IPhoto smart albums as screensaver/ desktop

I have a smart album of all my skydiving pictures in iPhoto '08 which I want to use as a source for all my desktop and screensaver pics. The album appears in the desktop preferences, but not the screensaver prefs (problem 1), the desktop is set to change every minute but with over a thousand photos, it's definitely weighted to a small subset of those (problem 2)
Any guesses on how to get the screensaver running from the smart album?
Any reason why the 'random' selection from a 1000+ photos for my desktop keeps showing the same ones?
Message was edited by: Tintin19

Let’s try and reset that sharing feature in iPhoto. TO do this we’ll need to move a file out of the Library and iPhoto will then be forced to re-create it.
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.
Look there for a file called AlbumData.xml
Drag it to the Desktop. *Make no other changes*.
Launch iPhoto.
Give it a few moments to regenerate the file.
The Launch the SystemPreferences.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

IPhoto Smart Album works with Desktop, fails with Screen Saver

I've created a Smart Album in iPhoto, with my 5-star photos in it, calling it "My Favorites". In iPhoto, there are 116 photos right now. When I go to my Desktop settings, I see all the photos in "My Favorites".
When I go to Screen Saver, I get 5 of the photos in that Smart Album. I've got other Smart Albums, some with thousands in them, and they seem to display just fine.
I've deleted and re-created "My Favorites", even using a different name. I still get the same results.
Any ideas why Desktop would work, but Screen Saver won't, with the exact same Smart Album? How can I troubleshoot this?

Terence Devlin wrote:
As the Desktop section is working, I would guess the problem is with the ScreenSaver. Try trash the ScreenSaver cache and see if that helps.
Thanks.
The only cache I found was ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.ScreenSaver.Engine/Cache.db. Removing that had no effect; might this have been the wrong one, and if so, where is the right one?

Screensaver not showing all photos in an iPhoto smart album

Got a weird problem here, done some searching around but can't find a fix.
I have created a smart album in iPhoto 11. This correctly displays 95 photos across multiple events, based on a string match to the event name.
However, if I use this smart album for a desktop or screensaver, it only displays 8 photos, all from the oldest event that is in the smart folder.
Anyone have an idea how I can fix this?

Is Aperture the only app being affected? How does your desktop look? Have you rebooted your systems since this started happening? What is your display setting in System Preferences?
If it's only affecting Aperture its most likely the plist file ~/Library/Preference/com.apple.Aperture.plist.
You should move that to the desktop and restart Aperture. Not sure what file you deleted but moving the plist file won't remove any images from the library. Also take a look at the rest o the troubleshooting tips in [Aperture 3: Troubleshooting Basics|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3805]

I am trying, unsuccessfully, to export an iphoto smart album- 12,000 photos, no movies- (information is saying 31GB) to a brand new 32GB scandisk flash stick. A caution msg keeps saying "there is not enough space to complete this" Help!

I am trying, unsuccessfully, to export an iphoto smart album- 12,000 photos, no movies- (information is showing 31GB total) to a brand new 32GB scandisk flash stick. A caution msg keeps saying "there is not enough space to complete this" Help!

You need a larger drive or an external drive - they OS needs a minimum of 10GB just for normal operation so you are already experiancing degraded preformance - if yo do not get more space you will start losing data
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

Can't set smart album pictures as desktop backgrounds.

i have imported 'without copying to library' a whole bunch of pics into iphoto and have created smart albums. now i went to 'change desktop background' by control clicking on the desktop and am selecting a pictures from one of the smart albums but its only displaying a blue background. this is true for all smart albums and normals ones as well. when i select an image from the other folders they work fine. what could be the reason?
the primary reason of importing stuff to iphoto was so that they are easily available across applications.

