8 Replies Latest reply: Oct 11, 2012 8:12 AM by gvb279 RSS

    Previews slow to load

    montesjesse Community Member

      I've seen this topic on the threads, but mostly for previous versions.  I have LR4, and my previews load so slowly.  How can I speed them up?  Bridge handles the previews so fast and it is so much nicer going through with that program, but I'd like to move my workflow to LR4 solely.  But hard to with the preview handling being so much slower.  Any help?

        • 1. Re: Previews slow to load
          Victoria_Bampton CommunityMVP

          Previews in Library module or Develop module?  Are you rendering large enough previews at import?

          • 2. Re: Previews slow to load
            montesjesse Community Member

            I am viewing the previews in Library mode.  I checked my preferences for file handling, and on dng import I have set "medium size".  Only other option is 'Full Size'. 

            • 3. Re: Previews slow to load
              Jim Wilde Community Member

              They're not the previews that Victoria is talking about, nor are they the previews that Lightroom uses in the Library module. When you import images, you are given the choice of which type of preview you wish Lightroom to build during that import. If you routinely select "Minimal", that's what Lightroom creates, which are only thumbnail sized. That gives the quickest import speed, but it also means that whenever you attempt to view an image in the Library module using the Loupe view, an appropriately sized preview then has to be built.....hence the 'loading' delay.

               

              If, OTOH, you were to render either "Standard" or "1:1" previews during import, you will find moving from image to image in Library using Loupe to be a much speedier process as there will be no delay waiting for the preview to be built.

               

              If you routinely use 1:1 view in Library, building 1:1 previews during import might be a good idea (albeit it will elongate the import process).

              • 4. Re: Previews slow to load
                montesjesse Community Member

                Can I make this adjustment post-import and somehow allow LR4 to rebuild those previews?  And for future, are these preview options something that only pops up in the import dialogue?  Or can I change these preferences now somewhere?

                • 5. Re: Previews slow to load
                  gvb279 Community Member

                  In the Library Module go to Library then Previews. There is the option to render Standard or 1:1 previews. In Edit - Preferences - Catalogue Settings - File Handling, you have options for Standard Preview size.

                  • 6. Re: Previews slow to load
                    Jim Wilde Community Member

                    As gvb279 has explained, you can render previews AFTER import....you can do this for just selected images or all images (but note that when you select a bunch of images LR will only build new previews where none currently exists).

                     

                    However, the Catalog setting on the File Handling tab only determines the size and quality of the standard-sized previews, it does not determine if they are automatically created during import. This is a function of the import dialog (File Handling box, top of right-hand panel), though you can easily create an import preset which ensures consistency of all the various import settings, including preview type.

                     

                    Note also, that if you choose to render 1:1 previews, a full hierarchy of previews for that image is created, i.e. 1:1, standard, various thumbnails.

                    • 7. Re: Previews slow to load
                      tunney moriarty Community Member

                      I guess I am lucky in that everything works like it should. Everything loads instantly. I am on a brand new iMac 27 in with 2 Tera bytes and a 250 gig solid state hard drive and 16 gig of memory. Photoshop CS6 and Bridge work the same.. Importing and previews are incredibly fast. I also have my monitor calibrated with Color Munki.

                       

                      Tunney Moriarty

                      Ph: Res 519-746-0236

                             Cell 519 584-5253

                      • 8. Re: Previews slow to load
                        gvb279 Community Member

                        Indeed!