IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

I am experiencing a fairly slow display of images in a grid format in the Library modules of LrC. I am using the latest version of LrC (13.1) on iMac with fully updated 13.6.3 iOS. I do have a large catalog (~ 100K images) on an external drive. Images are within folders and folder images display slowly. I did Optimize the catalog, but display of images is still slower than I would expect. I think that there is a setting in LrC in terms how fast previews of images appear in the grid format, but I wasn't able to locate it. Any suggestions? Thank you.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What is the status of your previews? Have you just made some recent changes, in the LR catalog / software and / or migrated to a new computer?

LR Classic is a 'database', a database of the locations of your original image files, LR's internal versions of those image files (aka previews) and your edit instructions.

"Best Practices" are to store your LR catalog on the fastest disk on your system. The previews are in the many subfolders of your LRCAT location. If you migrated to new equipment or changed the location of your LRCAT, did you bring the preview files along with the LRCAT? If applicable and 'no', well, that would cause the delay as LR has to dynamically build the previews for the Grid view for each image found in the catalog.

Other issues may be involved. More relevant technical details are needed for better guesses at your situation.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Also, how long has it been since you ran your computer's cleanup and "housekeeping" apps? The caches could be full, and the whole thing loaded with lots of left over crud it has to run through before doing anything new.
How long since you ran your anti-malware and antivirus software - not having active care on, actually run the software?

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

Thank you. I haven't changed computers, catalog locations, or hard drives. I think that it has something to do with the choice of building previews. I think that it dates back to the PS 2024 upgrade when I was making a selection regarding the speed vs the size of the previews. I have changed it from my previous setting which probably resulted in the perceived slowdown. I wasn't able to find this setting to change it back.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

I did all the computer housekeeping and malware check, as I routinely do. I think that it has something to do with the choice of building previews. I think that it dates back to the PS 2024 upgrade when I was making a selection regarding the speed vs the size of the previews. I have changed it from my previous setting which probably resulted in the perceived slowdown. I wasn't able to find this setting to change it back. Thank you.

tcthome Loc: NJ

You can try going clearing the cache in LR.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

Sorry, I meant a LrC, not PD update.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

Sorry, I meant a LrC, not PD update.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Get back to us on what settings you are using. Assuming my old LR6 has the same options in the same positions, check Edit / Catalog Settings / File Handling. I use the Standard Preview size at 1440 pixels. I like a Medium Preview quality. Also, I "discard" my 1:1 previews after 1-week, a process that occurs when the LRCAT back-up runs, also something I limit to just once a week.

The other place to look for preview settings are your Import settings. Here, you can create several different types and formats of previews. On my older computer and older software, I create only "Minimal" previews at import, these being the size to support the Grid view and a full-screen view of the image.

If you find the delay ongoing and annoying, consider letting your computer run over night and 'select all' images in the entire catalog and then use Library / Previews / Build Standard Sized Previews. Let the process run overnight, it will probably finish for your 100K by the next morning.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

a. That is a very large catalog.
b. What usb generation are you using? the USB speed could be part of the problem.
c. Is the external drive spinning disks or SSD?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Do you have it set for 1:1 previews or Smart Previews. 1:1 are bigger files but you can zoom in more to edit details.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

All good points, but it shouldn’t be related to that because it’s a recent slow down without any changes in your comments. I think that it was related to a change in a preview size section. I’ve changed to standard size previews and performance did improve. Thank you.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

I did build Standard Size previews and it did improve the performance. Thank you.