IPhoto organization

I'm wondering how some other users with lots of photos organize them in iPhoto. I've been struggling with finding the right way for me for a while now and am debating if iPhoto is for me or not. I'm used to and enjoy the 'Windows' way of sorting by having multiple folders (main 'subject'>sub folders for specifics) and using iPhoto's events and albums just don't quite fit for me. On the event side I don't want to have lots of events, for what I would consider 'sub' categories, shown in the events and at the same time, I don't want to have multiple category photos in one event AND don't really like using albums.
Example:
|-Trips
|---Bay
|-----Mountains
|-----Campground
|-Cars
|---Make
|-----Modifications
|-------specific event 1
|-------specific event 2
|---Make
If that makes any sense. I know there is no way to place events within events and most would suggest using albums but I don't like how the albums and events don't 'sync' with each other and I know that is the point. :P I currently have it setup so that all of my photos for a particular 'subject' are in one event and then separated into albums for the sub categories for that event. I prefer to browse by event rather than album and the only way I can set it up to sort that way would be by having LOTS of events...which I'm trying to avoid. I'm starting to think that iPhoto just isn't for me based on the way I want to organize but I like everything else about it, hence the struggle.
Message was edited by: MonkikiX

MonkikiX:
You can't exactly duplicate the nested folder system in iPhoto as each imported folder becomes a separate Event and folder within the iPhoto Library package. Events cannot be nested. However, iPhoto has virtual folders which can be used to recreate the nesting as seen in this screenshot:
These virtual folders can contain other folder as well as albums, slideshows, books, smart albums, etc. Albums can only contain photos.
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.
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Similar Messages

IPhoto Organize Library or Manually?

I just got a Rebel XT and now I'm not sure what to do with my iPhoto library. I had been using a small 2 megapixel Canon PowerShot for years and would just import directly into iPhoto on my G5. Before version 6, the library was simply stored in nested numbered folders corresponding to the date the images were shot. Now with version 6, the library is organized completely differently. Plus, If I use the Canon ImageBrowser software to import the SLR pictures, they are organized differently. In addition, I want to keep all my images on a drive that is on a different Mac on my home network.
What do I do? What did you do?
• Import using iPhoto vs Canon ImageBrowser?
• Let iPhoto organize the library vs Canon ImageBrowser vs manually making folders?
• Reorganize my current iPhoto library to manual organization or ImageBrowser organization?
• Archive current iPhoto library and start over with SLR images?
• Manually name files vs keeping camera file naming?
• Purchase Portfolio or iView MediaPro or Aperture or Lightroom (when available)?
• Anything else I forgot to consider?
Thanks,
-= Ken =-
Power Mac G5 Dual 2.5GHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Ken:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. How you manage your photos is really what works best for you and how you visualize the organizational system. Here's how I do it:
1 - upload manually (with card reader or with Image Capture w/o card reader) from the camera to a folder on the desktop.
2 - name the folder with the date and a brief description of the contents.
3 - using R-Name I batch sequentially rename the files with the international date format.
4 - import that folder into iPhoto.
This gives me a rolls with the same title as the folder. The file naming gives me excellent chronological search and sorting.
Another method, using the same uploading and renaming above, is to use iPhoto in it's alias mode (see iPhoto's advanced preference section) and keep my folders of image files in my own organized folder system and have iPhoto import only aliases into the library. One caveat to this method is that if you delete a photo from the library it does not get deleted from the source files. That has to be done manually. The strong point to this method is that the source files can be on an external HD giving your boot drive more free space to improve efficiency. These Tutorials describe how to convert to an alias system.
Canon's image browser is just a browser and not an image management application. With iPhoto you can assign keywords to pictures, assemble subsets of pictures into albums without actually moving the original files, etc.
Do you Twango?

IPhoto organization in iTunes? It IS supposed to be a LIBRARY you know.

