Bad video thumbnails in iPhoto

Hi gang,
When I take video on my camera, I use Image Capture to get stuff off of my camera. If I have a video that's flipped 90 degrees, I use Quicktime (Movie Properities) to flip it upright. However, when import videos that I've flipped, the thumbnails get messed up (see screenshot here: http://www.gdbdp.com/temp/bad_thumbnails.jpg). Any ideas what I can do to fix this / keep it from happening?
Thanks
Dan P.

Dan:
I get the same phenomenon with iPhoto 7 (08). I don't know if there's anything you can do as you probably have the latest version installed, etc. Definitely a bug in the thumbnail rendering. You can report it to Apple via http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphoto.html but since iPhoto 8 (09) is out it won't get any attention from the developers. This does not happen with iPhoto 8.
I did think of a possible workaround.
1 - import your movie into iPhoto without rotating.
2 - once in iPhoto rotate the movie and save back to its location in the Originals folder.
You'll have to live with an incorrect thumbnail (it can't be rotate) but it will be intact.
You might make a test library and try it out on one movie before working on your primary 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 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.
Message was edited by: Old Toad

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