"Modified" vs. "Original" files in iphoto

What is the purpose of having the photos split into these two files in iphoto? When I download them off of my camera, it seems to put some of them in the "modified" files right away (the movies, mostly?)
Anyway, just hoping for an explanation as to the point of having the photos from one roll in two separate files. Also, if I put all of the photos from a roll into one file or the other manually (so that they are consolidated) how will this affect iphoto? Will it move them back?
MacBook   Mac OS X (10.4)  

You see movies in the Modified folders because of the way iPhoto files your video clips. It places the actual clip inside the Originals folder. When you import a clip iPhoto creates a jpeg of the first frame - that jpeg goes in the Modified folder. A thumbnail of this frame is also created and stored in the Data folder. When you view your library you are shown the thumbnail. When you increase the size to a certain point you are given the full-size jpeg. When you double-click a movie clip, the Original is opened with QuickTime so that you can play it.
If you shoot in camera RAW the system is similar. The RAW goes in Originals, a jpeg goes in Modified for display purposes, and a thumbnail jpeg goes in Data.
All this is nice to know, but it doesn't really matter. As PhillyPhan and Old Toad have said, you are supposed to use iPhoto to access those files once you import them into your library. Don't change the way iPhoto files them, and don't use the Finder to access them. See this from the iPhoto Help, under "About using the iPhoto Library":
"IMPORTANT: There is also an "iPhoto Library" folder located in the Pictures folder in your home folder, outside the iPhoto application. If you move, delete, rename, or otherwise touch files or folders within this folder, you may be unable to see your pictures in the iPhoto application.
"The files within this folder should only be manipulated by a customer care representative.
Perhaps you are used to file browsers. With a file browser you keep your files in folders, then organize everything into subfolders in whatever structure you like. Then you browse through those folders to find your files. You have to decide if that picture of your dog with your kid belongs in the folder for your dog, your kid, the date it was taken, etc. To have it in each place would necessitate keeping multiple copies. You can do this yourself by using the Finder to navigate through the folders, or use an application that assists with file browsing and perhaps offers sorting and tagging.
iPhoto is not a file browser, it is a database application. With a database application you import your files into the database. From that point, you no longer access those files from within their folders and subfolders. Instead, you open the application and access them from there. An advantage is that the photo of your dog with your kid can now be placed in your dog album your kid's album, your date-based album, your holiday album, etc. with no duplication of that photo eating up space on your hard drive. Plus, you have many features for tagging and sorting your photos so that you can easily find one picture or a whole group with a few clicks. This results in more power, using less storage, making iPhoto an efficient application.
If you need to use your photos outside of iPhoto, then use iPhoto to locate and select them, and export them to your Desktop. iPhoto knows which folders your photos are in and will always give you the most recent, full-size files. (You can rename and resize the copies during the export process, if you like.) This is handy for uploading to websites, attaching to email, or burning a CD for a photo developer. Trash the exports when done, since iPhoto retains the files.
To edit your photos in another application, set it as an external editor in iPhoto's preferences. Use iPhoto to select the photo, double-click to open it in your editor, then save (not save as) and the edited version is saved back into your iPhoto library.
Regards.

Similar Messages

  • How can I change the time of photos in info in iPhoto for iOS. I've done it in iPhoto for Mac but when I sync to my ipad the info field goes back to the camera time ignoring "modify original files" in iPhoto for Mac?

    I used "adjust date and time" and"modify original files" to correct the time of photos taken on a camera used in Peru which was set to UK rather than local time. which is 6 hours  behind. This was to bring them into line with shots taken with other cameras set to local time. This was using iphoto 08 on a Mac. I then synced to my iPad. The photos stayed in the correct order in photos but in iphoto (iOS version) the original dates appear (the camera dates) and so the photos are out of chronological order again. This looks like a bug but is there a fix?

