Previews size - Preview jpg's are larger than original photo

[GuyCL]

Hi,

I'm testing Photo Mechanic Plus Version 6.0, build 6496 (19d779b), on MacOS Monterey 12.4 (16 Inch MBP - 2019).
I'd like to 'archive/have an overview' all my photo's in a PM database ... that should 'fit' in a reasonable amount of space ...

I wanted the full size previews to be as large as the original RAW pictures. So I set the size to 10000 pixels instead
of the default 1600.

But it looks like all previews are forced to 10000 ... also previews for a 1024 pixel image ....... an old 467Kb jpg file
from a Nikon E990 becomes a 7.9Mb file .... the D3 embedded preview of 1.2Mb becomes a 6.7Mb file ...

The setting 'Enlarge photos to fit previews and slide shows' is off ...

When I browse the folder in PM, it is displayed correcly (according to the original photo resolution).
This is about the size of the files in the previews folder.

I have old Coolpix pictures up to Nikon Z7 .... a large range in resolution ...

I can send you a zip file with the original pictures, the preview and an extracted embedded JPG for a D3 Nikon NEF.
I included a screenshot with some examples ...

Why is the preview size not treated as a maximum value ? Maybe there is a good reason, but I can't use PM+ like that ...
Maybe I'm doing something wrong .....

Kind regards,
Guy

[Bob Russell]

Hello Guy,

Since we have received several requests for a catalog preview size limit for the smaller pixel dimension images, this has been added to a feature request list. There are a couple of things you can try in the meantime. You can create a new catalog for the smaller images, which uses the default 1600 pixel preview or possibly smaller.  I set my preview size to be only 1024 for my screen shots catalog.

I do not recommend creating a 10,000 pixel preview for any camera files due to the resulting large catalog size. I have used a preview size of 2560 pixels for some catalogs on my iMacs without a noticeable loss in performance but the catalog folder was over twice the size vs using a 1600 pixel preview.  If you need to see a 1:1 image, you can right click the thumbnail and then use the Reveal in Finder option.  Now drag the selected file in the Finder window to Photo Mechanic's Dock icon. This will open a new contact sheet with this file selected. Hit the Spacebar to open the preview window on that file.

--Bob

[GuyCL]

Hi Bob,
OK .... thanks for the super fast response ... that's service !
What I'm trying to do won't work ..... it will in the future. I understand the consequence for catalog size / disk space of large previews ... I just specified 10000 hoping PM would use this as a 'maximum' ... I also get the workaround, but that means you need access to the originals. That would not be the case.

Oh well ... I'll stop testing .... and I just purchased PM+ (thanks to the very good service) ... and hoping version 6.1 wil include a new feature : 'make preview size same as original' ... or enter a value, and use it as a maximum :-)

Now ..... where is my new serial nr .........

Kind regards,
Guy