

     

     

    On Thu, Aug 6, 2015 at 9:45 AM, discussions-replies

  • by Old Toad,Helpful

    Old Toad Old Toad Aug 6, 2015 11:30 AM in response to karolisk
    Level 10 (141,435 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 6, 2015 11:30 AM in response to karolisk

    That's because Photos is pointing to the location from where it's importing the image files to get their size even if those files are on another hard drive.  It doesn't mean that that additional 30 GB is being taken up on your boot drive.

     

    However using a "referenced" library is really a bad idea as it only leads to problems later on.  If for instance you have to relocate the library it can lose the link to the source files.  Also if you move the location of the source files from where they were at the time of import the link will be broken and the library damaged.  When you delete a reference photo from the library the source file is not deleted.  I'm told that Apple TV doesn't work with referenced photos. 

     

    If you need additional space on your boot drive then move the Photos library to the EHD and operated it from there as a "managed" library.

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