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When creating a real BitCopy, the source and target sizes match exactly. HDClone is also capable of creating physical copies if there are variations in source and target sizes, yet this will not result in an absolutely identical clone.
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If the sizes of the source and target are identical and BitCopy mode is selected, HDClone will create an identical copy. On this clone, provided no errors occurred, all sectors on the target will be 100% identical to the source.
If the source is smaller than the target, HDClone will clone only the data contained in the source. The source data will be copied from the beginning of the source onto the target media. The area at the end of the target media, which is larger than the source, will remain unaffected. Aside from the unaffected area possibly remaining unused during a later deployment, this type of copy is mostly comparable with a genuine clone, due to all data from the source being entirely retained on the target (in comparison to Large to small).
If the source is larger than the target, HDClone will copy only the data which will fit onto the target. This data is copied from the beginning of the source to the beginning of the target media. All data that exceeds the size of the target will not be copied, and will therefore be absent on the target. Generally, this kind of copy is either unusable or is only usable in a very restrictive manner, due to the absence of possibly necessary data. However, by ensuring (e.g. by defragmentation) that all valid or necessary data is retained in the front part of the source media, and that this area is not larger than the target media prior to copying, a copy onto a smaller target media can be executed successfully. This also applies when you copy a smaller source onto a larger target, and if you copy the (unchanged) data back onto the original media or onto a target of the corresponding size.