When are we going to see some kind of multiple library function in iTunes similar to the way iPhoto is set up with "Events" organizing the photos. Having one gigantic list of songs that is the only way of viewing your main library (no playlists don't count) is now outdated. Imagine being to have a library for each person in your family all within ONE iTunes, that you can enter like a room? Maybe a cross between Magic Garageband and iPhoto in terms of interface, and an organization combination of Coverflow and Events?
For people who want to have a media center, all their families music in one library but don't want to have to sift through hundreds of Panic! At The Disco songs from your younger siblings when you want to see your own music, you may agree with me that the regular system of scrolling to see songs is as bad as the old iPhoto. Yeah, you can make more than one library, but the software can and has done better, home media organization needs to be the next big step.
Any ideas?

I hardly think expressing frustration and some possible solutions for a certain aspect of a software is 'complaining'. If it sounded like I was complaining I apologize. I actually like iTunes a lot, HOWEVER:
The problem with the way you (and many others) organize your 12,000-tune library (I have 15,000+, but this isn't a contest) is that like iPhoto 6 and earlier versions, the only way to organize/view the HOME location of your photos was in the huge long list of photos, which could be organized by date, title, film roll, etc. The issue has been fixed in iPhoto 7, by having "events", the home location of the photos in your iphoto interface can be viewed in the classic style of a long list, but also through smaller portals, "Events", which also lead you to the home location, rather than an organization of individual photos from different film rolls, which is essentially what an "album" is in iPhoto, or "Playlist" in iTunes.
The problem is not the file structure, the file structure of iTunes is perfect IMO. iTunes->iTunes Music->Artists->Albums->Songs. Perfect. It's just the interface, which has already in a conceptual sense been solved between garageband and iphoto. Some kind of combination of the "Audition" interface, and the classic list of songs, would be a cool way to view in a digital interface something more similar to a physical "Library". Of course, it'd have to be made in a less little-kid-game type of way, more streamlined and cool than simply entertaining. But if one could 'enter' into your library, or I guess, your 'room' of the library and view your music, then you could organize it all in one place and view it like the traditional iTunes library list we have now, while having multiple people's music in one Library, easily backed up, easily accessible with multiple iPods, it'd be great.
Also, it would give way to a iPhoto/Aperture type interface, where there are more buttons... a button for quick "Convert" file types for people who keep most of their library in Lossless but need to convert fast to fit on iPods (seeing how large personal computer HD's are getting hopefully more people will have Lossless-formated libraries in the near future), a button to add to iDisk on MobileMe or something, a button to view what playlists an individual song is currently included in, a button to publish a compilation to iWeb making some kind of Apple designed music-blog. Just something more dynamic, there's tons of cool things that could be built in. All the other iLife apps are super dynamic now, iTunes needs to catch up, at least for the Mac.
I hope I have described the problem well enough, and in at least a vague way described my solutions. Cheers.
Max
P.S. Additions: If there were some kind of "Event" type interface, where you could scroll back and forth over the key photo and view the album artworks (like the way you view the particular Event's photos in iPhoto), then it would bring an importance back to Album Artwork, which I've also posted about, and make viewing album artwork again regular part of listening to music. Not enough people use Coverflow yet, and hopefully as digital music develops, more people will legally obtain music (even if it's free, but legally free), which will include booklets and artwork.

When trying to import photos from iPhoto organizer 12 crashes

I installed new photoshop elements 12 and when It attempted to import photos from iphoto 9.5.1 it get to the 7th picture and then locks up, I have to force quit app. What can the problem be? I tried importing a few photos and it worked ok, I attempted to import using files and folders and it locked up again.

You're sure you want to stop using iphoto? Then I would try it this way instead:
Export each event in your iphoto library separately, put the photos where you want to keep them and use "from files and folders". If there's an event that the organizer chokes on, then you'll have to go into that one photo by photo to see where the problem lies. (You are aware that using "from iphoto" is duplicating your entire iphoto library, so you don't want to do that AND keep using iphoto, right?)

How do i return to the default iPhoto organization?

My daughter tried to separate the events in iPhoto by where they are located. I don't like having it that way, I'd rather just have the events be separated by date (that's how it was originally). Is there any way that i can return it to it's original organization?

