I have an 800GB Photos library, and want an Optimised version on a laptop.
Is there a minimum size I can get away with? Ideally I'd restrict the size to 40GB or so, but I'm not sure if Photos can deal with that. (I'm considering using a 40GB disk image)
macOS Sierra (10.12.5)
If you want to put the library on a disk image, I'd start with a large one; Photos Libraries will grow quickly, or you will run out of storage too quickly. It is hard to tell how much you can save by optimizing storage. It will depend on the size of the image files and videos.
(I'm considering using a 40GB disk image)
Why the disk image? Do you want to store the library on an external drive with an unsupported file system? You will have to ensure that the disk image will be mounted, as soon as you log into your account. And the library must not be on a NAS, or the network access might damage the library.
This is documented in: Sharing photo libraries among multiple users - Apple Support
Connect an external USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt drive which has enough free space to contain the library.
Be sure to choose a locally mounted drive. Storing your library on a network share can lead to poor performance, data corruption, or data loss.
See: Where is it safe to store a Photos Library? Requirements for the external drive
There is no documented size reduction but some users have found that 90% is the max - so I doubt that you can fit an 800 GB library into 40 GB
You may want to consider having two libraries - one with all photos and and a smaller one with favorite photos using iCloud Photo Library and using PowerPhotos to manage them
LN
I'd like to have an optimised library on the smaller laptop. It only has about 100GB free at the moment, so if it needs 80GB for an optimised 800gb library then it'll be cutting it fine (and probably too fine long term).
I thought putting a 40gb image in the 100gb free space might be a way of forcing it to be small, and keeping 60gb free.
Perhaps using iCloud documents, dumping the music library, and the new heif photo compression will make it work.
Thanks. This is for my mothers machine she lives in 2 locations and moves between, she'd like to edit her library from either location - so one library is needed.
Appreciate the 80Gb indicator. Sorry about the other thread.
Perhaps she needs to use a portable drive and take that, instead of regular external she leaves at one place.
How small can optimised 800GB library be?