    don't know what you mean by "write to master" but speculate that it means modify the original times, in which case the taken times on the camera should no longer be present
    No,I meant your using the option "modify original files" will do exactly that - change the capture date original master files stored in the iPhoto library. Only when you do that, the "date modified" of your original files will be changed as well, and it will now be the date of your manipulation of the capture date.
    Oh - I hadnt considered that possibility - but of that were the case, why don't my manipulated photos go to the end of the sequence as I have done all the manipulation after the end of the holiday??
    In photos the synced album maintains the chronological order which I set up on the mac by modifying the originals, as you said,
    That is what the linked article is describing: "some apps may sort your photos in the order you specify in the app (such as iPhoto or Aperture"
    The problem I have is that, in the album, iphoto (ipad) sorts them differently to both iphoto (Mac) and the photos tab on the ipad
    In addition to albums and events, synced photos appear in a unified category called Photo Library (on iPad, this is the Photos tab). Photos are not duplicated. This category will also sort photos in ascending order by the date modified.
    "on ipad this is the Photos tab" - but this displays as per the original sequence ignoring time adjustments - the manipulations seem to be ignored (but are reflected in the album in the photos tab) and the photos tahat have been modified stay in their original positiom - they don't get put the end
    Because the library uses a different date - the date modified - the date of the last time the file has been changed in any way - any editing you do to your image, including adjust date and time will change the "date modified"
    This may change the sorting of the database but it appears not to influence the order in the albums
    In addition to albums and events, synced photos appear in a unified category called Photo Library (on iPad, this is the Photos tab). Photos are not duplicated. This category will also sort photos in ascending order by the date modified.
    So how can i get my photos in date and time order in an album in iphoto for ipad?
    Thanks for your help

  • Why is there a "modified" and an "Original" file in iPhoto Library?

    I ran out of space on a 100 Gig drive today.. My iphoto library shows 23.9 gb on the bottom left hand side of the iphoto screen.. But when I look at the drive I find the "modified" file is 23.9 gig and the "original" file is 78 gigs.
    Anyone know if I need both of those files?
    Thanks. Gil

    Gil
    Yes you most certainly need both of those.
    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.
    iPhoto always preserves your Original file. When you edit, export or whatever, the app uses a copy for these actions. In doing this it’s working to the best principles of Digital Asset Management. So, in your Modified folder are the edited versions of the pics. This is why you can use the Photos -> Revert to Original command. It’s also the basis of the Non-Destructive editing feature.
    If you don’t want this way of working then, simply, don’t use iPhoto. You simply cannot stop it doing this.
    If disk space is an issue you can run your Library from an external disk:
    1. Quit iPhoto
    2. Copy the iPhoto Library 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.
    Regards
    TD

  • After import from Iphoto some pictures are of very low quality. The original file in Iphoto is very good.

    Final cut Express
    I imported several pictures by using Iphoto. Some of them, not all, are of very low quality even if the original file is of a very good quality.

    It sounds as though you may have imported the thumbnails but I can't imagine how.
    It all depends on what you mean by very low quality.
    Your iPhoto  pictures will be around 4,000x3,000 pixels but when they are imported into a standard def timeline they will be around 720x540 which is a tremendous reduction.
    They should still look OK but not  as good as the brilliant hi-res originals.
    Message was edited by: Ian R. Brown

  • Can't find original files after uploading photos through iPhoto

    I'm a recent "convert," and yesterday I uploaded some pictures directly through iPhoto for the first time. Then I tried to log onto Facebook to create a photo album and couldn't find the original photos in my "Pictures" file or anywhere else. I found I could access the "iPhoto Library" option but it distorted my photos by zooming in on the faces of people in the picture!
    Where are my original files?