View menu ==> sort events?
Other than that you need to ask your daughter to undo what she did or tell you what you did so someone else can help
LN

IPhoto Organization Rolls & Folders

Hello everyone. This is my first post. Thanks for being here and available to answer questions. I did look at several pages of posts to see if I could find an answer to my question. Maybe I looked in the wrong spot. I also tried the search function. I'm sure my question has been already asked, and I apologize in advance for my inability to find it "already asked and answered."
I've had my Mac for about a year. I'm not adept. I have been taking digital pictures, and things work great in iPhoto.
I just began a .Mac "group." I was able, also, to upload photos. The organization "tree" seems to be built around film rolls rather than albums. My film rolls are a sorry mess. I have 159 of them. Many with just 1 photo -- maybe an image I found online that l liked. That sort of thing. A few rolls, do have many photos from my camera. Makes it very difficult to find a photo from inside .Mac when there's 159 rolls). I've managed by relying on the photo's name, and doing it that way. Though that's a bit cumbersome because I cannot scroll through a batch of photos or review them and mull over which ones I'd like to use and not use.
I'd like to see a "tree" like this = iPhoto > Library > Albums
I see, if I recall correctly = iPhoto > Originals/Modified > Rolls
So, I guess I have to whip my film rolls into some sort of shape. I tried to drag 1 photo into a roll containing a photo or photos with the idea of combining rolls by theme. That attempt did not work. Couldn't drag from roll to roll.
I'm sure a zillion people have run into this. How do you do it? Also, I think I've seen the same tree structure built on rolls when doing other photo things besides .Mac. I can't swear to it due to my unfamiliarity.
Thanks,
Richard

Richard
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Rolls are the most basic element of the iPhoto Library. Rolls in the iPhoto Window (View -> Film Rolls) correspond exactly with the Roll Folders in the Originals Folder in the iPhoto Library Folder. You can move photos between Rolls, you can rename rolls, 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 Roll Name using the Info Pane, the Roll Folder in iPhoto Library Folder/Originals will also have the new name.
To move pics between rolls select the pic and drag it to the header of the target roll. This will turn blue when you're hit the target.
There are three ways (at least) to get files from the iPhoto Window.
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 Organization (Events, Keywords, etc.)

I have a large iPhoto library and would like suggestions on how to BEST organize photos so that I can locate them later. I have currently only organized my photos by the events section. It seems weak at this point as I really cannot search anything. My photos range from specific jobs that I do as a contractor to any personal photos of family and vacations. What you would guys recomend as a best practice since I am about to work on organizing over 25K photos and do not want to do it twice. I know keywords will be part of the answer. How do I do that most effeciently? Can I do levels within Keywords? How do the events relate to keywords, etc.
I am using iPhoto 11
Chad

Here's my canned answer for this. It might spark something for you.
I use Events simply as big buckets of Photos: Spring 08, July - Nov 06 are typical Events in my Library. I use keywords and Smart Albums exensively. I title the pics broadly.
I keyword on a
Who
What
Where basis (The When is in the photos's Exif metadata). I also rate the pics on a 1 - 5 star basis.
Using this system I can find pretty much find any pic in my 33k library in a couple of seconds.
So, for example, I have a batch of pics titled 'Seattle 08' and a typical keywording might include: John, Anne, Landscape, mountain, trees, snow. With a rating included it's so very easy to find the best pics we took at Mount Rainier.
File -> New -> Smart Album
set it to 'All"
title contains Seattle
keyword is mountain
keyword is snow
rating is 5 stars
Or, want a chronological album of John from birth to today?
New Smart Album
Keyword is John
Set the View options to Sort By Date Ascending
Want only the best pics?
add Rating is greater than 4 stars
The best thing about this system is that it's dynamic. If I add 50 more pics of John to the Library tomorrow, as I keyword and rate them they are added to the Smart Album.
Keywording takes time to set up, there's no doubt about it. But it pays off. In the end, organisation is about finding the pics. The point is to make locating that pic or batch of pics findable fast. This system works for me.
Regards
TD

IPhoto Organization Question

Is there a way to select all of the photos that are not currently in a usermade album in iPhoto? I would like to dump those photos that are not currently in an album into a large album. Thanks so much for your help!

