Where do the image files go??

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Level 1

4 points

Where do the image files go??

I'm a fairly new Mac user. iPhoto frustrates me to no end and I've given up using it for the most part. I cannot figure out where to find the files.

Does the app need to be open for Image Capture to import images into the library? What happens if you import (using Image Capture) to iPhoto when it isn't open?

I just imported two images using Image Capture. (Why I tried to import to iPhoto I don't know. It was a moment of weakness.) I selected iPhoto as the destination and delete after importing. iPhoto wasn't open at the time. I selected Import All. The images were deleted from the card, but now I can't find them in iPhoto. I can't find them anywhere. Were they just deleted without importing? There was no warning that the import failed. Were they stored somewhere else? Where do I look to find them?

Is there a detailed book for idiots to learn how to use this app? The Help function is nearly useless to me. I just really really hate trying to use iPhoto.

Karen

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Apr 22, 2010 3:35 PM

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Answer 1

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 22, 2010 8:46 PM in response to Pottery 66

I'm a fairly new Mac user. iPhoto frustrates me to no end and I've given up using it for the most part. I cannot figure out where to find the files.

click here for a general discussion on safely and correctly access your photos.

Does the app need to be open for Image Capture to import images into the library?

No

What happens if you import (using Image Capture) to iPhoto when it isn't open?

Image capture does not import to iPhoto - it only imports to disk - if you want the photos in iPhoto them you need to either use iPhoto or use image capture and then import into iPhoto after image capture imports them to disk.

I just imported two images using Image Capture. (Why I tried to import to iPhoto I don't know. It was a moment of weakness.) I selected iPhoto as the destination and delete after importing.

You did not import into iPhoto - you places the photos inside the iPhoto library with out importing - that simply is incorrect and does not work

iPhoto wasn't open at the time. I selected Import All. The images were deleted from the card, but now I can't find them in iPhoto. I can't find them anywhere. Were they just deleted without importing? There was no warning that the import failed. Were they stored somewhere else? Where do I look to find them?

They are just where you (incorrectly) placed them - inside the iPhoto library but NOT imported into iPhoto - you can retrieve them by right clicking on the iPhoto library and choosing the show package contents option and going to where you told image capture to place the photos and drag them to the desktop - DO NOT MAKE ANY OTHER CHANGES or you will corrupt your iPhoto library and lose data)

Is there a detailed book for idiots to learn how to use this app?

Have you looked at the iPhoto tutorials? http://www.apple.com/findouthow/photos/

I just really really hate trying to use iPhoto.

Then don't - it is totally your choice

LN

Is there a detailed book for idiots to learn how to use this app? The Help function is nearly useless to me. I just really really hate trying to use iPhoto.

Karen

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Answer 2

Pottery 66 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 23, 2010 6:20 AM in response to LarryHN

I've tried using the tutorials but they unfortunately haven't helped answer my questions so I appreciate your help here.

If Image Capture isn't importing my photos into iPhoto then I don't understand why it is offering me the option of importing into iPhoto. When iPhoto is open, that option does import the photos into iPhoto, but it doesn't appear to import them if iPhoto isn't open.

The iPhoto Library.... where do I find that so I can try retrieving them as you suggested?

Thanks.
Karen

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 23, 2010 9:21 AM in response to Pottery 66

The iPhoto Library.... where do I find that so I can try retrieving them as you suggested?

In your pictures folder by default

LN

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Answer 4

Pottery 66 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 23, 2010 11:17 AM in response to LarryHN

LarryHN wrote:

The iPhoto Library.... where do I find that so I can try retrieving them as you suggested?

In your pictures folder by default

LN

You suggested "- you can retrieve them by right clicking on the iPhoto library and choosing the show package contents option and going to where you told image capture to place the photos and drag them to the desktop -"

Assuming the All Images folder in Finder is the default, there are no iPhoto subfolders in this folder nor are there any options when right clicking on All Images so I can't carry out your instrutions. There are a zillion images in this folder and I went through every one of them but the missing files are not there.

Also, to be clear, I told Image Capture to Import All to iPhoto _as per importing instructions_ in Image Capture's Help files (below).

" 4. *From the Import To pop-up menu, choose where to save the images.*

If you choose a folder, the images are saved in that folder. *If you choose an application, the images are opened in that application after they’re imported*. If you choose an action, that action is performed on the imported images.

