iCloud Photo Library: Edit using original format

[LERsince1991]

Hi,

I have an iCloud Photo Library which is around 150gb, if I take a photo on my iPhone in tiff format and then try to edit this on the iPhone it should download the original file to edit. Unfortunately what I am seeing is a 2mb jpg (instead of a 48.8mb tiff). The same happens with raw files (I am on iOS 10 on both devices). I am using exif photos extension to detect the file size and type.

Why can't I acces my original tiff photos on my iPad for editing.

 

[M. Gustave]

The 2mb jpeg sounds like it's the preview image. Are you on wifi, and seeing the download status pie icon when you click "Edit" on that photo?

Aside from that, I have to wonder at the practical purpose of using 50mb tiff images on an iPhone.

 

[LERsince1991]

Ok, a little more testing... essentially yes I initially get the download symbol which downloads first the preview when scrolling through, if I zoom to 100% it downloads the full res jpg but when I 'edit' the photo is does not download the original tiff file.

When editing it is only using the large jpg which is frustrating.
Looking at the file name using an extension, the file name as a preview version rather than the original IMGXXXX.tiff name for example.

 

[M. Gustave]

Odd since TIFF is not a restricted format according to Apple's online documentation. I would ping support.

 

[LERsince1991]

I will, I've been trying out some more as well with OS X photos;

Scenario 1:
A- I take a photo in tiff on my iPhone with iCloud Photo Library enabled
B- I want to edit that tiff on my iPad but only the jpg is syncing, even pressing edit on the photo does not download the original as it should.

Scenario 2:
A- I take a photo in tiff on my iPhone with iCloud Photo Library enabled
B- I want to edit that tiff on my Mac in macOS photos, photos successfully downloads the tiff to edit.
C- I make the edits and press done to save changes. Photos retains the tiff as it is a database editor.
D- I go to my iPad Pro where I want to access the tiff photo, but the iPad can only access the 'full size render jpg', the tiff is not retrievable on ios.

 

[zorinlynx]

Photos.app on iOS is not as capable as Photos.app on OS X.

What you've noticed with TIFF files also applies to RAW files. If I open a photo that I took as RAW on my iPad, I can only edit the JPG preview. The edits will sync back to my Mac but if I hit edit on the Mac I'll now be editing based on the RAW, which will make the photo look different immediately. Then if I save THOSE edits, a new preview jpg will be generated and sent to the iOS devices.

It's a bit clunky, but I suspect it's because iOS devices don't have the horsepower to edit such huge files, so the system does what it can to let the user do quick edits instead of "You can't do that."

I don't shoot RAW much anymore (the benefits are few unless you're using very high end camera in specialist situations) so I don't deal with this issue often. But I know some people do.

 

[M. Gustave]

...but I suspect it's because iOS devices don't have the horsepower to edit such huge files...

Wrong. Snapseed for iOS was just updated with full raw support for 144 cameras. It's just a software issue.