simport
Do you know of any reason why the Desktop pref pane should not be able to use photos in a "referenced" iphoto library
It's just the nature of the beast.
but I just don't trust it enough to do what it will with my photos by having them stored in the iPhoto library.
What are you afraid of?
When you import a pic into iPhoto in the default Managed mode all it does is make a byte by byte copy of the pic. Nothing else. It's an exact copy. It makes no alterations, adds nothing, removes nothing.
The pic is stored in the Finder. Yes, it's in a Unix Style Package file, but apart from all the ways to access your pics I'll describe in a moment, if you want to look inside the package you can do so at any time: Simply right click on the iPhoto Library and select 'Show Package Contents' from the resulting menu. A Finder window will open and you'll see the Library inside.
There are various files, which are the Library itself and some ancillary files. Then you have three core folders
Originals are the photos as they were downloaded from your camera or scanner. (As your Library is referenced the files will be aliases rather than the actual files.
(ii) Modified contains edited pics, shots that you have cropped, rotated or changed in any way.
(iii) Data holds the thumbnails the the app needs to show you the photos in the iPhoto Window.
Remember: 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.
Running a referenced library has a number of pitfalls - apart from the fact that System Preferences cannot use the files.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Other information that may offer comfort:
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.
Mind you, I don't suggest that you change over in one go. I think the best thing to do is create a new Library (Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library') and set it as a Managed Library. Import 50 or 100 pics an explore it, see how it works and see if that does anything for your confidence.
Regards
TD

Smart Album works with Desktop, not Screen Saver?

I've created a Smart Album in iPhoto, with my 5-star photos in it, calling it "My Favorites". In iPhoto, there are 116 photos right now. When I go to my Desktop settings, I see all the photos in "My Favorites".
When I go to Screen Saver, I get 5 of the photos in that Smart Album. I've got other Smart Albums, some with thousands in them, and they display just fine.
I've deleted and re-created "My Favorites", even using a different name. I still get the same results.
Any ideas why Desktop would work, but Screen Saver won't, with the exact same Smart Album?

Update: I'm now running 10.6.3 and iPhoto 8.1.2, and the problem is gone.
Thanks, Apple.

Using Smart Album to Set Desktop Images

Aperture 3.2.1 and OS X 10.7.2
I'm trying to set my desktop picture to rotate through an Aperture Smart Album. Not that it should matter, but the Smart Album is basic -- one star or better, Stack Picks Only. That Smart Album is easy to set up in Aperture and there it works as expected. But in the Screen Saver & Desktop module in System Preferences, upon choosing that same album, the browser shows all of the versions in each stack, whether they're the pick or not. In Aperture, of course, I only get the Pick because I have that option enabled.
Any thoughts on why this is happening?

Smart albums containing images from stacks behave differently when used to create a product (Media browser, MobileMe Gallery, SlideShow, PhotoBook).
The common effect seems to be that the option "stack picks only" determines how the album is viewed in Aperture, but not, what will be included, when you use images that are part of a stack for a product. With Photo Books, Slideshows, and Galleries you will only get the Stack picks included, regardless of the "stack picks only" setting. Only the Media Browser seems to respect the option "stack picks only". when this option is not set, all images in the stacks will be used on the Desktop or in the screensaver, when it is set, only the stackpicks will show.
But in the Screen Saver & Desktop module in System Preferences, upon choosing that same album, the browser shows all of the versions in each stack, whether they're the pick or not.
That behaviour I cannot confirm. I defined several smart albums with stacks, and only the stack picks did show up in the Deskstop and Screensaver preferences, also in the Media Browser in Pages and iWeb, when the option"stack picks only" was set. But I was careful to quit both Aperture and "System Preferences", before changing the Screensaver settings.

Sorting movies in iPhoto smart album

I created an album of our summer vacation which includes photos and video clips. I would like to separate out the video clips and stitch them together. Either in iMovie or otherwise. Any thoughts on how to separate out the movies? I tried the New Smart Album > Keyword > is > movie. It sorted my whole library, not just the album (and I did have all photos/clips selected).
And then, how best to stitch them together? iMovie or is there a function in iPhoto?
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

In your summer album flag just the video clips. Use the Events ➙ New Event from Flagged Photos to create a new event of just those flagged video clips (assuming you have no other flagged photos).
Or give the video clips in the summer album a star rating and use a smart album: Keyword is Movie and Rating is XX.
OT

Iphoto-smart album

I can create a smart album...but as a newbie...I can't seem to get the pictures I want into the "smart album"..I think I don't know how to do the batch change thing or what to do....perhaps someone smart can help a novice...sorry & thanks!!

edgewater5061:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. That are the criteria for the pictures you want to be in the smart album and how are you setting them?
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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Creating iPhoto smart album with criteria based on another smart album