5. To import only some of the photos, select those photos and click Import. *To import all the photos, click Import All*."

But apparently it is necessary for iPhoto to actually be open for Importing to work, although that isn't stated in the Help file.

If you have also selected the Delete After Importing option your images disappear, or choose their own location without warning or revealing the location. I have not yet identified a location. I checked Trash just in case Image Capture deletes to that location but the files are not there either although they were removed from the camera storage card.

I've lost quite a few images previously trying to import to iPhoto which is the major reason I've been hesitant to use it. If I can get these very basic things figured out I'd like to see if the program will work for me. It has some nifty features to explore, but without understanding the filing system it's like trying to grab a handful of smoke. Very frustrating.

Might there be any other locations Image Capture would place my images or do I just have to consider them lost?

FYI, version info, if relevant: Image Capture version 6.0.1 (428) and iPhoto '09 version 8.1.2 (424)

Karen

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 23, 2010 11:56 AM in response to Pottery 66

1 - I made NO mention of the all images search section (note this is NOT a folder but a listing of all of the images on your computer and should NOT be used in conjunction with iPhoto)

In your pictures folder by default

Your pictures folder is a folder listed under "places" in the finder source pane by default - that is the default location for the iPhoto library

2 - iPhoto is a database application and for it to see or use *photos they MUST be imported into the database which CAN ONLY be done by the iPhoto program.* Image capture (for the third time) ONLY IMPORTS PHOTOS to disk - image capture DOES NOT import photos into the iPhoto database and until the photos are imported into the iPhoto database using iPhoto you will not be able to access them using iPhoto.

LN

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Answer 6

Pottery 66 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 23, 2010 12:44 PM in response to LarryHN

OK, I think we're getting somewhere now! Under PLACES I have Desktop, Awaytome, Documents, and Applications.

Inside Awaytome I find a Pictures folder.

Inside the Pictures folder I see an iPhoto Library and a New Photo Library.

Am I in the right place at this point?

I can Show Package Contents on the photo folders.

But now I'm lost. There are eight folders and two iPhoto library icons and other files. I've looked in the folders but don't find the missing files. I don't find them in the library either. Is there something specific I need to look for?

Karen

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Answer 7

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 23, 2010 2:58 PM in response to Pottery 66

If your "Pictures" folder is now named "Awaytome" then someone has change the name - as I said I gave you the default instructions - I have no way to know what changes you have made

As to where - when you imported the photos to disk using image capture you put them somewhere - and once again I have no way of knowing where you put them - that "somewhere" is where you will find them and since you seems to believe you had placed them inside the iPhoto library I explained to you how to open it and get inside - and again do not make any changes except to drag the photos to the desktop

You also should be able to find them in the all images search - or using Spotlight - but again do not make changes to the content of the iPhoto library using either of those access methods

LN

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Answer 8

Pottery 66 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 23, 2010 4:22 PM in response to LarryHN

No, Awaytome is my computer's name. The folder contains the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library, Movies, Music, Pictures, Public and Sites files. This is the way the computer set itself up - I haven't changed or renamed any of this structure - and it looks just like the Finder sidebar (except for the computer name) shown in Apple's Finder tutorial so I don't think there is anything wrong with this.

I've found another discussion from a few weeks ago. Video files being imported to some program with Image Capture disappeared the same way my images disappeared. The files were ultimately found in a temporary cache Image Capture creates.

My images are not in All Images or the iPhoto library and I suspect they are stored in a temporary cache in the same way. I don't know how to locate the cache. Do you know where it might be?

Karen

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Answer 9

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 23, 2010 4:58 PM in response to Pottery 66

no - I do not (and do not use image capture much - I import directly into iPhoto - Old Toad uses image capture for all of his imports and then pre-processes them before importing into iphoto - he probably will pop in sometime later or in the morning)

LN

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Answer 10

Old Toad

Level 10

207,721 points

Apr 24, 2010 3:17 PM in response to Pottery 66

Hi:

I don't use IC for my imports but have one possible idea: While in the Finder use the Go->Go to Folder menu and enter "/volumes". See if there is anything in that folder other than alias to the various volumes you work with on a regular basis.

If you know the name of any of the files that are missing download and use Find Any File to search for it. FAF will search areas that Spotlight can't.

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