using iPhoto or Image Capture to download photos

Hi, William. If it turns out that iPhoto doesn't recognize the camera and offer to import the pictures directly from it, then yes, you can use Image Capture to copy them to a folder on your hard drive and then import them into iPhoto from there.

Note that some proprietary RAW formats are not recognized by iPhoto, so if you plan to shoot in RAW format, you'll want to verify that the camera's RAW format is supported.

William:

Which Canon camera are your looking at? All of the Canons that that shoot RAW formate and are compatible are listed here. All the other Canons are compatible.

IMO it's best to use a card reader and manually import to a folder on the desktop first and then import the folder into iPhoto. You can name the folder with identification of the photos inside and the resulting Event will have the same name. The delete the folder from the desktop and have the camera reformat the card for the next shoot. This saves wear and tear on the camera's port and battery and will avoid the potential upload cancellation due to low battery which can damage the library.

You can do the same thing without a card reader with Image Capture. Whatever you do, DO NOT let iPhoto delete the photos from the memory cards. Too many incomplete or aborted imports and complete deletions reported.

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. 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.

William

The RAW format on the XSi is not supported yet. Jpegs should be perfectly fine.

Regards

TD

iPhoto uses ImageCapture behind the scenes to import, so I am sure that the new Xsi is compatible - I have had no problems with my XT.

However, the RAW format for the Xsi is not currently supported for the Apple Apps (iPhoto and Aperture) - but it should be RSN.

Unzip it, put it in the Applications folder and drag to the dock. As long as your library is named "iPhoto Library" and located in your Pictures folder all you need to do is click on the dock icon and it will make a backup copy of the database file, Library6.iPhoto, in the Pictures folder.

If you ever get an interruption while iPhoto is writing to the database file and you get an "empty" library when you next open iPhoto just move the orange labeled backup copy of the file into the iPhto Library package, replacing the damaged version. Be sure to use the application frequently, after every import or after any work in the library on books, keywords, etc.

OT

You did download the backup application for iPhoto 6 and 7, right? And your library is located in the Pictures folder and named iPhoto Library? If not then you will have to edit the application in iPhoto as indicated in the Read Me file to look inside the library wherever it may be located and whatever it is named for the Library6.iPhoto file.

What do you see when you launch the application? You should see the upper window shown below:



After the backup is complete you should see the lower window.

OT

I'm perplexed. Open the application with Automator and see if the Library6.iPhoto entry has the correct path to the actual file. To open it with automator just drag the application onto the Automator icon in the Applications folder.

As far as being inactive, you do need Tiger (which you have) or Leopard for it to work.

Try downloading the application in a disk image from this link, open the disk image, copy the application to the desktop and launch it. See if you can get that to work.

OT