    iPhoto used to place the photos in a standard directory "iPhoto Library" but this has now become a package, which hides access to the contents--just like in many applications--to keep you from rearranging them. You (or I) cannot directly access the contents but the "package" is just a specially marked directory. If you know a filename of one of the pictures or albums then you can search for that and it will find the file/photo. Then you have access to the directory and can go up, down, or over. It uses the same names in several of them.
    The head shots you are seeing may be the "Faces" feature of the new iPhoto. They will be in a separate directory, as well as directories for original, modified, and others. Interesting, it did not find the photo names on the backup disk. Differing degrees of hiddenness? You can get there with Terminal. This is what I found in mine--notice the thumbnails used in album views:
    2001 Dir.data Thumb64Segment.data
    2002 Library.data ThumbJPGSegment.data
    2003 Library.iPhoto face.db
    2004 Library6.iPhoto face_blob.db
    2005 Library6.iPhoto.bak iPhoto Selection
    2006 Metadata Backup iPhoto.ipspot
    AlbumData.xml Modified iPhotoAux.db
    AlbumData2.xml Originals iPhotoLock.data
    Auto Import Roll 249 iPhotoMain.db
    Data Roll 251
    Data.noindex ThemeCache
    Your best bet is to select the photos you want and export them where you can have the JPEGs.
    After import, I export so I can use shootShifter to adjust the names to be their exposure dates in yymmdd hrmise format. (You did set the camera's date.)
    -Ken

  • Can't import jpgs from original file

    I installed iPhoto6 (previous was 5) and it put my original photos into an original file (all jumbled together... not very nice of apple). I want to put some original jpgs from the original photo file (I made sure I own it and it is not locked) into iPhoto go get ready for iMovie. But, a box appears with "Unreadable Files: 1
    The following file could not be imported. (The file is in the iPhoto Library folder.)"
    I would like:
    #1 my old organization back so I can fine a folder with my original pictures from my camera by date
    2# at least be able to drag a picture from an original file to iPhoto
    3# within iPhoto, view my photos from the date of 2001, month of 2 and day of 23.
    Thanks

    try iphoto 6 discussion board... this one is for iP4!
    michel

  • Image files in iPhoto 'Originals' folder are hidden

    When I click 'Show Original File' in iPhoto, it faithfully opens a finder window that points to where the photo should be, but alas is nowhere to be found. If I go to the directory with terminal, the files are all there, plain as day. I'm guessing that iPhoto/Finder has somehow set the invisible/hidden bit on the original file. This is particularly annoying when exporting images with 'Original' selected in the 'Kind' attribute, as they are hidden then also! So the questions are:
    -How do I get it to stop making items invisible when I import them?
    -Is there an easy way to unhide the files?
    Cheers!

    daphncoop
    Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
    I wonder do you have the same problem?
    The only way I can find my "Original" file is by searching for a specific photo through the finder and then double clicking on the path file at the bottom.
    Sounds to me like you've recently updated your iPhoto from a much earlier version (v6 or before).
    Since iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now 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.
    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!
    (Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
    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.
    Regards
    TD

  • Why does iPhoto 11 show both modified and original photo files for items I've never modified?

    I have been looking through some recent photos and noticed that File > Reveal in Finder displays a modified and an original file for images I've never modified.  The originals are in subdirectory iphoto > Masters and the Modified files are in subdir iphoto > previews.  This appears to happen strictly with photos taken on my iphone.  Any ideas?  It's eating up a fair amount of HD space, for no reason as far as I can tell.

    #1 is patently untrue; I go in there all the time via File > Reveal in Finder so that I can grab images to pull into other applications, mail clients etc.
    Actually it is patently true - what you are doing is not supported, is not necessary and is dangerous - you should only access the photos using the supported methods
    #2 - I thought maybe that was it too but it's on images both vertical as well as horizontal.  There's even images in there that are just still frames of videos taken on iphone.
    2 - the most common cause of un-expected "modified" versions is having the autorotate feature set on your camera - this causes a rotate flag to be set so that when yu import iPhoto does that and as always keeps the original and keeps the rotated version as mopdified
    Given that you provided no information about your work flow one can only guess at common reasons
    The jpeg preview of each video is also a modified version - as to why both vertical (portrait) and horizonal (Landscape) photos would have modified versions more information would be needed - the most likely cause is that you have made changes of some sort to them
    LN

  • When using Iphoto to import photo from existing folder, what happens if I delete the photo in Iphoto ? Will the original file in the folder be deleted too?

