Backing up iPhoto to DVD+RW

For some reason I can't back up to DVD+RW, which doesn't make sense because I burn DVD+RW disks all the time on my mac.
I remember it haven't trouble with RW disks in general. Is there a way to tell my mac it is ok to backup to DVD+RW disks in iPhoto?

Hey, I just had a thought
Well done!
By ‘Back up iPhoto’ do you mean:
Back up the Application? - Your install disk is a back up.
or
Back Up the Library? - this includes all the albums, keywords, print materials, slideshows?
In this case you need to copy the Library to another Disk - DVD or External HD. You need to copy the iPhoto Library Folder - all of it as a single unit, not the constituent parts. Or you can use the Share -> Burn command. The Share -> Burn command makes a disk that iPhoto can read in the iPhoto Window - and this makes restoring easier. It’s not the same as just dragging the Library to a DVD and burning it.
These methods also put in all the small previews that aren't really needed.
They are if you’re backing up the Library.
Or
Back up the photos that the library contains?
Select the pics in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pics to a folder on the desktop. This results in... a folder of pics, no albums, no metadata, no ability to revert to original etc.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

Moving photos back into iphoto from DVD back-up

I have lost several hundred photos (through my own error). I have them backed up on DVD in the iphoto format. Iphoto recognizes the disk when I put it in.
I'm wondering the best way to transfer these photos back onto my computer and into my iphoto library. Drag and drop?
The thumbnails of the lost photos remain in my iphoto on my computer so I was thinking of rebuilding the thumbnail cache (which iphoto sometimes prompts me to do when I open it) before I import. (how would I do this?)
Thanks!

Just drag the disk image onto the Library icon in the left hand pane and your photos will be imported into the library in the Events and albums that they were in when you backed them up.
But first I would delete those "damaged" photos from the library and then import from the disk. Use iPhoto's delete method so that you delete not only the thumbnail files but any related modified files. That will get rid of a lot of flotsam in the library.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.≤br>
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

How can I take pictures back from a DVD created on my Mac and put them back in iPhoto?..

I made a DVD from iPhoto and iMovie but I accidentally deleted the photos from iPhoto. The only copy I hav is a DVD. Is there a way to get the pictures from the DVD back to iPhoto?

Hi
As Old Toad writes. No You can not get 100% quality back.
You can though.
Play DVD with VLC-player
PAUSE
cmd+Shift+4 - click and select photo area - or -
cmd+Shift+3 - click and make a ScreenDump
Quality will be - size of the screen and 72dpi
• So set screen in Max Size e.g. 1440x900 or more
• BUT as DVD is interlaced SD-Video - no setting will be any better than this
And that will be the best You can do - still POOR - but usually better than Nothing !
NTSC (29.97fps) 520 lines - about 640x480 pixels (square) 720x480 rectangular (narrow) pixels
PAL (25 fps) 625 lines - about 768x576 pixels (square) 720x576 rectangular (narrow) pixels
And if You creaded Your movie in iMovie'08 to 11 - only half of the line resolution is left - So I guess that
320 x 480 or
384 x 576
Will be the best possible resulting photos.
Yours Bengt W

I made a slideshow on iphoto and exported it to itunes. The original on iphoto seems to have changed (all on its own)! and I want to export the original back to iphoto so that i can burn it to a dvd. How do I export it back?!!

I recently made a slideshow and exported it to itunes. The original slideshow that is saved in iphoto has changed, all on it's own!! The photos are different and in a different order.....not sure how that has happened! However, the one on itunes is how it should be and I want to get it back into iphoto so that I can burn it onto a dvd. Can someone tell me how to get my slideshow back into iphoto from itunes please? And any ideas why my original in iphoto has changed?!!! Many thanks.

I recently made a slideshow and exported it to itunes. The original slideshow that is saved in iphoto has changed, all on it's own!! The photos are different and in a different order.....not sure how that has happened! However, the one on itunes is how it should be and I want to get it back into iphoto so that I can burn it onto a dvd. Can someone tell me how to get my slideshow back into iphoto from itunes please? And any ideas why my original in iphoto has changed?!!! Many thanks.

