Accessing my iphotos w/ other programs?

Hi there, I'm a very new Mac user. I transitioned over from the PC just about a month ago. For the most part, the transition has been fairly easy, and "welcome" but there are a couple of areas where it's hard in the coming... and my pictures & and video are definitely 2 of those areas.
My question right now is, *if I use other programs* (or even iPhoto) *to edit my pictures, do I lose the original?* Where does the original "go"? Or, better yet, where does it "stay"?
As a 20+ year veteran of the PC I have to admit I've learned the hard way when it comes to leaving all my valuables in one location. My pictures and family video are definitely considered my most prized possessions. One of my biggest personal struggles with my transition to the Mac is knowing that iPhoto is basically controlling my pictures - all... in ONE... location. It makes me very uneasy. My lack of ease is most closely associated with feeling like I may lose the original photos when I make changes to them.
I am really unclear as to how this works - how the original photo is preserved, most particularly because I can't get into the folders and root around in the files myself like I could with my PC. iPhoto has it's great points, but I've seriously considered having a windows OS installed on my Mac purely for the use of my PC's ACDSee photo viewer. And... from what I've read on the internet during my search for this answer (It's been on my mind since the first day I booted up my beautiful brand new iMac) there are many an-ex-PC user mourning this same loss, lol.
*Help? When I edit in ANY program... do I lose my original??*

First - the good news is that with iPhoto managing your photos it is very easy to back them up - and you must do that - both to an external drive and once in a while to dvd
As to editing
first let me describe how iPhoto handles your photos irrespective of who edits them
when you import a photo, iPhoto places the original in an originals folder within the iPhoto library (DO NOT GO IN AND MODIFY ANYTHING WITHIN THE iPhoto library EVER - you can LOOK but do NOT TOUCH) and makes a thumbnail that it places in the data folder. Any time you edit a photo using iPhoto OR using an external editor properly linked to iPhoto (more on this in a minute) there is a modified version created and it is kept in the modified folder.
At any time you can select a photo and revert to original eliminating all changes and being back to a virgin photo just the way it was imported. Also as you make multiple edits iPhoto always applies your edits to the original so multiple edits do not degrade your photo quality - you are never more than one step from the original (pretty cool!)
To proper use an external editor simply go to the iPhoto menu ==> preferences ==> general and under the edit in selection select "in external editor" and now when you edit your photo will be passed to the external editor of our choice and when you save it (NOT SAVE AS) it will come back into iPhoto as a modified and iPhoto will update the thumbnail and save the original (as described above)
If you want to use both the iPhoto editor (a pretty good editor for most purposes) and sometimes an external editor - after you select your external editor change the edit in window back to "in main window" and now if you double click or click edit you will use the iPhoto editor and if you right click (control click on a single button mouse) you will get a contextual menu allowing you to select the external editor (and as usual, you save - not save as - when you are done
there also often is a question on how to access your photos form other programs - see Terence Devlin's discussion in this thread for a complete discussion of that - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1371662&tstart=15 - or look here
Help? When I edit in ANY program... do I lose my original??
So in a word - NO! - if you use the iPhoto external editor feature
If you were to go into the iPhoto library directly you would and might lose albums etc - you just can not directly change the contents of the iPhoto library except using iPhoto ( or an iPhoto aware program like iPhoto library Manager)
LN
Message was edited by: LarryHN

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Opening pictures in iPhoto from other programs

I'm wanting to use pictures from my iPhoto library in other programs-- i.e. Photoshop Elements or to upload to a website. When working from Photoshop Elements, when I go to File>Open>Pictures>iPhotoLibrary I get an error message. The only way I seem to be able to USE any of my photos stored in iPhoto is if I copy them to my "pictures" folder in the Finder and then use them. Of course, this means I am using double the space on my hard drive. There must be an easier way. What am I doing wrong?

So if I use Photoshop as an external editor, the Save function is only saving a copy? Does the copy go back into the original event this way?
When you set Photoshop (or an Image Editor) as an external and then go to edit the pic here's what happens:
1. iPhoto makes a copy of the file and sends the copy to Photoshop
2. Make your edits
3. Save.
4. The Edited version is returned to iPhoto and saved in the Modified Folder.
5. A new thumbnail is made and replaces the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window
Thereafter if you want to get to the Original you have several options:
a: Photos -> Revert to Original - this destroys the modified version
b: Export using the File -> Export command, set the *Kind: Original*
c. Any other form of export yields the edited version.
In Windows if one chooses save when editing in Photoshop, the original is overwritten,
This is true in Photoshop on the Mac too, the difference is you're using iPhoto, and it's +iPhoto making the copy+. Hence the 'Save As' to preserve your original is unnecessary.
which i can't seem to access in Finder browse mode or from iPhoto
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
*For Users of 10.5 and later*
You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
*For users of 10.4 and later* ...
Many internet sites such as Flickr and SmugMug have plug-ins for accessing the iPhoto Library. If the site you want to use doesn’t then some, one or any of these will also work:
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. However, if you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
*If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running*:
For users of 10.6 and later:
You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu. Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For Users of 10.4 and later:
Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD

Firefox has just started being incapable of accessing any website while other programs--Eudora & IE--continue accessing web as usual.

