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bradm48868034
Participant
Jun 5, 2023 5:08 PM UTC
Answered

Smart Previews and small originals

One of my camera's generates really small images: 1080 pixels square; but not all images in the catalog are that small. If I set the catalog to generate all smart previews so that I can edit off line, will it upscale those images?  Should I set small images to 1:1 and use smart only for the larger images? 

Thanks!

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richardplondonCorrect answer
Community Expert
Jun 5, 2023 6:01 PM UTC

Smart previews are usually to a different resolution, but more importantly are different in the nature of their content and in where they are stored. IMO to the extent  all images can undergo essentially the same workflow, so much the better.

 

.Whether or not these small images will create a smart preview despite their low resolution; you are best placed to find out. That status then shows under the histogram. I see no issue with working from a SP that happens to be of greater resolution than the original image, assuming that is how it works - certainly you'll be no worse off, than when a SP happens to be of lower resolution than its original.

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8 replies

HooliganImages
HooliganImages
Inspiring
Aug 29, 2024 12:52 PM UTC

This actually is an important question if one is using Adobe Portfolio.  Some have said that if the image is under 2560 pixels on the long edge the Smart Preview is that size.  I did a test which suggests that may be true but have yet to confirm that in any way.  

You can look at the images here and look at the third row which is a 1/4 crop rougly 2067 pixels on the long edge.  Compare the second and third images - sync from LRc using a smart preview and jpg uploaded directly.  

https://hooligansimagery.myportfolio.com/resolution-test

 

 

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Community Expert
richardplondonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
Jun 5, 2023 6:01 PM UTC

Smart previews are usually to a different resolution, but more importantly are different in the nature of their content and in where they are stored. IMO to the extent  all images can undergo essentially the same workflow, so much the better.

 

.Whether or not these small images will create a smart preview despite their low resolution; you are best placed to find out. That status then shows under the histogram. I see no issue with working from a SP that happens to be of greater resolution than the original image, assuming that is how it works - certainly you'll be no worse off, than when a SP happens to be of lower resolution than its original.

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    bradm48868034Author
    Participant
    Jun 5, 2023 7:30 PM UTC

    Interesting take. I agree with the workflow comment. What may become an issue is a Smart Previews.lrdata file that may be bigger than the collection of images themselves! I've set it to generate smart Previews for all. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks. 

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    bradm48868034Author
    Participant
    Jun 5, 2023 9:09 PM UTC

    Previews: 1.33 GB

    Smart Previews: 9.5 GB

    LR Catalog File: 923.9 MB

    Image Collection Itself: 18.95 Gig  (57k images  at 1080 sq/<200KB, 4k others) 
    So, 50% of the size of the originals; presumably of 1/1 previews as well?
    Next question is how offline edits on an oversized preview apply to a smaller original. 

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    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    Jun 5, 2023 5:28 PM UTC

    What software are you using? What version NUMBER?

     

    If Lightroom Classic

     

    You say: "One of my camera's generates really small images: 1080 pixels square; but not all images in the catalog are that small." This, as far as I know, is impossible in Lightroom Classic for originals that are 1080 pixels square. Please show us screen captures of what you see that indicates not all images in the catalog are that small. Add the screen captures to your reply by clicking on the "Insert Photos" icon; do not attach files.

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    bradm48868034Author
    Participant
    Jun 5, 2023 5:43 PM UTC

    To clarify: The original images from one of my cameras are only 1080 sq. Images from other cameras are in the multimegapixel range. 
    Smart Previews are 2560 (?) on the longer side - larger than the original.

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