Redundant duplicates in Modified folder

Hello all,
I've recently started using iPhoto (ver. 6) primarily for its entry-level editing options and as a nice way to see all my photos in central location whilst retaining search and categorisation functions.
I keep all my media on a partition of the hard drive so its all accessible from osx or xp (I have to use windows quite often) and I usually download photos into monthly folders which I've manually imported to the iPhoto library (copies box unchecked, of course).
One problem I'm encountering is that duplicates of the original photos are being made in the 'modified' folder in the users/pictures/iphoto directory, even though these images are exactly the same as the originals. I've read that iPhoto will do this for camera auto-rotated images, but it only seems to do this for some. I have no idea how/why it's making the distinction between duplicating or not. Additional subfolders are also being created every time I import, eg there's a December, December_2, etc in both the originals and modified folders.
Using the 'revert to original' function doesn't seem to do anything, as the file association is exactly the same before or after. If the original file were used I could go back and manually delete these extraneous folders (against the advice of not touching anything!)
This may seem pretty trivial, but having so many duplicates just wasting space and having an app that I don't know what it's going to do or be able to set up to function the way I need it to is not terribly useful to me.
Thanks for reading this post - sorry it's kinda long...

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. As Terence already pointed out if the file has the rotate tag administered by the camera it will have a modified version created that's rotated. To avoid this you can use the free contextual menu application PhotoTool CM or the free editor Xee to losslessly rotate those portrait file before importing into iPhoto.
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. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. 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's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Similar Messages

Why is iPhoto6 creating a duplicate in the modified folder

So, I just installed iLife 06 on a fresh new system and have noticed some strange behavior. Using the import option, I imported my original photos from my old system. For whatever reason iLife06 is acting strange. It is creating duplicate copies of pictures that I took while turning the camera vertically. Both of these pictures in the originals folder and modified folder are identical. If i try to revert to original in iphoto, the photo will go away and then come back. So, my question is what is iPhoto doing?

iPhoto is saving a copy of the rotated image into the Modified folder. Although it may look the same as the Original from the Finder, it's actually different.
The "Original" has all the bits in a landscape orientation with a TIFF Orientation flag set, which causes programs that understand that flag (like Finder) to show them rotated.
The "Modified" one has all the bits in a portrait (rotated) orientation with the TIFF Orientation flag not set.
Yes, it's a subtle difference, and for most programs it won't matter. A few programs don't understand the TIFF flag, so would need the "Modified" copy to show it correctly.
In any case, for better or worse, iPhoto has always done this. It used to be a background operation whenever you rotated in iPhoto. With iPhoto 6, this happens during import instead of later in the background.
-Dill
Mac OS X (10.4.4)

IPhoto keeps on generating photos in "modified" folder

Hi,
I'm really frustrated with how iPhoto duplicates edited photos. Therefore, I don't really do any editing in iPhoto anymore. However, the "modified" folder still has copies of photos I never edited. I select those photos in iPhoto and choose "revert to original". the photos in the modfied folder disappear for a while... but they are just regenerated after a few seconds! I've tried deleting the photos in the modified folder through the Finder, but the same thing happens. For some reason, iPhoto keeps on creating "modified" photos. To my knowledge, thats only supposed to happen when I edit in iPhoto. But again, no editing whatsoever has been done.
Do help!

Enzo2121
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
But again, no editing whatsoever has been done.
Actually there has.
Your camera has an auto-rotate feature. This feature flags the photo with an instruction "Display Me This Way Up". The file is not changed, no actual pixels get turned. No application with editing capabilities respects these flags. iPhoto sees the flag and reads it as an instruction: Rotate Me. Rotation is an edit, hence the modified version.
When you try Revert to Original, iPhoto destroys the Modified version and reads the Original again. Of course the Original has this flag put there by the camera, iPhoto sees the flag and creates a new modified version. So you have a loop.
Solution: 1. Turn off auto-rotate on your camera or 2. Rotate the pics with another app before importing them. Make sure that the app you chooses actually rotates pixels.
I've tried deleting the photos in the modified folder through the Finder,
*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*
I'm really frustrated with how iPhoto duplicates edited photos. Therefore, I don't really do any editing in iPhoto anymore.
Any photo you edit via iPhoto also has a preserved original. If you don't edit via iPhoto, then iPhoto won't know about the edits, and your thumbnails will not reflect the reality of the photo. If you don't want this feature, bluntly, you'll be better off not using iPhoto. There are other photo organisers out there. Search on MacUpdate.
Regards
TD

Modified folder in iPhoto08?