Sure. Create a Smart Album where "Album" "is" "none". You can leave them in the smart album, which will always update itself, or copy them all into a standard album.

How does iPhoto organize originals under "show package contents"?

They used to be organized based on the name of my folder in iPhoto (year -> month -> folder name from iPhoto), but now there are many folders organized by year -> month -> day -> and then tons of folders titled by a series of numbers that make absolutely no sense to me. Is there a way to get the folders organized the way they used to be? Also, when I look into those folders, most of them are empty, some have one photo, and others have hundreds of photos. I just don't understand the way they are being organized. Thanks!

An empty folder has zero bytes so they don't take up any space at all like this one in my library.
There's nothing to worry about as far as they are concerned.
OT

How does iPhoto organize pictures

If I have a picture in a folder and then drag and drop it into iPhoto, can I erase the original photo? I am wondering if I am duplicating the presence of the photo by having it in two places once I import it into iPhoto.

Assuming that you are using the default preferences (ie "copy items to the iPhoto library" is CHECKED) once the photo in imported into iPhoto (and you are sure everything is ok) the original can be deleted
iPhoto will maintain that original in the iPhoto Library Package in the originals folder and it will make a copy of it for display purposes that is kept in the data folder. If you make any change to the photo then it will create a modified version that is kept in the modified folder. These folders are all invisible to you and should never be modified except via iPhoto
Nothing in the above discussion eliminates the necessity of ALWAYS having a backup of any important data on any computer - including Macs and iPhoto data
LN

IPhoto organize button not responding

I cannot view my pictures in any album nor the photo library except one a time.
How can I fix this?

Check the zoom slider switch under the window and make sure it is moved to the left (small display size)

How can I import photos from iPhoto '09 to Elements Organizer 10 while keeping the tags attached?

I have spent a ridiculously long time tagging photos in my iPhotos but I would now like to transfer all my photos to Elements Organizer and preserve all the work I had done.
From Adobe's help website (http://help.adobe.com/en_US/elementsorganizer/using/WS73c05ee9864270ea-417df45c129593bfa05 -8000.html) it says I can import the tags along with the photos but does not explain how:
"Elements Organizer 10 supports importing photos, along with their associated captions, tags, and ratings, from iPhoto. You also have the option to import information such as events and albums to maintain the organization of your library"
When I follow the steps outlined on the website my photos are imported but there are no tags attached to them. I am particularly interested in keeping my facial tags but I suppose it would be useful to know how to keep other keyword tags and ratings as well.
There was a previous question put out on the forums similar to this but it was unresolved and the person decided to just leave everything in iPhoto. I really would prefer to transfer all my photos to Elements Organizer. I don't like the way iPhoto organizes photos but I had to deal with it for several years before I bought Elements Photoshop with built-in Organizer.
Please Please help!
Many thanks
D.M.

You don't import one library to another. Just copy the library from the iBook to the Pictures folder on shout new MacBook Pro. If you have another library already on the MBP rename it so you don't overwrite it with the old library.
Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and select the newly copied library and let iPhoto convert it to the new version.
Do you have photos in the library on the new MacBook Pro that you want to combine with the older library?

