How do a Linux user switch to Mac and IPhoto

Question

How do you as an Linux user switch to Mac and I Photo with example 30,8 GB 133 094 221 824 byte) photos 20 791 files , in 1 069 folders
How do I import them in a proper way that it make easy to find them in I Photo can I find them with the ease as it were in Google Picasa2 in Linux ? Or do you have to import folder by folder?

Answer 1

Svendus
As a new user I strongly suggest that you spend some time viewing the tutorials at
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#iphoto
Secondly, I also suggest that you create a Library and import 100 or so pics and explore the app first. It's similar to Picasa, but also quite different. Best to get to know it.
How are your photos currently organised? In folders by date?
Date organisation is pretty pointless in iPhoto as you can find any pic taken on any day/month/year using the calendar tool or Smart Albums.
As you have 30k photos if you simply import them iPhoto will automatically split them into Events based on date. Expolore the options in iPhoto -> Preferences -> Events for how you might like them auto split: (Per day, per week etc.)
If you want to maintain your current organisation then simply uncheck 'Imported Items from Finder' and drag a folder of images to the Source (or left hand) pane in iPhoto. There the pics will be imported and an Album + an Event of the same name will be created. You can then create the enclosing folder (File -> New Folder) in iPhoto.
A note about Events and Albums:
Events in the iPhoto Window correspond exactly with the Folders in the Originals Folder in the iPhoto Library package file (Right click on it in the Pictures Folder -> Show Package Contents).
You can move photos between Events, you can rename Events, edit them, create them, as long as you do it via the iPhoto Window. Check out the Info Pane (wee 'i', lower left) the name and date fields are editable. Edit a Event Name using the Info Pane, the Event Folder in iPhoto Library/Originals will also have the new name.
Albums reference the pics in the iPhoto Library Folder. There fore a pic can be in 1, 10 or 100 albums with no wasted disk space.
Keywords are a very powerful tool for organising in iPhoto, and are very well integrated in to Smart Albums. Check them out.
Many folks who switch from other Operating Systems seem to prefer to manage their files themselves. However, I do not recommend this with iPhoto.
Simply go to iPhoto Menu -> Preferences -> Advanced and uncheck 'Copy Files to the iPhoto Library on Import'.
Now iPhoto will not copy the files, but rather simply reference them on your HD. It will create an alias to the Original file, a thumbnail and, if you modify the pics, a Modified version.
However, you need to be aware of a number of potential pitfalls using this system.
1. Import and deleting pics are more complex procedures
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.
Always allowing for personal preference, I've yet to see a good reason to run iPhoto in referenced mode unless you're using two photo organisers.
If disk space is an issue, you can run an entire iPhoto Library from an external disk:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library as an entity from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
If you're concerned about accessing the files, 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.
Your choice, obviously, but best to be aware of all the ramifications. By all means post back if you require more info.
Lastly: It is strongly advised that you do not move, change or in anyway alter things in the iPhoto Library Folder as this can cause the application to fail and even lead to data loss
By all means post back if you require more.
Regards
TD