How to locate iPhoto files via Finder

Right click on iPhoto Library Icon and select show package contents

Richard Harvey1 wrote:
I have just bought a new iMac which has iPhoto 09 (v. 8.1.1) installed. When I attempt to navigate via the finder into the iPhoto Library to view the folders and files for pics imported into iPhoto, I am not allowed to see those sub-folders and pic files. If I do a Find search, I can see and open the files, but I cannot do this by navigating through the Finder. I need to be able to do this in order to do online photo ordering from third party vendors (such as Wal Mart).

I don't understand why you need to do that via finder for any kind of online ordering. there is normally no need to open iphoto library in finder. it's possible but quite unnecessary. please clarify why you think you need to do this.

How can I made it possible to see all the subo-folders and files in the iPhoto Library?

iPhoto is a database program which tracks many aspects of your pictures. If you screw around with the real photos, move them around, delete them from Finder, then you are in for a bag of hurt. All work with your photos needs to be done from within the iPhoto program or you will damage the database.

Apple specifically changed the type of folder that iPhoto uses to stop people from trashing their collections by accident. iPhoto needs to track the photos to be able to provide the different Library sorting methods on the top left corner of the program's window and any albums you've made in the list below the Library. Moving them in finder instead of iPhoto will corrupt the data that iPhoto is tracking.

Meanwhile, there are a couple of ways to prepare photos for upload to an online print service.

One way is to flag the pictures you want to upload, then go to the "Flagged" menu filter so that you see only those pictures. Now you drag the photos onto a folder icon on your desktop and iPhoto will copy those pictures to the folder. This is pretty simple and doesn't disturb any of the files that iPhoto is tracking. Delete the folder of photos after you have uploaded them to the online service (they are just duplicates).

Another way to see your photos in Finder is to just right-click on one of them, then choose the "Show File" selection in the pop-up menu. Be careful to not disturb the photo by moving it. You can then option-drag the photo to the desktop and Finder will make a copy.

If my instructions don't make sense, then it would be a great idea to make sure you have a backup of the iPhoto library file before you disturb it.

if you use safari then you should be able to upload straight from the iphoto library. it should appear in the sidebar as a choice in the upload dialog. same with firefox.

Message was edited by: V.K.

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

*For Users of 10.5 and later*

You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.



(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)


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



*For users of 10.4 and later* ...

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*:

For users of 10.6 and later:
You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu. Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.

For Users of 10.4 and later:
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.

Regards

TD