New to mac and iphoto, questions about photo structure & organization

I bought a new Macbook Pro a couple of days ago and am still figuring things out. I wasn't displeased with windows...I just decided to try a mac anyway, So far, I adore it except for one thing, the pictures.
I spent hours researching whether to download and use picasa 3 for mac or iphoto. I decided on picasa....and now I've changed my mind. (Mostly because I tried to take pictures of the moon tonight, and they looked great in camera, but Picasa could only pick up a black screen whearas iphoto actually saw and defined the moon- and with the editing software on the two, the picasa auto-edit looked like a picture that was created in microsoft paint, and iphoto came out with a beautifully contrasted photo).
Now that I decided to use iphoto, I have been researching how to switch and still seem to have a lot of questions. (I've poked around numerous forums but have found conflicting answers on different sites).
1) I organize my pictures by folders with the month and year. I know iphoto organizes events, which it seems to determine based on photo similarity. Will my photo structure still appear in finder -> pictures?
2) Is it possible to stop iphoto from organizing my pictures and just trust me on what I want?
3) All of my friends and family use PCs, and there is a chance that due to financial concerns, when I eventually replace my macbook pro (far in the future) I could switch to a pc. Does iphoto make transferring pictures more difficult? (If I understand correctly, it does not change the photo file, a jpeg is still a jpeg but I want to be sure)
4) I do not want iphoto to duplicate all of the pictures already in my library....if I import from finder-users-pictures, will it simply use those, or duplicate all 150gb worth of pictures?
5) Any other tips for someone completely new to macs and iphoto?
6) This is very silly, but how do I uninstall picasa (I know how to uninstall on a windows but want to make sure I do things correctly on my mac!)
Also, just a "bonus"- regarding events vs. files I create, will iphoto create events within the program but leave my file structure in the library it imports from alone? If I use finder to go to where I store my photos, will I still see my file structure regardless of what iphoto does?(Does that make sense? I'm having a hard time trying to describe it)
I apologize if this question is foolish or misplaced- I did read many other posts but didn't see the answers I was looking for.