Can´t back up from iPhoto to DVD. Unexpected error code 0x8002006E

I´ve tried to back up from iPhoto to DVD. I followed:
Create a CD or DVD by exporting
In iPhoto, select the photos, albums, or video clips you want to burn to a disc.
Choose File > Export.
In the Export Photos window, click File Export, and then select your options.For best results, choose JPEG, Maximum, and Full Size. For more information, see Export a photo.
When you’re ready, click Export, and export the photos to a folder on your computer.
When the export is finished, quit iPhoto.
Click the Finder icon in the Dock, and then insert a CD-RW disc or a blank CD-R or DVD-R disc into your drive.
Drag the folder that contains your exported photos to the disc’s icon.
When the files have been copied, choose File > Burn Disc, and then click Burn.
The disc can´t be burned because an unexpected error occurred (error code 0x8002006E)
Am I missing something?
Thank you

I found this:
When burning a DVD, I also had the error 0x8002006E. I found a SOLUTION that is not discussed in this forum. I tried the three different things that are listed in this forum (delete the finder file, reset PRAM, and try different blank DVDs), but those methods did not work.
I had to repair my internal hard drive. I had to start my computer from my installation disc (version 10.5.4) (I turned on the computer while holding down "C" key with install disc in the drive). Then, you have to go to Disc Utility (at top menu bar) and click on your hard drive then click repair disc. After my computer repaired multiple problems, I restarted my computer from my main hard drive and then I could burn DVDs again. Please let me know if you have questions.
Is this the solution?

Back Up iPhoto Files on CD or DVD- Correct Procedure

Can you post here or point me to the recommended Procedure for backing up iphoto files on external drive to disk (CD or DVD)? I have read many bits and pieces through various postings, but didn't see one procedure that contains all the steps.
My external hard disk crashed, along with my iphoto libraries. I do have a back up copies of my iphoto files, so I will be restoring most of the photos. However, among these disks I have one CD backup copy I did that doesn't seem to work. Not sure what I did wrong with that one.
Please advise specifically which file folders to copy (or drag? or import?) and any special settings. Also, if you could add a procedure for incremental back ups. I have read the recommendation to copy the iphoto6.library folder regularly Should I save this on the disk with the photo files or on a separate disk labeled with the same date and library name. Also, I'd like to hear your advise for handling incremental backups for new rolls added.
Finally, if I purchase SuperDuper or DejaVu, will these applications better serve me in other ways and accomplish the same goal? I do use Backup, but I am concerned that it has too many limitations.
As soon as I get my HD back, I plan to put the iphoto libraries back on the external drive and want to get a clean procedure going, after this scare.
I am learning lots from this experience...

Hello, Sue,
Sorry about your drive crash! Nice that you did back up your photos, though.
Are you using the external drive as a backup to your computer's drive for iPhoto?
Or, are you using the external drive as the primary location for your iPhoto Library(ies)? If you are using the external as the primary location, then you will need another external drive as a backup, or burn the photos to CDs or DVDs.
Re: your previously burned CD--I am not sure why it does not work for you, but, there are two methods of burning photos to disks:
1. Burning from WITHIN iPhoto Burn from iPhoto--this method creates a disk that appears in the Source Pane of iPhoto when the disk is inserted into the computer's drive. It will keep your photos and albums looking as they did in iPhoto, but you need to be in iPhoto to access the photos. They do not need to be reimported. This is a good method for storage and easy access. You can delete these photos from your current library and just pop in the disk when you want them.
2. Burning from FINDER Burn from Finder--this method stores the photos for you, and can be accessed by any computer. When the disk mounts, you will have to reimport these photos into iPhoto to work with them. They will not be in albums, unless you specifically export them from iPhoto giving them the album name. (Post back if you want to do this; more instructions). This is a good method for backing up and having access to the photos on any computer that can read a disk.
I think it is a good idea to have both a backup external drive and the photos burned to disks. I have most of my photos burned to disks via method 2 just to preserve the photos. These are my old scanned-in snapshots, and I am not so worried about losing them on a drive because I have the negatives and the actual prints. (It would take a while to locate the negatives, but the prints are all in photo albums and labeled!).
I also have created iMovies and burned to DVDs, all the photos and videos of our family for a 17-year time period. (I have about 10 year's worth more to do to 2006, and probably a couple more encompassing photos from 1890s-1970s).
So, I will eventually have three backups: my external drive, the movie-DVDs, and DVD disks of the photos; in addition to the prints.
Some purists and worriers think that for the long-term archiving, we should be printing out our digital photos onto acidfree paper and placing them carefully in albums designed to preserve the photos. They think that DVDs can become damaged or obsolete and that the only way to really keep a photo is via paper prints.
Specifically, you will want to back up the entire iPhotoLibrary folder from Finder. This is the folder that by default is located in your 'Pictures' folder. Initially, you just drag the entire folder over to the external drive. (By the way, be sure that your external drive is Mac-formatted. Most are preformatted for PCs, so check).
When it has finished copying, you have backed up your library.
If you import more photos, you need to back up again. It is easiest just to drag the whole folder over again.
Some of us like to break up our library into several libraries. I have about ten or so, broken by dates. Since I have scanned in all my old photos, and edited most of them, I don't need to back up those libraries until I do some more editing. The current year's library I back up after almost every photo import. I back up the whole library--not incrementally.
Old Toad recommends making a backup copy of that Library6.iPhoto database file:
+For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.+
If you do create multiple libraries, you will need to backup this database file for EACH of them. I created a Library6.iPhoto backup folder, and I made a subfolder for each of them with that library's name on it and put the corresponding Library6.iPhoto file into its subfolder, carefully noticing which library I am backing up.
Just remember, the three rules of computer data:
1. Backup
2. Backup
3. Backup
And, my favorite, "There are two types of computer users: those who have lost data, and those who will." Having been both.....lost some papers my daughter wrote when an external failed.....I am now more cautious.

