RAW changed to TIFF in upgrade to iPhoto '08

Question

When we upgraded from iPhoto 4 to iPhoto ’08, we allowed the newly installed program to convert our old iPhoto library into the new format. Everything seems to be OK except for RAW images from a Nikon D80 with file extension .NEF. All of the .NEF images which were in iPhoto before iPhoto converted them are now identified in the iPhoto information box as "kind TIFF Image". They do not display as sharp images in iPhoto.
For the record, images uploaded from the same camera after upgrading iPhoto appear as sharp photos and are correctly identified as “kind Nikon Raw”. We knew that iPhoto 4 could not work with RAW photos, but it allowed us to upload them and see and label their chunky images, and we believed that they would be preserved when we upgraded the program. This was one reason we chose to upgrade. Unfortunately, we didn't realize the scope of this problem until after we had deleted our backup of the iPhoto 4 photo library.
If we export one of these misidentified images, then change the file extension of the exported image to .NEF from .TIF, and then import it into iPhoto again, the problem is corrected, but the description we have entered for the photo is lost. (Keywords would also be lost, but we hadn’t used them.)
Why did this happen? Could we have prevented it? Is there a way to correct the identification of these images and preserve the descriptions we have entered for them? Is there a way to correct all of our approximately 1000 RAW images all at once or to automate the file extension changes?

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Other users have reported similar problems, mostly with Canon raw files. Do a search in the iPhoto forum for "raw to tiff" and you'll get a list of the threads where it is discussed. There may be an solution or explanation in there.
Metadata can only be written to jpg or tiff files by iPhoto. So exporting the raw files to the desktop cannot include the metadata you added. Keywords and comments added to a Nikon NEF file by other applications, iView MediaPro, do not get imported into iPhoto. iPhoto creates a jpg version of the file for display and editing and the metadata does not get transferred to it.
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 created 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries 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.