When I create Smart Playlists in iTunes, I can set one of the criteria to include/exclude items based on a different smart playlist.
For example,
Smart Playlist 1=all songs by artist a, b, c, d, etc.
Smart Playlist 2=all songs where "genre=Holiday"
Smart Playlist 3=all songs that are in "Smart Playlist 1", but are NOT in "Smart Playlist 2".
This same concept doesn't seem to work in iPhoto. While it does seem to work if I'm basing them on regular albums, the "Album is xxxx" criteria option doesn't seem to even list Smart Albums.
Am I missing something or am I not even allowed to use Smart Albums as a criteria for other smart albums?

You’re not missing anything.
iPhoto menu -> Provide iPhoto Feedback
Regards
TD

Iphoto smart albums failed to import

did anyone else have this problem? my albums came in fine, and i have about a billions "rolls" but none of my smart albums came in. what gives?

If you edit an image in iPhoto, the app places the original image in an "Original" folder, and saves an edited copy. Further work is done on the edited copy, the Original is not touched.
When Aperture imports an iPhoto Library, does it import the Original image, the Current image, or both?
From the manual I suspect it only imports the Current Image, so the Original image would then be lost.
Can someone test and confirm?

Lost iphoto smart albums

Hello,
I don't use iPhoto daily and so just realized I have lost my many smart albums. Not sure if it happened during an operating system upgrade, a migration (got a new computer) or a iphoto upgrade.
Must needed, each album is actually a patient (medical field)... many¡¡¡
Iphoto 9.5.1
OS X 10.9.5

Here's a possible solution if you're unable to restore the smart albums any other way.
1 - rename your current library to something other than it is now, like iPhoto Library Old or whatever.
2 - copy the library from your old laptop to the Pictures folder on the new iMac.
3 - get the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager and use it to merger the renamed library into the library from the laptop. iPLM can be set to not import duplicates.
This should give you a library with the smart albums and any new photos. Once you've confirmed that the merged library is complete and working correctly you can delete the renamed library.

Iphoto smart album help

Is it possible to create a smart album that will find all photos of two specific people and no one else? I am hoping to create an album that contains only photos of my two children, together, with no other people… not sure how to set it up. Thanks.

Not really - you can make one for all rules with photo contains each of the the two people and additional rules photos does not contain each of the other names - but even then it will not eliminate photos with people who have not been identified
Suggest to Apple - iPhoto menu ==> provide iPhoto feedback - maybe it will influence Photo next year
LN

IPhoto 4.0.3 & smart album for desktop picture rotations

I am using iPhoto 4.0.3. I'm attempting to designate a specific album in System Preferences for my desktop pictures--and I'd like it to change on a set time frame. I can tell it to change pictures for all regular albums, but ANYTIME I try to designate a smart album, the "change picture every. . ." option grays out.
Does iPhoto or Mac OS X stop users from designating smart folders for some reason? I've checked and it's consistent. Every regular album retains the option to have the picture change on a recurring basis. Every smart album loses this option.

You wondered about how I have an album folder to select with smart folders.
If I try to find it through the finder, you're right, there is no actual folder--which I didn't realize.
However, if I go to System Preferences>Desktop & Screen Saver, there is a line that separates the Apple default options and the iPhoto albums. It's there that it shows all albums that you've set up--regular and smart versions.
I just never thought about the fact that their album icon for the smart folders wasn't pointing to an actual folder--just the data shortcuts to files.
Thanks for the new info!

Smart folder in iphoto to burn folder on desktop

Hi.
I set up a smart folder in IPHOTO (collecting all photo's taken on a vacation) and have set up a burn folder on the desktop.
I can't figure out how to get the smart folder to the burn folder. It won't move from within Iphoto or via the finder.
Is what I want to do possible in Tiger and Iphoto?
I have a new Macbook.
thanks in advance.

If by :burn to the desktop: you mean copy, then no. You have to either select all and drag to a folder on the desktop or use the File->Export->File Export menu route.
If you want to burn directly to a disk with those images then click on the smart album and use the File->Export->File Export menu route but this time selecting the blank mounted disk on the desktop as the final destination.
Do you Twango?

IPhoto smart albums as screensaver/ desktop

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