When batch-resizing files original date is replaced by a new 'created date'

Question

Hi,
My camera takes all of its photos at quite a high resolution, with most pictures taking up 2mb of space each. Having about 5000-6000 pictures has taken up quite a lot of my memory. I now want to try and convert all of these pictures so that they are slightly smaller in size (maybe 1mb - so that I can still print them if necessary). I have managed to do this using Automator, but unfortunately all the files have a new 'created date'. Is there a way that I can convert all of these photos, but leave the date they were taken, so that when I import them into iPhoto they remain in the correct order.
On another note. My iPhoto has been running quite slowly -

Answer 1

Matt
Having 6,000 2 mb files uses no memory whatever, but does take up storage space.
iPhoto does not take into account the notion that users will want to downgrade their photo collections, in fact it preserves the Original File at pretty much all costs. So the only way to do what you're trying to do is to select the pics in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. In the resulting window you will have the option to resize the pics. Then complete the export to a folder on the desktop.
Then trash the photos from iPhoto. (Put them in the iPhoto trash, and empty it.)
Then import the downgraded pics from the desktop.
Remember that doing this will cost you the ability to revert to original versions of edited pics, and that further editing will result in significantly reduced quality.
A better option might be to purchase a frewire ot usb2 drive and run your iPhoto library from there.
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library Folder 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.
Regards
TD