    When using Iphoto to import photo from existing folder to iphoto, what happens if:
    1. I delete that photo in iphoto? will the original file in the folder be deleted too ?
    2.  when importing, does the hard disk store 2 versions of the photo, hence occupying additional space in the harddisk?

    1 - no  --  iPhoto only manages fiel within the iPhoto library - it does not ever do anything with files outside the library
    2 - No idea what you are asking - by default (and strongly recommended) iPhoto copies the original to the iPhoto library and you delete the source file outside the iPhoto library - iPhoto alwasy has at least two versions of every photo and some times three - it always have the original, a thumbnail and once a photo is modified a preview - this is not optional - if it is not what you want then iPhoto is not the correct progrtam to be using for phopto management
    LN

  • Missing "Modified File" in iPhoto '11

    When attempting to empty the Trash (at least that is what I thought I did) it actually started to delete files from my iPhoto library. At first I thought the actual "Original" however it turns out only "Modified" which is now redirected to Previews. (And no, I don't have any backup of it anymore as Timecapsule was nice enough to decide to delete older backups on its own)
    In iPhoto I just see an exclamation mark and I can look at the original photo by going to edit.
    Now, is there a way to at least put the original file to where the preview file should be? Knowing that I won't recover whatever was modified in the first place however at least in the library it shows up as ok?
    Or is my only way to write some code that does that? (parse library, check for target file exists, if not copy original? - not very space eficient but I don't want to see those empty images anymore)
    Thanks for any pointers!

    The exclamation point indicates the iPhoto has broken the file path to the original image file. 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

  • How do I revert my iPhoto to the Original File?

    I have Mac OS X - Version 10.5.8 - iPhoto 9
    I have a numerious amount of photo's that look fine in thumbnail but when opened I am given a "!".  I have done the suggested Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.  This did not work!  But if I right-click iPhoto Library, click Show Package Contents I see there are files such as Originals, Modified, Library.iPhone, Library6.iPhoto, and Before Restore.  Ok I compared the specific "!" photos.  Example IMG_0057 comes up "!" in iPhoto.  In the Original folder IMG_0057 is there and perfect, but in Modified IMG_0057 does not exist nor do the other photos that were showing "!".
    SO I thought to just restore all pictures to the pictures in the Original Folder.  Can this be done?  How do I do this? Will this restore the photos back to that have "!" without loosing them all?  Please share with me what I can do?!?!?!?

    No it was never used on iphone or ipad.  but I am sure the iphoto at some point was updated.  Diane I did looking using iphoto Library manager but the version of Mac I have I believe is too old.  That's why I am asking here because all other suggestions I have found seem to be wrong.  I have backed up my photos but it was later after all this started occuring.  Thats why I want to go back to the images in the original file......
    Any other thoughts PLEASE?!?!?
    PS I have no idea why this signed me in as a different user?!
    Message was edited by: Kandycane18

  • I am trying to change the date on an imported home video clip. I entered 9/7/2012 and got 6/9/0339! I checked modify original file, but it is not working. Any ideas?

    I am trying to change the date on an imported home video clip. I entered 9/7/2012 and got 6/9/0339! I checked modify original file, but it is not working. Any ideas?

    Are you using the Adjust Date and Time option or the Batch Change option?  If it's the former try the latter.  If you get the same results  launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import  the same video file and check to see if the same problem persists.
    OT

  • How can I make a droplet save a modified file next to the original file?

