Confused on something with iCloud Photo Library

[Pikeboarder]

Hi all
I just upgraded to iOS 10 and so far like it a lot. I have never really used the iCloud Photo Library in the past and thinking about doing it now. However something I'm confused about...

I ran across this explanation between Photo Library vs Photo Stream:
"Hence, devices that have iCloud Photo Library enabled will synchronize your entire photo library with each other via the online iCloud Photo Library, but if these devices also have iCloud Photo Streams enabled, they’ll upload any new photos, taken directly on that device, to the iCloud Photo Stream. "

My question is in regards to the underlined. So if I have both iCloud Photo Library and Photo stream enabled, will new photos taken from my device only upload to Photo Stream and not iCloud Library as well?

Couple other questions:
1) Assuming Photo Library is enabled...if I delete a picture from my phone or iPad, will it also delete in Photo Library? Same if I edited a picture? It will upload the edited version?

2) May seem like a stupid question, however say I have a phone and iPad...in order to get the exact same pictures on the devices themselves I need to do it via Photo Stream correct (and pull it from there on whichever device wants the picture)? I'm assuming Photo Library doesn't download into each device to sync all the pictures correct? (I'm assuming due to varying space capacities).

Thanks all!

 

[ck2875]

Hey. I use iCloud Photo Library. Basically new photos will go to the iCloud Libary but also to the photo stream that isn't stored locally so that any device you don't have iCloud Photo library turned-on for can still access and download the photo stream photos.

When you have iCloud Photo Library on, the photos will basically stay updated across all of your devices. You can either opt to have the full size photo stored locally or an optimized version, but you'll need to store the photos locally in some form on all devices with Photo Library turned on. If you opt for the optimized version, it still uploads the full size ones, but limits the size of the photos to the thumbnail until you need to access them. If you delete something from your iPhone, it deletes it from all the other devices. If you edit a photo, that edit shows up on all other devices. I personally really like how it works in that regard.

I have 12.02GB of photos on my iPhone using the 'optimized storage' option and that includes 14,350 photos and 173 videos that would require around 50gb if i stored the full size versions on my phone.

 

[Pikeboarder]

Ck2875 -
Many many thanks for the explanation! That certainly helps a lot! I think I'll use Photo Library as well.

One more that just popped up:
1) Say I turn on Photo Library on my iphone and iPad. Will the cloud now download any pictures that either doesn't have (but the other one does) so that both device's photo library show the same?

Thanks again!

 

[ck2875]

Ck2875 -
Many many thanks for the explanation! That certainly helps a lot! I think I'll use Photo Library as well.

One more that just popped up:
1) Say I turn on Photo Library on my iphone and iPad. Will the cloud now download any pictures that either doesn't have (but the other one does) so that both device's photo library show the same?

Thanks again!

I believe it gives the option to merge the libraries when you're turning it on with a new device for the first time. In my experience it didn't create duplicates of any photos that were already on both devices. But yeah, once it's turned on, everything will be synced so both show the exact same library. I would only turn it on with one device at a time and wait until it says that library has uploaded/is up to date before turning it on for the next device though.
[doublepost=1474054439][/doublepost]

I have 12.02GB of photos on my iPhone using the 'optimized storage' option and that includes 14,350 photos and 173 videos that would require around 50gb if i stored the full size versions on my phone.

Something to note: iCloud Photo Library counts against your iCloud Storage usage. Photo Stream does not.

The amount that counts against the iCloud storage is the full size versions, so while icloud photo library is taking up 12.02GB on my local device (my phone), it's taking up 49.3GB of my icloud storage.

 

[nanogirl21]

Hey. I use iCloud Photo Library. Basically new photos will go to the iCloud Libary but also to the photo stream that isn't stored locally so that any device you don't have iCloud Photo library turned-on for can still access and download the photo stream photos.

When you have iCloud Photo Library on, the photos will basically stay updated across all of your devices. You can either opt to have the full size photo stored locally or an optimized version, but you'll need to store the photos locally in some form on all devices with Photo Library turned on. If you opt for the optimized version, it still uploads the full size ones, but limits the size of the photos to the thumbnail until you need to access them. If you delete something from your iPhone, it deletes it from all the other devices. If you edit a photo, that edit shows up on all other devices. I personally really like how it works in that regard.

I have 12.02GB of photos on my iPhone using the 'optimized storage' option and that includes 14,350 photos and 173 videos that would require around 50gb if i stored the full size versions on my phone.

I pretty much load all my images into the photos app on my Mac and then delete the "copy" off my computer to save hard drive space. If I need the photo for something I just drag it out of my photo app onto my desktop. Do whatever I have to do with it (email or upload to the web to share usually) then delete the "copy" from my desk top. If I need to edit I do it right from the photo app and that edit syncs across all my devices.

I'm a little confused about optimized storage. Right now it is turned off. If I turn it on and I get low on space on my phone/mac how does optimize storage determine what photos it will show on the phone/mac and keep in the cloud? What if I need to access a photo that is not shown? Sometimes I do go back to old photos, so the most recent photos taken isn't the best option for me. I never completely understood optimized storage.

I know that if I do use optimize storage it will keep a lower res photo on the device, but when I "copy" it to the desktop it will "download" the higher normal res.