Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Where are photos stored in iPhoto?

I know this must sound like the same question over and over, but the answers are confusing. All I want to do is be able to select a photo iPhoto has stored and open in with PhotoShop Elements. How do you find where the photos are stored in iPhoto?

MacBookPro 2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.4), Imac G5

Posted on Jul 6, 2008 7:59 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jul 6, 2008 8:08 PM

Paul

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.

Otherwise

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

For 10.5 users: 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.

User uploaded file
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!



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. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS

If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto. With 10.5 you can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:

User uploaded file
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!




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.

Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS

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.

Regards

TD
4 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jul 6, 2008 8:08 PM in response to Paul Hain

Paul

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.

Otherwise

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

For 10.5 users: 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.

User uploaded file
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!



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. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS

If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto. With 10.5 you can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:

User uploaded file
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!




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.

Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS

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.

Regards

TD

Aug 17, 2008 8:27 PM in response to Paul Hain

I had the same question. You used to go to the Pictures folder and there were files there that held all the photos you had in iPhoto. They are there but are hidden.
Open Finder
Go to your user folder
Open Pictures
Right Click on iPhoto Library
Choose Show Package Contents
Open the Data folder

If you are going to edit your photos, I would not keep them in iPhoto, edit them in another program as a jpg and then save them back to iPhoto as a jpg. Every time you mess with a photo and save it as a jpg - you lose information. iPhoto is great for storing jpgs and sharing photos. If you want to play with photos - save them in a lossless format. That way the integrity is not lost.

Aug 17, 2008 9:44 PM in response to Tismeinaz

Tismeinaz - I have requested that your post be removed by a host as it is incorrect

first the Data folder that you recommend people use contains very low resolution thumbnails and starting with them to edit will produce extremely poor results

Second since iPhoto provides non destructive editing there is no loss due to multiple editing

Third it is highly recommended that people do not mess with the contents of their iPhoto library - doing so risks corruption and data loss

fourth you should never save anything into the iPhoto library (see #3 above)

LN

Aug 17, 2008 10:13 PM in response to LarryHN

Excuse me, I meant the originals folder. Please tell me what is the difference in opening iPhoto and telling it to open a photo in Photoshop to edit or having Photoshop go directly to the folder where the picture is? The picture saves back to the iPhoto library after you have edited it in Photoshop. Seems like extra steps to me. What am I missing here?
Secondly, if you are going to edit the photo in another program - if that program does not do lossless jpg editing - you will lose information.

Where are photos stored in iPhoto?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.