Missing pics from iPhoto. Blank thumbnails.

All the photos from several iPhoto events are missing. I have rebuilt the library, followed all the directions to rebuild thumbnails, etc., multiple times, but the photos are still gone. The info for the photos is still there, including date, file name, etc., but they can't be viewed, edited, or exported. The finder can't find them. They seem to be phantom photos. Only their ghostly outlines remain. Can they be recovered, or is this a lost cause?

Have you tried restoring from Time Machine? (Restore to another location so you don't overwrite your current library)
Have you tried Downloading iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.

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Some photos in iphoto are missing and there are blank thumbnails which when i try to open them show an exclamation sign

some photos in iphoto are missing and there are blank thumbnails which when i try to open them show an exclamation sign

The exclamation make is an indication that iPhoto has broken the file path to the original photo.
Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Copying pics from iphoto says can't copy, photo is busy????

Sometimes when I try to copy photos from iphoto to my external hard drive, it comes up with the message 'cannot copy to this location because one or more of the pictures is busy' what does this mean and how can I change it? It happens quite randomly and if I delete the pic or change the name of the pic i'm trying to copy, it will choose another pic to be busy.....what am I doing wrong? it's infuriating. WHat's more, there is nothing about it in David Pogues 'missing manual'. Am I the only one at a loss when it comes to finding solutions to problems that seem so simple?????

jesssroooo
*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. There is no need for you to ever enter this folder. There are no user serviceable parts there. Period.*
A Note about the iPhoto Library Folder:
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.
(iii) Data holds the thumbnails the the app needs to show you the photos in the iPhoto Window.
is there a simple way to make the pictures in my finder>pictures>iphotolibrary corresponde with the pics in iphoto?
No. The Finder is a File Organiser, iPhoto is a photo organiser. The point is that you let iPhoto look after the files and you organise, edit, whatever in the iPhoto Window - without reference to the files.
To delete pics from iPhoto and the HD, put them in the iPhoto trash and empty it, that's all.
i don't want to have multiple duplicates of the same image
You don't, you have different versions - as detailed above. There is no way to stop iphoto from preserving your original file. If you don't want this use another application.
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.
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.
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.
Again, stay out of the iPhoto Library in the Finder, and remember everything you need to do can be done via the iPhoto Window - and if you can't figure out how to achieve something, post here or even check the Help.
Regards
TD

Before I downloaded Lion every time I would upload a pic from iphoto there would be two files. One that was 1.8MB and another that was 50KB. Now I can only find the 1.8MB one. Did this option disappear with Lion?

Before I downloaded Lion every time I would upload a pic from iphoto there would be two files. One that was 1.8MB and another that was 50KB. Now I can only find the 1.8MB one. Did this option disappear with Lion? I really need this option!

Sorry but this is not clear.
When you would "import" what?
two files would show up in "images".
Do you mean in the All Images search in the Finder?
IF so:
1.Never interact with photos that are in iPhoto via the All Images Search. This does not understand the iPhoto Library and it's very, very easy to damage the library this way.
2. What you were seeing was the original file you imported and the thumbnail created by iPhoto for viewing on the iPhoto Window. That thumbnail is not designed for user access.
What are you trying to do ultimately?
Regards
TD

Uploading pics from Iphoto to website degrades quailty. Can anyone help??

When I upload my pictures from my digital camera to Iphoto, the picture quality is great. But, when I upload pics from Iphoto to any online website such as facebook, or email, etc, the picture quality degrades and looks very grainy. I tried using a compressor program to change the size of the picture but that doesn't seem to help. I'm using iphoto 08. Any suggestions??

Yes, the quality is very bad because you're uploading tiny thumbnail files. What would you expect?
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.
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.
Regards
TD

Trying to import pics from iphoto to imovie- can't import the PSE modified pictures. I see them in iphoto.

Trying to import pics from iphoto to imovie- can't import the PSE modified pictures. I see them in iphoto however they don't appear in the thumbnails in imovie.