Backing up iPhoto Library to DVD: too big

I want to back up my iPhoto library to DVD so I can have an "off-site" copy. However it is 17GB, and won't fit on one DVD. What's the best way to back up to multiple DVD's? I do have Toast 8, if that's the best way.
Thanks!

Use the Disk Utility in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder to create a 20GB disk image, copy the entire library to it, compress it, and then use this tool to segment the image. You need all the segments to recover anything.
(40485)

IPhoto library DVD won't open after installing iLife '06

Apple Care recently prompted me to erase and reinstall. After doing so, I installed iLife '06. My iPhoto library was backed up to a DVD. How do I now import those photos into my new iPhoto? When I insert the DVD, I get the message "You can't open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto - You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto." Now what?
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9) iLife '06

Hey. Thanks for all your help. Got 6.0.4 and was able to import my photos. Had to KEEP the existing library AND create a new library using my backup, then import. Crazy. Yeah!

Backing up iPhoto pics without using Time Machine or an external hard drive

I cannot figure out how to back up my photos on my one year old MBP. I haven't gotten around to buying an external hard drive (so many choices and there seems to be problems with every one I look at - advice?), but at this time the only important data on my MBP are my photos (approx 9 GB). I've searched the various forums, looked in The Missing Manual (Mac OS X Leopard), and read the help sections on the computer but cannot seem to find step-by-step directions for backing up to a flash drive or a few DVDs. Thanks for your help.

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Unless you have an external storage source you can't backup your photos.
You could burn the image file to a DVD disc by selecting about 4GB of files in iPhoto and exporting the photos to a folder on the Desktop and burning that folder to a DVD with the Finder.
Or select about 4GB worth of files in iPhoto and use the Share->Burn menu option. That will give you a DVD disc with a mini iPhoto library on it that contains those 4GB of original files, their modified versions and all metadata associated with them.
Click to view full size
When you want to copy any of the file on the disc back into iPhoto mount the disk in your optical drive and it will show in iPhoto where you can select what you want and drag to the Library icon to copy them back into the library.
CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO
I'm sure you have other documents on your MBP that you need to backup. An external FW hard drive for use as a Time Machine backup drive is essential if you value your photos and other data on the hard drive. Consider for a moment what you would have to do to get back where you are right now if you lost the entire internal HD.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier versions) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. There are versions that are compatible with iPhoto 5, 6, 7 and 8 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
NOTE: The new rebuild option in iPhoto 09 (v. 8.0.2), Rebuild the iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup" makes this tip obsolete.

How to install iPhoto an DVD only from my iLife 09 disk

Following hard drive replacement I now have Snow Leopard. I tried to install iphoto and DVD only from iLife 09 disk but could not find a way to install them only.
The full bundle will use all the free disk space I have which is 4 gbs. Following install of SnowLeopard from new disk iphoto and DVD did not install.

