<blockquote>
<p>Does deleting an original asset but keeping the transform folder asset make Craft replace the original file with the biggest transform?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No - Craft will always use the originally uploaded asset as the &quot;source of truth&quot; for generating new transforms.</p>
<p>You can, however, replace the originally uploaded 8mb+ file with a smaller one, and it'll be used as the source of truth for generating new transforms.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-21T06:47:06.357Z
Thanks Brad! A bit outside the scope of this forum's focus but is there a batch image downsizer you could recommend?
patrick.altair
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-21T18:32:40.883Z
The last time I tried anything like that, I automated it in Photoshop.
Brad Bell
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-20T00:22:05.600Z
2021-01-20T00:22:05.600Z
Brad Bell
<p>I have a client who has uploaded many giant images to the CMS (8mb+). I'd like to free up that space now that those image have been transformed to more web-friendly sizes. Is it safe for me to delete the original files stored on the server or does Craft require those to create new transforms?</p>

<craft3><assets><image-transforms>
Does deleting an original asset but keeping the transform folder asset make Craft replace the original file with the biggest transform?
# Does deleting an original asset but keeping the transform folder asset make Craft replace the original file with the biggest transform?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-19)

I have a client who has uploaded many giant images to the CMS (8mb+). I'd like to free up that space now that those image have been transformed to more web-friendly sizes. Is it safe for me to delete the original files stored on the server or does Craft require those to create new transforms?

**Tags:** craft3, assets, image-transforms


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-01-20. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

> Does deleting an original asset but keeping the transform folder asset make Craft replace the original file with the biggest transform?

No - Craft will always use the originally uploaded asset as the "source of truth" for generating new transforms.

You can, however, replace the originally uploaded 8mb+ file with a smaller one, and it'll be used as the source of truth for generating new transforms.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks Brad! A bit outside the scope of this forum's focus but is there a batch image downsizer you could recommend?  
> **username_1**: The last time I tried anything like that, I automated it in Photoshop.  

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