I was just looking on my hard drive at the pics i have in iphoto and when i went into it i noticed a modified folder, next to the originals folder??? This seems to be a duplicate folder that is taking up roughly the same space. Any ideas what it is there for?

You can use the demo version of Media Expression to batch JPEG Rotate the photos losslessly. There's also a free contextual menu application, PhotoTool CM, that will batch losslessly rotate photos. Just preprocess them and import into iPhoto. I would use iView or Expression Media over the contextual menu just based on speed.
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. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. 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's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

What to do with a psd image in Modified folder that I can't see.

With an original jpeg image I modified the image in PSE (which is set as default editor in iPhoto) using layers. I did a Save. The psd is in my modified folder but is not displayed by iPhoto. I understand that I should have used a Save As (eg to desktop) and imported that image back to iPhoto.
Is it OK to move the psd image out of the Modified folder to desktop and then import it back into iPhoto? Thanks,
Owen

Owen
Yes.
Regards
TD

Raw auto conversion & showing items in modified folder

Hi,
When I shoot photo's, I let my camera create RAW and JPEG images. I manage to import those into iPhoto and show up nicely in the (event) viewer. I understand that iPhoto puts these into the original folder and while I'm also importing a RAW image, it also auto converts a JPEG copy and puts it into the modified folder.
So far so good. However, when I need to modify a photo I normally use the RAW image file. What I would expect to happen after the RAW image modification is that :
1)iPhoto makes an auto conversion and puts it in the modified folder (this happen and I find the modified JPEG in this folder)
2)The original JPEG photo that is shown in the event viewer is "overlayed" with the modified one. I tried a lots of things till now but nothing seems to help?
Does anyone know how to accomplish 2)??
Further when I remove an event from the library (move to trash in viewer) I noticed the Photo files remain in the library package. It is possible to let iPhoto also remove the files from the library?
Can I let iPhoto create (rebuild) a blank iPhoto library package, i.e. after I renamed the active one ( I want to create one for each year)?
Thanks for your help

MacFan_RJ:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Regarding removing the files, are you emptying the iPhoto trash bin after moving the photo into it?
Launch iPhoto with the Option key depressed and, when asked, select the option to create a new library. If you play on having multiple libraries I suggest you use iPhoto Library Manager to manage them and allow you to easily move between them. I have 18 libraries that I manage. With the paid version of iPLM you can copy events or album between libraries while maintaining keywords, comments and titles.
On editing RAW and saving the new jpg, I've not found a way to get the new edited version into the correct Modified folder, replace the current modified file and update the thumbnail to reflect the edit. It appears that those edits will have to be saved to the desktop and imported a new files.
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.

140MB of photos in "modified" folder, but didn't modify any of them?

I just recently upgraded to '09. I uploaded my first batch of photos the other day. It was a lot, about 1.4GB from a trip I took. I happened to be looking in the package contents for something else, but stumbled up the modified folder for the photos I had just uploaded. I had looked at them in iPhoto but had not adjusted any...not one. In fact, I don't typically edit in iPhoto, but rather in Photoshop. Anyway, the modified folder that coincides with the originals folder has 143MB worth of photos! Why? I didn't modify a single one? Projecting into the future, if this sort of behavior continues, I'll quickly start gobbling up HD space for what is, from what I can tell, no reason. Why on earth would I have 143MB's of modified photo when I hadn't modified a single one? Any clue how/why this would happen?

