Asset Sizes

Basic Sizes

Changed in version 1.19.0: Multiple --size parameters can be specified

icloudpd emulates the web browser to access iCloud.com. Whatever Apple makes available in the iCloud.com web UI is available to icloudpd.

Each asset in iCloud may have multiple sizes available for downloading:

  • original: The original file as uploaded to iCloud (e.g. HEIC, JPEG, RAW).

  • medium: A smaller copy made by iCloud. For photos this has been a JPEG; for videos it is a smaller video.

  • thumb: A thumbnail made by iCloud. For photos this has been a JPEG; for videos it is a small video.

Note

The file format of each size is decided by Apple: icloudpd saves the file type iCloud reports for it. Apple can change these formats at any time (e.g. medium could become HEIC).

Size can be selected with the --size parameter and multiple specifications are accepted (e.g., --size original --size medium). The default is original.

Fallback Logic

icloudpd implements its own logic on top of what is available from Apple.

If the size parameter is specified, but it is not available for the asset in iCloud, then original is downloaded, unless --force-size is specified.

Assets downloaded as medium or thumb get the size as a suffix in their name, e.g., IMG_1234-medium.JPG. adjusted and alternative only get a suffix (-adjusted, -alternative) when their name would be the same as another file downloaded for the same asset.

Special Sizes

Added in version 1.19.0.

Image edits are represented as a special size adjusted. This usually corresponds to the current version of the image with edits (crops, filters, etc.) applied.

Two common use cases related to edits:

  • Download the edited version or original if it was not edited: use the --size adjusted parameter.

  • Download edit and original: use the --size adjusted --size original parameters. Edits will have a -adjusted suffix added if the file extension is the same as the original.

Note

Portraits are represented in iCloud as edits. The adjusted file can be a HEIC, with the crop and edits applied.

See also

RAW assets use alternative size