    I am having a problem getting a Photoshop Droplet save a modified file next to the original file. That is, when I drag a file "page_6.pdf" from some directory onto my droplet, I want it to do its work and save a modified "page_6.psd" in that same directory.
    This isn't working for me on Photoshop CC 2014 on Mac OS 10.10.
    I have an Action which has an Open command, with the filename "page_1.pdf". Then it has a bunch of editing commands. Then it has a "Save As... Photoshop format" command, and a Close command. When I run this action within Photoshop, it brings up Open and Save As dialogues, and works fine.
    In creating the droplet, I used File... Automate... Create Droplet..., and selected the following options:
    Override Action "Open" commands
    Destination menu value = Folder
    Using Choose... button, select an output folder, Directory_1/ .
    Check Override Action "Save As Commands" is checked
    For File Naming, I use [Document Name] + "_deleteme" + [extension]
    When I drag a folder, say "page_5.pdf" from some directory onto the droplet, Photoshop runs the Action on the document. However, it saves the modified document in Directory_1/, regardless of where the original file came from. And it always names the modified document "page_1_deleteme.psd", instead of using the Document Name of the original file.
    If I modify the Open command in the Action to mention a different file, then the droplet always names the modified document with that name. It's as if Document Name in the File Naming dialogue always reflects what's in the Open command in the Action.  But -- I asked the droplet to Override Action "Open" commands!
    When I set the Destination menu value to "Save and Close", then when I drag a file onto the droplet, the droplet opens a File Save dialogue and forces me to tell it where to store the file.  I don't understand this behaviour, and have a hard time reconciling it with the documentation at Photoshop Help | Processing a batch of files .
    (Interestingly, when Destination menu value = None or Save and Close, Photoshop displays an alert about overwriting an existing droplet when I click OK to save. But when Destination menu value = Folder, there is no alert about overwriting existing droplet.)
    How can I set up a droplet so that it writes the modified file in the same directory as the original file, and with the same root filename, but a different extension to reflect the different output file format?
    Has anyone else made a droplet behave this way on Photoshop CC 2014 on Mac OS X 10.10?
    Thanks in advance for your help.

    Thanks for your insights.
    Does my Action need to include an Open command?  I sure thought so, because of how the Photoshop Help | Processing a batch of files documentation describes 'Override Action “Open” Commands'.
    "...If the action contains an Open command that opens a saved file and you don't select this option, the Batch command opens and processes only the file you used to record the Open command..." I don't want to operate only the file I used to record the Open command. However, this sentence doesn't say that an Open command should be part of a droplet Action.
    "...Deselect this option if the action was recorded to operate on an open file..."  Maybe I if I rethink my Action as operating on an open file, then the Droplet will take care of the Open for me.  However, I have less control over the options the droplet's Open command uses.
    I'll try disabling the Open command, and create a Droplet with that.

  • I went into the original files in the iphoto library and organised the photos there, now when I try to look at the photos in iphoto the tiles are there but when I try to enlarge or put into a slide show a big grey explanation mark occurs?

    I tried to organise my iphoto originals to it would be easier to back them up onto my hard drive, so I renamed them and grouped them in the orinigal file. Now when I go onto iphoto to view the photos in a slide show a big exclamation mark comes up and if I click on the photo to see the original file it can't find it. Any ideas?

    You won't be able to run the rebuild function and restore your library becaue you renamed and regrouped your original photos from the Finder.  I doubt if you can change the names back to their original names and put them back in the folders they were in originally so your only option is get your backup library and replace the one you damaged. 
    If you don't have a backup copy of the library from just before the problem that contains all of your photos you will need to start over from scratch as follows: 
    Start over from scratch with new library
    Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:
    1.  Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
    2. Open the library package like this.
    Click to view full size
    3. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
    4. Drag the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
    Click to view full size
    This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.
    In the future stay out of the iPhoto Library package and only access the photos using iPhoto. 
    OT

  • Is there a way to have iPhoto add location information to the original file

    Is there a way to have iPhoto add manually assigned location information to the original file? After adding location information to about 20,000 of my 35,000 picture library, I generated a new library because of problems with faces. That fixed the faces problem but I was quite disappointed to see that the locations were absent. From what I can see, you can only do this by exporting the files (file - edit) and having the option checked to include the location information. Of course, if you select to have the original files exported (as opposed to creating 35,000 new jpegs), you do not have the option to include location information. Even if you did have that option, it would be a silly way to do it. Am I missing something?

    No exporting is the only way - I believe that HoudahGeo - http://www.houdah.com/houdahGeo/ - will add them to the originals in iPhoto - check it out
    LN

Maybe you are looking for