So assume I have a laptop with an SSD, and I wish to keep all originals in the iCloud Photo Library, and keep just the down-scalled versions on my Mac (i.e. I have the “Optimize Mac Storage” turned ON). After I import new photos from an SD card onto the Mac, and let them sync up to iCloud. How do I remove the full size images from my mac without deleting the photos from my library (local and iCloud) entirely?
My understanding is that Photos will do this automatically, when you have insufficient space. While you have “sufficient space” it will keep the full size files on your mac:
“Optimise Mac Storage: Store full resolution photos and videos in iCloud. Originals will also be stored on this Mac if you have enough space”
I don’t know what Apple deems sufficient space or what happens if you suddenly need to use a big chunk of the available space.
That’s my understanding as well, but the lack of any sort of definition or parameters on what “sufficient space” means is kind of maddening.