Drag the PSE modified pictures from iPhoto to the Desktop. Open them in Preview then save as jpegs (File > Export - then choose Format JPEG). They may already be .jpg files, but are not readable by iMovie. Exporting them from Preview may fix this. Import the saved files to iPhoto - they should now work in iMovie.
John

How can I use a pic from iPhoto as a background for a page, How can I use a pic as a background for a page

How can I use a pic from iPhoto as a background for a page, How can I use a pic as a background for a page

cd,
Insert the picture and position it as you desire
Make sure the picture is set to Floating in the Wrap Inspector
Arrange > Send Objects to Background
Regards,

I attempted to import pics from iphoto to a folder on my desktop but somehow clicked desktop so 45,000 pics loaded, now computer freezes after trying to load everything. possible to reverse this? options? restore hd from time machine? pls help!!!

long story short...i attempted to import pics from iphoto to a folder on my desktop but somehow clicked desktop so 45,000 pics loaded to my desktop and now my computer freezes up after trying to load everything, and i'm not able to just drag the photos into the folder. is it possible to reverse this? what are my options? restore hd from time machine?
a further question to restoring my hd from a previous backup on time machine...it says it will erase the hd. does it actually erase everything or does it just erase anything that may have been added or downloaded since that backup? this is confusing to me.
another problem which is part of the original problem is it seems that when i connect my iphone to my computer and iphoto uploads my pics...it doesn't just upload new ones, it duplicates and uploads every picture again...which is why i have 45,000 pics...they are 40,000 duplicates! what's up with that?
I have a macbook pro, and recently updated the os to Yosemite. the iphoto app is out of date, but i'll worry about that once i can figure out how to get all those pics off the desktop. also, i recently purchased and installed 8g of new ram, but that hasn't seemed to help.
any advice would be appreciated!
thanks!!

thanks for replying.
the booting and walking away and then attempting to browse and clean method is what i've been trying to do. it won't let me drag and drop and just freezes up and goes to sleep after 2 minutes. it's a never ending battle with very few results. which is why i questioned the method of just restoring the hd from a time machine backup.
do you think restoring the hd from time machine will resolve the issue with all pics on the desktop? and everything will be as it was from the date i restore it from? sorry, as you can tell, i'm not overly computer savvy.
i have a really old desktop mac...i can try connecting the two...how does one boot a mac in 'target mode'?
as for the iphoto cleaning and organizing issue...that is what i was trying to accomplish with importing them to a folder. was going to browse and clean from there...but somehow imported to desktop which is what's complicating everything. once i get them off the desktop i can work on the iphoto issue...which as i mentioned...i didn't take 45,000 pics...i've just taken about 4,500 over the last few years, and they are being duplicated in iphoto. this was my attempt to clean it out entirely and start over. it will basically be a lot of deleting.
one problem, seems to lead me to more...which is just my luck. :-)
thanks again, for your help.

How to export pics from iPhoto without losing info such as ratings, names etc

Hi,
I'm trying to export lots of pictures from my iPhoto library to my mother's. I've got the two computers lined up next to eachother, filesharing on, using the "export" option in my iphoto to export the pics to a shared folder, then importing them into my mother's iPhoto.
But whatever I seem to do, all the relevant additional information attached to the photos gets lost on the way:
- they arrive with today's date instead of their real dates
- all the "names" information is lost
- the ratings I'd given them are lost
Is there any way to preserve this information? It seems ridiculous if I have to again trawl through 100s of pics on my mother's computer to reinsert that data for each picture.
A second, less important question: when I export the pics from iPhoto (setting on jpeg) I have to choose size and jpeg quality - I'm sure these options are great if I wanted to reduce the size or quality, but I just want to export them exactly as they are in my iPhoto. If I choose high quality the exported file ends up smaller than the file in my iphoto, if I choose maximum quality it ends up twice as big. Any idea which settings just leave the size and quality as is?
Many thanks for your help.

The easiest way to move files/albums/events plus all versions and metadata between Libraries is with
iPhoto Library Manager
You're running into a Catch-22.
The setting for leaving the file at the size and quality it is is to export the Original file. In the Export dialogue it's in the Kind dropdown.
When you export using the File ->Export dialogue you can write some of the info to the file on the way out: Titles and Descriptions (which also gets Keywords). You can't write ratings information because this is not standard metadata. A workaround: use a keyword: '5', '4' etc.
The catch is that this info is not in the Original file. So, if you export as anythign other than Original you have to choose a size and quality. If you export the Original you don't get the metadata - because that's not in the original.
Hence my suggestion of Library Manager.
Regards
TD

How to transfer pics from iPhoto to iPhone 5s?

how to transfer pics from iPhoto to iPhone 5s?

Read here:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5055818
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Tex
Welcome to the Apple user to user assistance forums
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When copying pic from iPhoto 09 to a file, to burn a CD, after 35 photos it stops copying and I get "Unable to create/users/dividrublesr/ documents/I don't know what is going on. Forgive me for any mistakes, I am a first timer.

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Missing pics from iPhoto. Blank thumbnails.

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