You can do what you want
BUT
you need a minimum of 10 GB of free space for normal operations so you need to find a way to reduce disk usage - 4 GB is not enough and will cause slow operation and possible damage to systems or data
You seriously need to free up disk space - moving your iPhoto library to an external drive may be the answer -
Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
LN

Backing up iphoto 6

I have a iomega 400g hard drive to backup my photos so i can save space. Read around here and what I did so far is this. I quit iphoto, copied my library folder to my external hard drive, reopend iphoto....
Then what I think im suppose to do is "choose library"????
Where is this option????
Then what do I do????
I want to eventually be able to totally use this drive as my library if possible. In other words can I import my photos directly into iphoto and it will send it to my external hard drive and not to my harddrive on my laptop????
thanks you guys are great
jim

Jim:
Here's how I envision it getting done and keeping your current roll organization in your new folder structure and in the new iPhoto alias library.
Since you already have your photos in an iPhoto library and updated to V6 all of the photos in your rolls will be in their own folder inside the appropriate Year folder in the Original folder. See thisscreenshot of what the new library structure looks like. The new folder will have the same title as the roll does. I'd create a new overall container folder on your external and name it to indicate it's all of your image files. Then copy each year folder out of the iPhoto 6 Library's Original folder to your new container folder. If you have significant edited files in the Modified folder copy and want to include them in the new library I would copy the modified folder to the desktop. You could then replace the originals in the new container folder with the modified one, it'll have the same file name, or you can add the modified files, with a small name change, to the same roll as the original. You can use an application like R-Name to batch add an "-m" or "-a" or whatever to the end of the file name to identify it from the original and then add them to the same folder as the originals. Then I would make sure ownership is turned off on your external drive (unless it's bootable) and manually reset the ownership and permissions on the new container folder and its contents as follows:
Setting Permissions for your new original container folder
1 - Select the container folder and type Command-I.
2 - When the Info window comes up go to the Ownership and Permissions section and make sure You have Read & Write permission and that the Owner and Group have Read & Write also. Others - Read Only.
3 - Then click on the "Apply to enclosed items..." button.
Now you have a folder with yearly subfolders that contain all of your photos organized by rolls. Now move any iPhoto library folder out of your Pictures folder to the desktop. Launch iPhoto 6 and, when asked, create a new library in your Pictures folder. Go to the iPhoto Advanced preference window and de-select the option to copy files to the library when importing.
Now you can drag groups of folders from the container folder on the external HD into iPhoto's open window to import each folder's worth as a new roll. You may find that the roll date will not correspond to what you expected. That's because iPhoto uses the modified date for one of the files in each folder and they don't always correspond to the date taken. You can manually change the roll date to get it to fall in the correct place in the chronological list. I had about 50 folders out of 350 that were that way.
Once complete you will have a library of alias files pointing to the originals on the external HD. Once you're satisfied that all is well you can delete the old V5 library folder and the V6 library folder on the External that you copies the folders out of. Also the folders on the desktop that you used to rename the modified files.
Now that your originals are in year folders and subfolders you can back them up to DVD disks by year or what ever via the Finder. That's an easy way to do it and can mimic your folder organization on the external HD to some degree.
Hope you can understand the process I've tried to describe here. Don't hesitate to post back with more questions if needed. Good luck.

Backing up iPhoto '08 Library to iDisk.

What is the most efficient way to accomplish this?
Thanks.

It depends on the size if the library. If it's small enough to fit on a DVD disk then just burn the iPhoto Library package to a DVD disk from the Finder.
If it's too big to fit on a single disk and you want the disk(s) to be readable my an iPhoto library at some later date for reimporting back into iPhoto then select events and use the Photos->Burn Disk menu option. That will preserve your events and the keywords, comments and titles of the photos. Burning by Events will let you keep a chronological back up and know what photos need backing up.
IMO, the best way to backup a library is to have an external FW HD and copy the entire library to it. Then use an application like Synk Standard or LaCie's free SilverKeeper to make daily, incremental backups to it. That way you always have a current backup in case of drive or library problems.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

How do i back up iphots to dvd?

i want to back up my iphotos to dvd... in the pictures folder there are 4 important looking folders? data, ipod photo cache, modified, and originals
i know the obvious is to back up the iphotolibrary but this will not fit on one disk...also i might have lost some pictures, but the originals are still on my ipod? if i sync, will the ones on the ipod be put into my library that are not on the iphoto library?
thanks!