Yes. It's best, IMO, to upload from the camera to a folder on the Desktop where you can preview and losslessly rotate those photos needing it with the free applicationXee before importing the folder into iPhoto.
If you name the folder to identify the shoot the resulting Event in iPhoto will have the same name. This workflow will also give you the opportunity to sequentially batch rename the files to something more informative than IMG_XXX with an application likeName Mangler. I use the international date format and a brief description like this: 2009-09-06-Labor Day-001.jpg.

Simple, non-bloated usage of iPhoto- no "modified" folder, etc, etc wanted

Apologies if this has all been asked and answered. Searched a little and couldn't quite find the answers I'm seeking.
I've resisted using iPhoto for years, it never seemed to do what I want. Just bought a new iMac with the newer version of iPhoto, so I want to try it.
I have a lot (tens of thousands) of canon .raw images on an external HDD, organized into folders according to time and place shot, etc. I intend to keep them that way (external, and organized as they are). I need a photo organizer that will allow me to quickly see thumbnails of all or any of the photos, organized into whatever classes or groups that I want, with the ability to add and edit tags (date, place, people, etc), and perhaps be able to do simple image tweeking, resizing and printing. Sounds like iPhoto, so I just did a test run by importing a folder of raw images, and set preferences so that it didn't import the master file. Once all of the thumbnails were generated, I selected all, and hit the "play" button, assuming that it was a slideshow, to preview the images. I thought it would quickly make some temporary jpgs for the slideshow, then delete them when I quit. So far so good, but I looked into the "Pictures" directory in my user directory, and I see that 3 new directories were created, under the library called "test" that I created. One is "Data", the second is "Modified", and the third, "Originals". "Data" contains small .jpg thumbnails of all of the photos, at 30 or 40k each. "Originals" also contains all of the file names, same structure, but listed as shortcuts to the originals, also very small at about 4k each, but then there's the "Modified" folder, with 1 to 1.5 MEG files of all of the photos.
I understand the shortcuts and thumbnails, but why the "modified" folder? Is that from the slideshow? Seems that if I decide to process and create a picture, I should have the option of creating jpgs or tifs, and storing them where I wish. What's the point of all of those 1.5Meg files, slowing things down, and taking up space on the hard drive? Don't want them, don't need them. How do I avoid them? Does Aperture make similar 1 meg+ files of all images? I really don't want to spend that money on a cataloging program, but for sure I don't want all of those files needlessly created. Any settings in iPhoto that I'm not seeing to avoid having the "Modified" folder and images created?
thanks much!
PoserBook AL G4 1.25G 1.5RAM iMac 24 2.33 7600 2RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

RS:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. The modified files are the jpg conversions of the RAW files. RAW files are like negatives and are never touched in the editing process, even by professional applications. If you shoot RAW then there's no way to avoid having the modified, jpg version of it in iPhoto. Aperture covers the RAW to either tiff or jpg to use. RAW files cannot be edited it it's natural form. It's just the nature of the beast and game.
When you're dealing with RAW then you've committed yourself to using lots of HD space. Unless you're a professional or doing very advanced amateur work, RAW tends to be a little overkill. IMO, it's just the buzz in the photographic industry right now and intended for pros.
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.

IPhoto copying unedited pictures into modified folder!

Hi everybody!
recently I've noticed the size of my iPhoto library growing without me adding any photos, so I checked the folders and discovered that whole events had been copied into the modified folder without me even having edited them!
I marked all those pictures and clicked on "back to original", but when I checked the modified folder again, I could watch while the same pictured were being copied in there again!!
Does anyone else have this problem and if yes, how can it be stopped?
Thanks in advance,
Phil

First try deleting the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder. Launch iPhoto and try importing again.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding the the Option key. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
Next, if necessary, log into another user account on your Mac, launch iPhoto and import some test images to see if the situation is repeated. If so then a reinstall of iPhoto is warranted. To do so you'll have to first delete the current application and all files with "iPhoto" in the file name with either a .PKG or .BOM extension that reside in the HD/Library/Receipts folder, reinstall iPhoto from the disk it came on and reapply the latest updaters.
OT

Duplicates in iTunes folder but not iTunes

Hi,
Through Spotify I figured out that my music library on my Mac contains duplicates of many of my songs. Since this is a problem in the User > Music > iTunes folder, the usual "Find duplicates" won't help. I have over 5,000 songs, so is there any way to isolate and remove duplicates within the folder?
Thanks!