Your questions are neither foolish nor misplaced.
The first thing I strongly suggest is that you make a trial iPhoto Library. Import 100 or 200 pics and explore. Iphoto isn't right for everybody, and if you're going to use it you will need to rethink things a little.
1) I organize my pictures by folders with the month and year. I know iphoto organizes events, which it seems to determine based on photo similarity. Will my photo structure still appear in finder -> pictures?
A: Events are based entirely on Date and Time not on 'photo similarity' You can set the interval for what makes an Event in the iPhoto Preferences: iPhoto Menu -> Preferences -> General Pane: Autosplit into Events... And select from the drop down menu.
Will my photo structure still appear in finder -> pictures?
Yes or no, depending... iPhoto can run as a Referenced or Managed Library. In the former case, yes you files will be visible in the Finder, in the latter case they won't.
Note that Referenced or Managed refers +only to file storage+ It offers no extra functionality, it does nothing at all. App like iPhoto are your go-to app for your photos. If you use it, then you never access the photos via the Finder. Ever. It's always via iPhoto or the many, many hooks into the OS that it has.
I'll detail more on Referenced v Managed below.
2) Is it possible to stop iphoto from organizing my pictures and just trust me on what I want?
I'm not sure what you mean by this. Iphoto does basic date and time organisation by default. You can change it, you can change the location of the photos in Events, merge them and then using the other tools available - Albums, Smart Albums, Faces, Places etc you can organise your photos whatever way you want.
But what do you mean by pictures. There is a distinction between Photos - the image of your child holding his dog - and files: A Jpeg is just a file. Iphoto is designed for you to +forget about the jpeg+ and get on with the interesting bit: the pics of your younger and his pet.
3) All of my friends and family use PCs, and there is a chance that due to financial concerns, when I eventually replace my macbook pro (far in the future) I could switch to a pc. Does iphoto make transferring pictures more difficult? (If I understand correctly, it does not change the photo file, a jpeg is still a jpeg but I want to be sure)
A Jpeg is a Jpeg is a Jpeg. If you migrate to another app or an entire OS you can export the photos plus any and all metadata you've added to the Finder and move it on. (Caveat: You cannot export Faces. There is no agreed standard on any system for exchanging this info.)
4) I do not want iphoto to duplicate all of the pictures already in my library....if I import from finder-users-pictures, will it simply use those, or duplicate all 150gb worth of pictures?
It can do either. And this brings me back to the Referenced v Managed discussion above. By default, iPhoto will Manage the files, that is, it will copy them into the Library. You can choose not to, but I strongly recommend that you don't:
*How to do it:*
Simply go to iPhoto Menu -> Preferences -> Advanced and uncheck 'Copy Files to the iPhoto Library on Import'.
*What Happens:*
Now iPhoto will not copy the files, but rather simply reference them on your HD. To do this it will create an alias in the Originals Folder that points to your file. It will still create a thumbnail and, if you modify the pics, a Modified version within the iPhoto Library Folder.
*Some things to consider:*
1. Importing and deleting pics are more complex procedures. You have to to put the files where they will be stored before importing them. When you delete them you'll need to remove the files from the HD yourself.
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them on systems prior to 10.5 and iPhoto 08. Even with the later versions issues can still arise if you move the referenced files to new volumes or between volumes.
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.
4. Because iPhoto has no tools for managing Referenced Files, if, for some reason, the path to the photos changes then you could find yourself resolving aliases for +each photo in the Library+ one by one.
My own opinion:
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 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!
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.
*If you want to edit the photo in another application:*
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.
5) Any other tips for someone completely new to macs and iphoto?
*To Push Home a point*
For someone inexperienced with Macs and inexperienced with iPhoto I cannot stress enough that Managed Library is the way to go. I understand there is comfort in seeing all those folders. But inside the Library that's all there is: all those folders, stored so that an inexperienced user can't grub things up!
The iPhoto Library Folder is a Package File. This is simply a folder that looks like a file in the Finder. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves. Want to see inside?
Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.
Standard Warning: Don't change anything in the iPhoto Library Folder via the Finder or any other application. iPhoto depends on the structure as well as the contents of this folder. Moving things, renaming things or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.
Now close that window and forget about it.
So, once you've imported your photos to iPhoto in a Managed Library, the surplus duplicates are +your folders+. Of course, in time, trash them to get back the wasted disk space. But don't do it today or tomorrow. There's no hurry. When you feel confident that you understand how iPhoto is working and that's it's working for you, theat's the time to reclaim the space.
I organize my pictures by folders with the month and year.
If you want to duplicate your Folder Tree in iPhoto:
Start at the bottom of the hierarchy and drag a folder of images to the Album Heading in iPhoto. The pics will be imported and an Album of the same name created.
You can then create the Enclosing Folders in the iPhoto Window (File -> New Folder) and drag the Album to it. Folders can contain other Folders (Nested Folders) and Albums.
However, is your folder system date based? Then this form of organisation is a bit pointless in iPhoto when Smart Albums or the Calendar tool (Click on the wee magnifying glass in the Search Box) mean you can find the photos taken on any day, month or year at a click. With Smart Albums it's easy to find photos from specific range - say, June 3 to August 25, 2009 etc.
If your folder system is theme based - Xmas pics, Birthday pics etc, then you'll find Keywords are much more flexible, and can be used in conjunction with other criteria for making Smart Albums and searches.
6) This is very silly, but how do I uninstall picasa (I know how to uninstall on a windows but want to make sure I do things correctly on my mac!)
Drag the app to the trash and empty it.
Regards
TD
v

Organizational questions from a new iPhoto user

Hello,
I recently purchased iPhoto in hopes that it will help me view my photos easily. I have a large (about 3,000) existing photo collection. I keep this collection very organized, and all photos are in a folder hierarchy of the form 'Year->Month->Day'. The name of each photo begins with the date, such as '2007-01-17 Trees.jpg'. My questions about iPhoto in relation to my existing photos are as follows:
1) If I allow iPhoto to copy my photos, how does iPhoto organize the photos? Do I have any control over this organization or the file naming convention used? Will iPhoto recreate an intelligible directory structure with useful file names, or will all my subsequently imported photos be labeled as "PIC2315..." in a random directory structure?
2) Can I make it such that iPhoto imports my photos and takes the date from the first characters of the file name, and the picture title from the subsequent portion of the file name?
3) Not all of the dates in the metadata accurately reflect the date the photo was taken (some are old photos that were scanned in, some taken before digital cameras had extensive metadata), but the dates used at the beginning of the file names are accurate. Can I use iPhoto to update the date stamp on the photos in my library? Otherwise, the 'organize by date' option is not very useful.
4) Is there any way to move the iPhoto library folder? It looks like, as with iTunes, iPhoto locates its library folder in a conspicuous location, whereas I feel that these files should be relegated to a more discrete location, like the Library folder (in my opinion, the 'pictures' folder should be reserved for images; data files should be stored elsewhere). This is not a big issue, more of an annoyance that Apple imposes its organizational conventions on me without my consent.
Advice on any of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.
Adrian
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.1)