You can create a new library with just those folders. You would just create a new library and import the Originals and Modified folders. Of course, albums, etc, would have to be redone.
Also, the modified photos will not be linked to the originals, but that's not really a problem.
How large is the library? You know you can backup the library by copying it to the iPod in disk mode also.
More info for you.
Backing up your iPhoto Library
1. Burn the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder to a CD or DVD
This method will give you a burned iPhoto Library folder that can be copied back to your computer to replace a damaged library. You can also use this method to backup an old library when you want to create a new Library to use as your current library.
insert a blank CD into your internal or external CD-RW drive and copy the iPhoto library to the CD icon on your desktop. When you drag the CD icon to the Trash/Eject button in the Dock, you are given the option to burn the CD. Click Burn and the CD is created. To burn a DVD backup of your digital images, use a DVD and a SuperDrive-equipped Mac
The easiest way to burn an iPhoto Library folder in the Finder that is larger than 4.7 gig to fit on one DVD is to burn sections of the folder.
Drag the iPhoto Library folder to the desktop
Double click the folder to open it.
Drag each Year folder to the desktop.
You should be left with the iPhoto Library folder containing all the data files, and the Year folders.
Combine whatever year folders that amount closest to a DVD burn size on one DVD. Make sure that you have burned all the Year folders, then the iPhoto Library folder with all the data files.
If you ever need to use this backup, insert the DVDs into your computer and copy the folders to the desktop. Put all the Year folders back into the iPhoto Library folder. Then put the iPhoto Library folder back into the Pictures folder.
2. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to an external drive formated for a Mac. Do not use this as your only back up as the external can also go bad.
3. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to your iPod in disk mode
4.Creating your own CDs and DVDs for viewing in iPhoto
This method is a great way to back up Albums of older photos or even your entire library if it is small enough to fit on a DVD. This method will give you a library that will mount within iPhoto in the source column to be viewed. To import any images from this library they need to be dragged into your library in the source column.
If you just want to backup the images in your library:
1) Within iPhoto select the images, albums or rolls you want to backup. Go to Share>Export and export them to a newly created folder on the desktop. Follow the directions in the next link.
Creating a CD or DVD to be viewed in Windows or by a photo processing company
1.. If you backed up the entire iPhoto Library by burning within iPhoto or burning the folder in the Finder, make sure the burned copy is a good working copy before you delete the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder. You delete the iPhoto Library in the finder by dragging it to the trash when iPhoto is closed. When you next launch iPhoto it will create a new empty library for you to start anew.
2. If you burned just the images, be aware that that is all you are archiving. No metadata will travel with the images such as comments, keywords, etc.
You can then delete those images within iPhoto by highlighting them and hitting the delete key, then empty iPhoto's trash. Do this often and in groups so iPhoto will not choke on too many images.

Backing up iPhoto 8

Hi - I'm new to the world of Mac and I've just finished moving off of my windows machine.
I'd like to back up my iPhoto to DVD for offsite storage. In iTunes, there is a nice feature to make incremental backups to CD/DVD of my entire music library.
My question to you - is there a way to back up my iPhoto library to DVD too?
Thanks.

mgscuba2:
Using the Share->Burn option in iPHoto will not span DVD's. You'll have to select events that total around 4 GB as reported by iPhoto as the actual burn size will be larger due to the overhead included, modified and thumbnail files along with the various database files. Keeping the indicated size to about 4GB should assure you can get the selected files on the DVD. This type of burn will let you mount and view the photos in iPhoto and copy them into an existing or new library if needed.
Backing up daily to an external HD is, IMO, the best way as that will provide you with a very current library. I have an external HD dedicated to my image files and libraries. I turn it on only when needed to back up so it's not running all the time.
Also see the tip at the end of my signature for a way to protect yourself from a not uncommon problem that many users experience - that of a corrupted database file for the library. This can happen when there's an interruption while iPhoto is open and accessing the file.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

