Render sprawl
Render files regenerate — but nobody deletes the old ones.
Obsah
Where the gigabytes hide
Library bloat
FCPX and Premiere libraries quietly absorb originals, proxies, and caches.
Camera originals
CARD dumps copied 'temporarily' to the desktop in 2024.
The workflow
Scan the media volume
External and internal media drives each get their own pass.
Separate originals from derivatives
Originals archive; proxies and renders are regenerable. The map shows which is which by location.
Clear per project
When a project ships, drill into its folder and clear derivatives in one collector pass.
Snapshot before big deletes
Note the free-space number first — satisfying, and proof if a client asks.
Tools worth installing
NullDisk first — native map, staged collector, zero telemetry. Then, depending on taste:
- DaisyDisk — The beloved sunburst map that made disk cleanup beautiful.
- WhatSize — A fast measuring sorter with column views and cleanup tools.
- Disk Graph — Pie-chart and treemap inspector with snapshots and search.
Časté dotazy
Can I delete render files safely?
Yes if the project still opens — NLEs regenerate them. Delete per finished project, never mid-edit.
How do I compare usage over time?
Tools with snapshots (like Disk Graph) help; otherwise note free space before and after each cleanup.