Hi Adrian
1) If I allow iPhoto to copy my photos, how does iPhoto organize the photos
Here's how the iPhoto Library Folder is organised:
In this folder there are various files, which are the Library itself and some ancillary files. Then you have three folders
Originals are the photos as they were downloaded from your camera or scanner.
(ii) Modified contains edited pics, shots that you have cropped, rotated or changed in any way.
This allows the Photos -> Revert to Original command - very useful if you don't like the changes you've made.
(iii) Data holds the thumbnails the the app needs to show you the photos in the iPhoto Window.
To your specific questions:
Do I have any control over this organization
No. The exception is if you take responsibility for the File Management (In the Preferences, Advanced Pane, Uncheck Copy Files to the iPhoto Library Folder...) That way you can leave your files untouched in your file structure. However, if you do this when you delete a file from iPhoto you will need to delete it from the Finder by hand. Not the case if you let iPhoto do the file management.
Will iPhoto recreate an intelligible directory structure with useful file names, or will all my subsequently imported photos be labeled as "PIC2315..." in a random directory structure?
Yes it will, the files will be in rolls that can be named via the iPhoto Window and which names will be reflected in the Finder. The Pictures will be named as per the file name.
I'm guessing that all of this is so that you can easily and quickly find a file if you need it. However, you're missing the point of iPhoto. It's a Photo Organiser. The idea is you import your pics into it, they are stored (in full view) in the Finder and then everything you need to do can be done via the iPhoto Window. Organise them, arrange them into albums (infinitely more flexible than your current folders - a single pic can be in any number of albums or slideshows, can be in Smart Albums, can be easily edited in external editors and exported easily.) Want to find a file? There are three ways (at least) to get files from the iPhoto Window.
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.
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.
2) Can I make it such that iPhoto imports my photos and takes the date from the first characters of the file name, and the picture title from the subsequent portion of the file name?
No, it will take the date from the EXIF data. However you can edit the date, title etc. from the Info window (the wee 'i' bottom left hand corner.) I think that answers your next question as well.
4. You can put the iPhoto Library Folder anywhere you like, on an external disk, in another place on your HD, whatever. Apple aren't forcing you to do anything. (You can do the same with iTunes too). However, remember the iPhoto Library Folder contains Data and images.
One thing to remember is the standard warning: 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.
iPhoto is a very good app, reliable and very flexible. But you do have to work with it. All the work you've done on your folders you can recreate in the iPhoto Window (just drag the folders to the Source Window where they will be imported into Albums). Think of it as a Front End to your photo collection. Up to now you've been using the Finder as a front end, iPhoto is a lot more flexible.
Feel free to ask more if you want further clarification or info.
Regards
TD

Iphoto Itunes Organization

I love the way itunes organizes music via it makes folders & folders of artist & album all organized in the finder, i am trying to do the same with all my photos....is there anyway way iphoto can super automaticly organize my pictures like itunes & create folders in the finder? also...can it update on the fly & import & delete on the fly like itunes does???? ALL reflecting what the library has compared to the created folders it made automaticlly????? PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Hi Powerbook,
iPhoto works differently than iTunes.
This is how iPhoto organizes...
This is a view of how the iPhoto Library looks in the Finder.
It is organized by Year folders. Inside the Year folders are Month folders. Inside the Month folders are the days of the Month. Inside the day folders are the photos you took on that day. If you imported video clips and RAW files on that day they will be in an Originals folder. If you have edited any photo imported on that day, the original will be in that folder also.
Two Apple kbs for you to read
Don't tamper with files in the iPhoto library folder
About the iPhoto Library folder
Don't understand what you mean by "update on the fly and import and delete on the fly"

IPhoto organization

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for