Use File > Add Folder to Library to add the iTunes Media folder to the library.
Existing tracks will be ignored, new tracks will be added.
Use the Option+File > Show Exact Duplicates feature to show exact duplicates.
Sort the list on Date Added.
Delete the duplicates added today.
tt2

Duplicate an entire folder sturcture with html files within RH

RH 8 HTML
Is it possible? currently you can duplicate a single topic, is there a way to quickly duplicate a entire folder structure?
I'm making a skeleton layout of topics for release notes, because they are published to the web aswell, we keep all previous version in the project also.
would be nice to be able to quickly copy n paste the skeleton folder and topic layout without having to create it all manually each time.
thanks.

Hi Nick.
The short answer is "No". You could copy the topics outside of RH, create another folder in RH and import the copied topics into it. Bear in mind though that folder names must be unique.
Read the RoboColum(n) for a tips, tricks and musings on the Technical Communication Suite products.
Follow the RoboColum(n) on Twitter

Where is the modified folder?

I cannot figure out where my modified photos go in iphoto. I edit in Adobe Photoshop Elements, save with new names and they are SUPPOSED to be in a Modified folder in my library.
I know this because If I reopen in Adobe PE and look at file info, I see the path as users/myname/pictures/iphoto library/modified/2009/foldername.
BUT if I go to iPhoto I do not see any file folder called "Modified". I can find the original folder containing the original photos, but no sign of the edited/modified photos. nor do I see any evidence of any Modified folders anywhere
HELP! I'm about ready to quit using iPhoto. it is NOT an intuitive program at all.
HELP!.

Here's some info on using PSE as the editor of choice from within iPhoto. This does not apply to editing RAW files.
Using Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.
1 - select Photoshop as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
NOTE: With Photoshop Elements 6 the Saving File preferences should be configured: "On First Save: Save Over Current File". Also I suggest the Maximize PSD File Compatabilty be set to Always.
If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and PS without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected PS as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". That will let you either edit in iPhoto (double click on the thumbnail) or in PS (Control-click on the thumbnail and seledt "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu). This way you get the best of both worlds
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
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 versions) 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. There are versions that are compatible with iPhoto 5, 6, 7 and 8 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. 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: iPhoto 8's new option in the library rebuild pane, "Rebuild the iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup" may make this tip obsolete. We'll know when users have occasion to use it and see if that's the case.

How to upload photos from the modified folder?

I'm modifying my photos in photoshop CS3(which now is no more an option to open my photos for editing from Iphoto, why?).
Once modified, they live in the modified folder in a folder I created, they are not visible in the menu located in the left side of IPhoto viewer.
So how am I uploading this photos on my .mac website.
Please advice, thank you
Caril

Caril:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
I'm modifying my photos in photoshop CS3(which now is no more an option to open my photos for editing from Iphoto, why?).
That's because you're probably saving the edits incorrectly.
Using Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.
1 - select Photoshop as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and PS without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected PS as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". That will let you either edit in iPhoto (double click on the thumbnail) or in PS (Control-click on the thumbnail and seledt "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu). This way you get the best of both worlds
So to recover those edited photos from the Modified folder you'll need to open the library package like shown here. Then very carefully locate those files and copy them to the desktop. The reason I said copy is to make sure you don't accidently move the wrong file to the desktop and thus damage the library. If you're absolutely sure you have the correct edited file then you can move it to the desktop instead of copy. But do so at your own risk.
Happy New Year
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.

