From PSE (PC) to iPhoto - several questions

Question

I've looked for answers for these questions, which are kind of interconnected, but not found what I'm after. Have also tried a few things with smaller folders of pictures. Hope someone can help.
_Copy items into library?_
I want to use iPhoto organise and import photos, but use PS Elements 8 to edit them (and have set this up as an external editor from iPhoto). Given this, is my best bet to copy photos into the library, rather than use a referenced library (if I've got the terminology right)?
_Folders of pictures - do I still need them?_
When previously importing photos from a camera to PSE6 (PC), I stored each 'event' in a different folder. These folders were transferred to my Mac and put in the 'Pictures' folder in the Finder. When I import them into iPhoto, it looks like the 'iPhoto library' file has made copies of the photos and arranged them in its own event-based folder structure, in the 'Originals' folder (I've checked the 'Copy Items Into iPhoto Library' option mentioned above). Given that this has happened, do I still need to keep the folders for any reason other than as back-up? I get the impression that when I next import new photos, they'll go straight into that iPhoto library, rather than sitting in a file folder next to it - is this right? Is absolutely everything I need in that iPhoto library file?
_If I want to leave iPhoto..._
As above, my photo collection is currently arranged in folders. If I switch to iPhoto, won't each of my albums/events be split across 'Originals' and 'Modified'? Won't this make it very difficult to re-create a tidy photo collection in a different piece of software at some point in the future? Is this a decent enough reason to not use iPhoto?
_And lastly, Adobe Bridge_
Which came with PSE8. Is there much use for this if I'm using iPhoto+PSE8? Just checking I'm not missing a trick.
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

The following may be of interest to you:
Using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.
1 - select Photoshop as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
NOTE: With Photoshop Elements 6 the Saving File preferences should be configured: "On First Save: Save Over Current File". Also I suggest the Maximize PSD File Compatabilty be set to Always.
NOTE: If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and PS without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected PS as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". That will let you either edit in iPhoto (double click on the thumbnail) or in PS (Control-click on the thumbnail and seledt "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu). This way you get the best of both worlds.
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
OT