I need help switching back to iPhoto

In February of this year I switched from iPhoto to Aperture for very specific reasons. My laptop's hard drive was running out of space, as it was housing my photo library that was quickly approaching 25,000 photos and pushing about 30 Gigabytes, and I wanted to take advantage of Aperture's ability to store photo masters on an external drive.
So why switch back? When I described why I had switched and my experiences doing so back in February I had said that I ran into many problems all of which I was able to solve save two:
"The two things I have yet to solve, which are rather large things: 1) Spotlight can no longer find my photos since switching to [edit: from] iPhoto. I am really not sure where to start with fixing this so I think I’m just going to have to ask someone. 2) Reorganizing my keywords in Aperture (since I had them set up in iPhoto) is impossible. When I bring up the Keywords HUD, I’m greeted with all of my keywords residing subordinately to a master keyword of 'iPhoto'. When I try to access the keywords that are “below” iPhoto Aperture freezes. Perhaps I have too many keywords (I do have an awful lot). I’m not sure how to solve this one yet either. Maybe there is a raw .plist file that I can manually edit (and I am willing to do so)." -- Me.
After using Aperture for the past 3+ months I've yet to resolve either of these issues. Recently there was an update to Aperture from Apple that, according to the documentation for the update, was supposed to help resolve my second issue with having too many keywords for Aperture to handle - but it hasn't helped much. So since switching to Aperture I've not tagged more than maybe fifty photos, which is discouraging because I know that once I switch back to iPhoto I'm going to be busy tagging photos again.
So I suppose you could say I'm switching back for two main reasons. First, I want it to be much easier to tag my photos since that is probably the single most important thing to me and the experience with iPhoto and Keyword Manager ( http://www.bullstorm.se/KeywordManager.php ) is far superior to that of using keywords in Aperture. Second, I want my photos to start showing up in Spotlight searches again. I'm more than willing to deal with the caveat, albeit a rather large one, that I won't have my photos with me wherever I go anywhere but that they'll forever reside on my firewire drive.
What I need help with...
When I open iPhoto I see all of the previews for the photos that I had the day I switched to Aperture. However, the originals have been moved by Aperture onto my firewire drive - so when I click on each photo all I get is a ( ! ) symbol. The previews still reference a file that does not exist yet the iPhoto database still retains all of the relevant metadata (date/time, keywords, comments, etc) that I had worked so hard to put into iPhoto. I need to retain this information and somehow get the originals back into place so that iPhoto sees them again.
What I thought about doing was this: 1) Somehow restore the originals for the almost 25,000 photos into the place where iPhoto thinks they should be. 2) Move the entire library to my external firewire drive. 3) Import the remaining images that I've taken since switching to Aperture into iPhoto.
Since I have Aperture store my photos by date - importing only the images that I've imported into Aperture should be a piece of cake. I do not need to retain any metadata from Aperture since I've only tagged a few photos in Aperture and all of the other information I may need should be on the original file (like date taken, etc.). I know I'm going to lose a lot of edits that I've done like cropping, rotating, color balancing, red-eye reduction, etc. but I'm more than willing to lose all of that if it means that I can pick up where I left off and get back into the swing of things in iPhoto.
I've Googled like crazy and haven't found someone doing exactly what I'm trying to accomplish so any help with my current situation is greatly appreciated. I've also posted this on my blog http://cdevroe.com/notes/back-to-iphoto/

cvdevroe
2) Reorganizing my keywords in Aperture (since I had them set up in iPhoto) is impossible. When I bring up the Keywords HUD, I’m greeted with all of my keywords residing subordinately to a master keyword of 'iPhoto'.
Bear with me, my terminology may not be right. I'm heading in the opposite direction, and one of the advantages i see to Aperture is that I've got the same advantages in Keyword management as I have with KM in iPhoto.
Have you tried re-organising them using the control bar: Below the thumbs there's a drop down menu, by default it shows Photo Descriptors. Click on it and Select 'Edit Buttons'. You can merrily re-organise your Keywords in this window, and even have your changes reflected in live in the HUD.
As to the Spotlight searching, I'm afraid someone else will need to help on that one. Personally - and it's a regular on the iPhoto forums - I've never had much luck getting Spotlight to search within iPhoto for keywords, apart, of course, from using the search window in the iPhoto Window. I suspect a system-based search of iPhoto keywords is simply not possible.
What I thought about doing was this: 1) Somehow restore the originals for the almost 25,000 photos into the place where iPhoto thinks they should be.
That will work, but they'll need to be exactly as they were.
2) Move the entire library to my external firewire drive.
Easily done, after you've copied it over launch iPhoto holding down the option (or alt) key and choose 'Locate'. Navigate to the new location and that''ll be your default iPhoto Library Folder thereafter.
3) Import the remaining images that I've taken since switching to Aperture into iPhoto.
That should work too.
But the key is, can you return the iPhoto Library Folder exactly as it was, otherwise you'll need to create and populate a new library - and that will inevitable mean losing your keywords in iPhoto too.
FWIW, I need to keep iPhoto going for others in the household who are daunted by Aperture. My solution is a referenced library pointing towards the iPhoto Library Folder / Originals folder.
Regards
TD

Backing up iPhoto to DVD+RW

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for