Replacing photo in the Modified folder with one modified in another editor

First I'd like to thank Terence and Old Toad for getting me this far with my problem. So here are the gory details: I shoot my pictures in the RAW format with a Pentax K-X and then manage & edit them in iPhoto. When iPhoto converts many of the indoor (no flash) pictures, the jpgs are much darker than the .dng pictures from which they were created. In another discussion, I discovered that a camera setting was to blame for the darker jpegs but now I have to go back and fix the pictures I already imported.
If I send the jpeg to Photoshop Elements or another editor, it's still nearly impossible to get the color right. If I send the RAW image, however, I can create a proper jpeg, but then I'm stuck with saving it as a new file and reimporting it. For each picture I fix, I'll have 1 RAW image and the jpeg that iPhoto creates and 2 new jpegs from editing the RAW image in the external editor.
I've read enough discussions to know that as tempting as it is to do, thou shalt not touch the iPhoto Library. That said, is there any way to have iPhoto associate the externally created jpeg with the original RAW file?
Message was edited by: pfgroff

Thanks TD for the suggestion. I made the switch but iPhoto wouldn't pick up the changes. I rebuilt the thumbnails by holding cmd+alt at start-up and that seemed to work until I double-clicked the image. Then I'd see the old darker image I thought I replaced. Even when I look in the finder at the image, the new one is in the Modified folder, but iPhoto is really committed to showing the old one. As there is no clean way to achieve what I'm trying to do, I've resorted to hiding the original so I can keep the raw image. I still have 4 copies for 1 image, but the library at least looks a little cleaner.
Thanks again for your reply.
Message was edited by: pfgroff

Excessive Files in "Modified" Folder

I've noticed that the size of my iPhoto '08 "package file" is considerably larger than the size of my library. After extensive investigating, I have found that ever since I've been importing files from my DSLR (RAW & JPEG for each photo); my RAW file is placed in the "originals" folder, my original JPEG is placed in the "modified" folder, and a copy (slightly compressed) of the JPEG is placed in the "originals" folder. This all occurs before there is any manipulation of the photos & it does it both for landscape and portrait photos. This is really taking a bite out of my external HD. It is essentially eating an extra 30 - 40% of space for no reason.
1. Is there any easy way to prevent iPhoto '08 from doing this?
2. Is there any easy way to reverse this. I would take a chance on just deleting the files out of the "modified" folder, but these are better quality JPEG's than what is in the "originals" folder. Aside from that, the file structure of iPhoto '08 is not something that I have time to decipher.
3. I also have recently aquired Aperture, should I just abandon iPhoto & manage everything out of Aperture from this point forward?
Loosing the extra drive space is getting expensive (I'm storing on a 2TB Lacie Biggest Quadra set at a 5+ hot swap RAID, so I'm only getting about 850GB to start with); at $950 a drive, this will soon break the bank.
Thanks for the input.

xx Shack xx
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
iPhoto's behaving exactly as expected. The oddity is because you're shooting RAW and jpeg. When you import a RAW iPhoto creates a jpeg preview of the file - hence the additional jpeg file.
1. Is there any easy way to prevent iPhoto '08 from doing this?
No, unless you change from shooting RAW and jpeg.
2. Is there any easy way to reverse this.
No.
I would take a chance on just deleting the files out of the "modified" folder, but these are better quality JPEG's than what is in the "originals" folder. Aside from that, the file structure of iPhoto '08 is not something that I have time to decipher.
*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* So, don't "take a chance", you'll just trash your library.
3. I also have recently aquired Aperture, should I just abandon iPhoto & manage everything out of Aperture from this point forward?
Aperture will do everything iPhoto does, and is much more geared for working with RAW than iPhoto. But it's quite a different app and takes some learning. That said, have a read of this thread on Aperture and shooting RAW and jpeg.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6868021&#6868021
For what it's worth, I would agree with William Lloyd there:
Aperture doesn't show you the JPEGs, as you have the RAW files. The only way to get access to the JPEGs is to do a "new version from master JPEG."
Really, with Aperture, shooting RAW+JPEG is a waste. Just shoot RAW. You can easily batch convert everything you want to JPEG and export it.
Regards
TD

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