Enable thumbnail generation for large TIFF/high‑resolution images exceeding current processing limits
Problem Statement:
When uploading large TIF or high‑resolution print‑quality assets (typically >200 MB), the CMP/DAM fails to generate thumbnails. Instead, users see a broken image icon. Optimizely has confirmed that thumbnails cannot be generated due to internal processing limitations related to file size.
This causes significant usability issues, as CMP/DAM users rely heavily on thumbnails—not filenames—to identify and select assets.
- Desired Outcome / Feature Description We request support for generating thumbnails for large TIFF and high‑resolution images, regardless of original file size, through one of the following approaches (implementation method left to Optimizely):
The core requirement: All uploaded assets must generate a visible thumbnail preview, even when originals are extremely large.
- Business Value / Rationale Our organization manages a large volume of print-ready originals (up to 6,500 assets in the upcoming migration), many of which exceed 200MB due to their use in advertising, building banners, and other large‑format production. Thumbnails are essential because:
Users select assets visually, not by file name
Broken thumbnails cause mis‑selections and inefficiency
Internal stakeholders cannot validate assets without previews
Bulk migration becomes risky and time‑consuming
The usability of the DAM diminishes significantly for print‑focused teams
This limitation blocks parts of our upcoming large migration and affects daily workflows for multiple teams.
- Impacted User Groups
✔ Content Editors
✔ DAM Managers
✔ Marketing Teams
✔ External agencies producing print material
✔ Brand teams working with large imagery
- Current Suggested Workaround from Optimizely
Uploading a smaller, web-friendly version of every large image manually.
This is not feasible for 6,500+ assets, and duplicating assets leads to governance and version‑control issues.
Optimizely recently added a default placeholder icon, but this does not solve the business need for actual visual thumbnails.
- Dependencies / Related Items
Upcoming asset migration of ~6,500 large print originals
Cross-team dependency: brand, marketing, and agencies require thumbnail previews for workflows
Related support ticket: #1815552
Jennifer Hallqvist
shared this idea
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Carin Perez
commented
I would like to see the process used to generate thumbnails to be improved to support larger file sizes. At present, it can take minutes for a thumbnail to generate if the file size exceeds 400MB. Sometimes not loading at all. This length of time needed creates a serious bottleneck in our work flows as our teams will not be able to select imagery for marketing collateral with efficiency and ease.
Unfortunately, large tifs (300mb+) is standard in our work as the photoshop layers must be maintained so that corrections can be easily completed when necessary. Maintaining what is called "Non-destructive retouching" is imperative to our work as a photo retoucher.
If this is something that can be achieved in the future through developing a new process of thumbnail generation, it would be greatly valued and appreciated by my team.