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UNABLE TO ACCESS MY PHOTOS FROM OTHER PROGRAMS

Hi new Mac user here. can anyone shed some light on a small problem I am having.
I am trying to upload my images to a photo library, but when i click on the select file button it opens up another window allowing me to navigate to where my images are stored in iphoto. I navigate to pictures etc, but when I get to iphoto it is greyed out and won't let me locate the image I want to upload.
Any ideas why I cannot select my photos which are in seperate folders within iphoto library?

paramedone
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD

IPhoto and other programs won't close on my mac mini

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Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Run Software Update and make sure you have all the iLife support updates installed. If you have then download and re-install the iLife 9.0.3 update from here
http://support.apple.com/downloads/iLifeSupport_9_03
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TD

How do i upload my albums from iPhoto to other websites.

I am trying to upload an album from Iphoto to a website. The website takes me to my harddrive. But my photos are in iphoto and the library is shaded out. It wont let me save the photos to the desktop or burn a cd or anything else.

in the upload window look in teh lower left hand corner under media ==> photos ==> iPhoto - the standard method to access your iPhoto database from programs other than iPhoto
<a href="http://web.me.com/larryhn/iPhoto_08_(version_7.x.x)_FAQ/Accessing_iPhoto_Photos. html"> click here for a discussion on the many correct and safe ways to access your iPhoto library photos.</a>
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From within many programs, specifically PhotoShop Elements or Adobe Bridge tonight, I navigate to "iPhoto Library" and can not access the files within the library to use in these programs. I can get there from within Finder, just not other programs. This is extremely frustrating...can someone please help?

Of course - it is a database and you must use the correct access methods
and for a photo editor like PSE you also need to explain what you are trying to do
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LN
Message was edited by: LarryHN

What is going on? I can't access my iPhoto files from any other programs. It just says "Open iPhoto to see photos from your iPhoto Library in this list", but that doesn't work. What changed?

All of a sudden I can't access my iPhoto files from any other programs (ie Photoshop, facebook etc.). It just gives me this message below. What the **** changed? This wasn't happening yesterday.

1 - close iPhoto.
2 - go to your Pictures folder and open the iPhoto Library package as shown below:
3 - locate a file named AlbumData.xml and move it to the Desktop.
4 - launch iPhoto.
5 - relaunch the other programs and try the media browser again.
OT

External H.D. and iPhoto library accessing in other programs

I put my iPhoto library onto an external hard drive. When I am in some software program that I want to import a photo it will give me the H.D. option but when I click on the iPhoto library it will not open it. Will the library only open when I am in iPhoto? If so, how do I access my photos or do I have to select some and put them on the desktop before I begin the other software program? Thank you, Janet

Janet
Yes, the library is only for the use of iPhoto. Other apps are not allowed to surf the Library.
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto. In 10.5's Mail, you can access the Library directly from the New Message Window
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
If the other application is an Image Editor:
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.
Regards
TD

Opening iPhoto files in other programs

Does anyone know how to open a photo stored in my iPhoto library in another program such as Photoshop?
The only way I can think of is to open the iPhoto library through 'Show Package Contents' in Finder, selecting individual photos and 'Open With...' - 'Photoshop.'
Surely there is a simpler way???

Yes there is... the designed way:
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.
Note that iPhoto sends a copy+ of the file to Photoshop, so when you save be sure to use the Save command, not Save As... If you use Save As then you're creating a new file and iPhoto has no way of knowing about this new file. iPhoto is preserving your original anyway.
There is never a need for you to enter the Library package in the FInder. Any time you do you risk damaging the Library.
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
*For Users of 10.5 and later*
You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
*For users of 10.4 and later* ...
Many internet sites such as Flickr and SmugMug have plug-ins for accessing the iPhoto Library. If the site you want to use doesn’t then some, one or any of these will also work:
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. However, if you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
*If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running*:
For users of 10.6 and later:
You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu. Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For Users of 10.4 and later:
Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD

Accessing my iphotos w/ other programs?

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