where does iPhoto save imported files???? how do you "save"?

By default, your Photos are stored in the iPhoto Library which is in your Pictures Folder. With 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.

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.

1. How to back up: Simply make a copy of the iPhoto Library on another disk. Or use the iPhoto Share -> Burn command to burn to CD or DVD. For Incremental back ups use any back up utility that understands the package file such as Time Machine, Chronosync, DejaVu. There are several hundred other possibilities. Search on MacUpdate.

2. Top access Photos and Movies that are in iPhoto for use in iMovie: Use the Media Browser built-in to iMovie. It’s on the right hand side of the iMovie window - click on the Camera Icon.

also: after editing a photo in iMovie, how do you "save" it?

For iMovie, best ask that question on the iMovie forum. In iPhoto it’s saved automatically when you click done.

Just some FYI

There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:

*For Users of 10.5 Only*

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.



You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:



*For users of 10.4 and 10.5* ...

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*:

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.

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.

Regards

TD

Chris

You’ve a bit of a learning curve ahead of you as you obviously haven’t really understood iPhoto, what it is and how it works. You could do yourself a favour and have a look at the tutorials at http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#iphoto

To specific cases:

When you press "done" it doesn't save it (find the photo in its original file and open it with Preview, you'll see it hasn't been saved).

Yes, but it has! You see iPhoto will always preserve your Original file. So when you make edits it carries out these on copy of the file. You can see this in the iPhoto Window. There is no way to make iPhoto edit the original file.

I have opted for iPhoto not to duplicate my photos and keep its own library (to me that doesn't make any sense, my photos are about 15GB, I wouldn't want them to turn into 30GB for no reason!),

1. The best solution for that it to allow iPhoto to copy the files into the Library and then remove your own copies.

2. When you go to iPhoto Menu -> Preferences -> Advanced and uncheck 'Copy Files to the iPhoto Library on Import', you are running what is called a Referenced Library. In a Referenced Library iPhoto will not copy the files on import, but rather simply reference them on your HD. To do this

it will create an alias in the Originals Folder that points to your file.
It will still create a thumbnail and,
if you modify the pics, a Modified version within the iPhoto Library Folder.

However, you need to be aware of a number of potential pitfalls using this system.

1. Importing and deleting pics are more complex procedures
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them on systems prior to 10.5 and iPhoto 08. Even with the later versions issues can still arise if you move the referenced files to new volumes or between volumes.
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.

Always allowing for personal preference, I've yet to see a good reason to run iPhoto in referenced mode unless you're using two photo organisers.

If disk space is an issue, you can run an entire iPhoto Library from an external disk:

1. Quit iPhoto

2. Copy the iPhoto Library 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.

If you're concerned about accessing the files, there are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:

*For Users of 10.5 Only*

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.



You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:



*For users of 10.4 and 10.5* ...

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*:

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.

so the problem still exists, why doesn't it save new photos in my pictures folder?

Because you told it not to. When you run a Referenced Library +you are responsible for File Management+. Remember that bit above where I said

1. Importing and deleting pics are more complex procedures

You need to put the files where you want them, then import them to iPhoto. Iphoto has no control over any file outside the Library Package. So when it comes to deleting things you’ll need to remove the pics from iPhoto and then go and root them out from your folder structure by hand.

None of this is the case if you run a Managed Library.

or ask me where to save them?

Because that’s not what it does. Check out Image Capture for that.

I'm worried that if I now let it save all my new photos to its iPhoto library (which is basically a virtual library as I understand it)

What do you mean by a “virtual library”?

and in a year's time I change laptops I run the risk of loosing photos as I won't know which photos are were (now I can do a back up to an external drive simply by copying the folders I choose from the pictures folder.

If you run a Managed Library then backing up and migrating are both very simple. You simply back up the iPhoto Library or move it as the case may be. There are many, many back up utilities that will do incremental back ups if the Library: Time Machine, DejaVu Chronosync are several but there are a hundred more. Search on MacUpdate.

If you run a Referenced Library you must +back up the Originals and the iPhoto Library+ (to get your Albums, Modified Versions and so on). Migrating rto a new machine is a bear too, as you cannot allow the path to the files to alter. (See my pitfall no. 3 above.

Worst of all: a mixed Managed/Referenced Library: a recipe for data loss.

My strongest advice to you is to start over with iPhoto. Create a new Library: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library' and import 100 pics into it and explore it for a week or two. Get to know the ins and outs a bit and se how it works. Then decide if it’s the right app for you. By all means post back if you need more info.

Regards

TD

So it doesn't really save it...
Why would you want to make changes to the copy of the file?? If you work on 200 images and you then want to send them to someone else, say they're using a PC, you'd have to do it all over again!

Yes, well I see you really still don’t get it. Now you may choose to re-edit the 200 pics. Me, I would +just send them the edited version+ which would seem to be a bit faster, no?

with regards to deleting and modifying, of course I want to be able to delete a photo if I want from within the program I'm using (in this case iPhoto) or from out of it.

No you don’t get to choose. Iphoto is a Database application, and like any DB it requires that you manipulate the data via the application itself, not through various back doors. It comes down to whether you manage the files - which is more work for you - or let the app do it. If you let the app do it, then deleting is a one step process. If you do it then it’s multi-step.

if I go to my pictures folder because I decided to delete a whole folder, iPhoto seems to linger on to it and show you the image with a pop up box that says "photo can't be found" or something like that

This is a prime example of what happens to any DB when you manipulate the data outside of the app.

You seem to mistake iPhoto for something else - a file browser or something else. It’s a Photo Organiser. The point is to access, organise, edit and use your Photos without reference to your files.

And when editing it really doesn't save the photo at all. if you save it and then close iPhoto and let's say you open yahoo on your browser to send it as an attachment (because you don't want to use the mail client) then the photo you're attaching is not the one you saved.

Obviously you didn’t read my answer above. And any of the dozen ways described above will access the modified version of the pic.

The way around this I found is to "export" the photo at its original location and thus replace the original. It's just the long way round. I could do it but I'm thinking if I have a new event of 50 pics I'll get tired of doing this manually!

But why on earth would you do that? There is utterly no need to.

Regards

TD

It’s certainly a “glossy” way to store, organise, share and - yes - edit your pics as permanently as Photoshop too. The information is all there.

Regards

TD

It's taken this twelve year Window user quite some time to get my head around this, but I think the discussion above finally helped me come up with an analogy. Say you're a professional photog, and you have all these important photos. You use iPhoto to manage them, and iPhoto manages the copies it stores when you import them...but *the files you imported*, they are NEVER touched. So make what mistakes you will, you will always have your original work. This works for me, because I remember importing csv files into databases. If the database got whacked, my csv file was untouched. I could restore the database, and then try importing the csv file again while being a bit more careful with what was happenning in the working database. And the key for anyone wishing to bring their edited photos out of iPhoto, and back into to the "file" world, is to either export them or drag them out to the desktop. Is that mostly right?

Message was edited by: DBoy

Chris, I'm right there with you. I don't understand iPhoto and I fear iPhoto will iKill all my pictures because they're in this iPhoto "folder" that "looks" a iPhoto file. Yeah right. Knowing the ultimate failure of computers and their software, iPhoto will inevitably fail and take all of my pictures and movies with it.

I don't see my Logic Pro trying to throw everything in one giant "Logic Pro" folder. Those are all FILES which can be opened up in Logic Pro or can be opened up individually (except for the lso files obviously).

Too bad these inventors couldn't just make all my pictures and movies FILES which could be opened up in iPhoto like they are with every other application.

If I can turn on and off this iPhoto that supposedly a folder that looks like a file and actually SEE that they are files kept on my computer and not just run through an iPhoto (which will fail and kill all of my pictures, yes this will happen) then I'll feel a bit safer using this program.

If I can turn on and off this iPhoto that supposedly a folder that looks like a file and actually SEE that they are files kept on my computer and not just run through an iPhoto (which will fail and kill all of my pictures, yes this will happen) then I'll feel a bit safer using this program.

1 - in seeing and helping thousands upon thousands of users I have not seen a single photos lost by iPhoto

2 - yes - hardware and software will fail and IF you do NOT have backups your will lose your data

3 - the iPhoto library is not one big file - it is a package - a special kind of folder - that contains hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of files - and you can simply see inside it at anytime by right clicking (control clicking) on it and selecting show package contents - however if you make any changes of any sort you may corrupt the library and lose data so it is recommended that you do not make a habit of doing this

4 - if you do not want the extreme power that iPhoto gives you as a database application then certainly you should not use it

5 - using iPhoto in a managed library environment, in my experience, makes it less likely that you will lose photos and makes it easier to backup so when you do have a catastrophic hardware or software failure you are safe because everything is backed up

LN

I don't understand iPhoto and I fear iPhoto will iKill all my pictures because they're in this iPhoto "folder" that "looks" a iPhoto file. Yeah right.

Best not to use it then. That said, your photos are stored in the Finder just like all the other files. Want to visit with them? Go to the Library in your Pictures Folder and right click on it. From the resulting menu choose 'Show Package Contents' and a Finder Window will open with the Library exposed. Standard Warning: 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.

Knowing the ultimate failure of computers and their software, iPhoto will inevitably fail and take all of my pictures and movies with it.

That's why we back up, no? iPhoto is no more likely to fail than any other app you use.

I don't see my Logic Pro trying to throw everything in one giant "Logic Pro" folder. Those are all FILES which can be opened up in Logic Pro or can be opened up individually (except for the lso files obviously).

That would be because Logic Pro is not a database.

Too bad these inventors couldn't just make all my pictures and movies FILES which could be opened up in iPhoto like they are with every other application.

There are - literally - hundreds of Photo Viewers out there - search on MacUpdate - and they will work as you want. Why do you think that iPhoto should only be a Photo Viewer?

If I can turn on and off this iPhoto that supposedly a folder that looks like a file and actually SEE that they are files kept on my computer and not just run through an iPhoto (which will fail and kill all of my pictures, yes this will happen) then I'll feel a bit safer using this program.

How about, just don't use it? It doesn't work the way you prefer, so keep it simple and use an app that does.

Regards

TD

Okay, I'm somewhat convinced:

So let's say I want to transfer my pictures. If I move iPhoto to a external USB port, will I be able to open those pictures and movies on ANY computer, or does it HAVE to be a MAC computer that has the same updated iPhoto as the one that contains my pictures?

.

{quote:title=Terence wrote:}"That's why we back up, no? iPhoto is no more likely to fail than any other app you use."{quote}

Can I back up without making all my pictures and videos STUCK in iPhoto? What if this iPhoto file becomes corrupt and just can't open up anymore. How do I extract me pictures and videos then?

{quote:title=Terence wrote:}"1. How to back up: Simply make a copy of the iPhoto Library on another disk.{quote}

What is iPhoto Library? Is that the file disguised as a folder? Or is this something else?

Logic Pro quits and truncates my projects ALL THE TIME. How do I know iPhoto won't freak out and lose a batch of my pictures too?