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Level 1

11 points

iphone 4 iOS 5 pics black in iPhoto but ok in Preview

Several of my recent photo's show up pure black in iphoto after import. The pics look fine in thumbnails of import window, but after import, they are black.

Pictures look fine on iphone.

I have imported the same exact pictures via Preview and they look great. Saved them in a folder and looked at the resulting high resolution picture without issue.

I did the normal stuff to repair iphoto database, repair permissions, etc.

I created a new iphoto database and imported...same issue.

I have been through many of the previous discussions, but none are exactly matching my description of being able to import via Preview ok and into a new library without issue.

Using iphone 4 with ios 5.0.1, mac mini with lion 10.7.2.

Thanks,

Phil

iPhone 4, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Jan 3, 2012 7:37 AM

56 replies

Jan 24, 2012 5:53 AM in response to forbca

I had this EXACT same problem with portrait-oriented video imported from my brand new iPhone 4S into iPhoto '11 running on Lion.

A restart of the MBP and reimporting the iPhone video into iPhoto solved the problem - the iPhone portrait video shows up and plays properly in iPhoto now.

Thanks for the tip, forbca!

Jan 29, 2012 1:28 PM in response to Phil Ruff

I also had this exact same problem (portrait-oriented photos), but these photos were imported from a Canon 500D. So, the problem seems to stem purely from iPhoto 11, not from the iPhone.

Just wanted to add this, in case it's helpful to someone else. Thanks for the tips in this thread.

toron

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2012 8:28 AM in response to Phil Ruff

I am also having the same issue. Tried the rebuild and photos are still black. Agree with only impacting portrait. Is there a solution to recover once imported? Unfortunately I erased the memory on my camera after importing. Hoping that photos aren't lost for good.

forbca

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2012 9:33 AM in response to toron

Hi Toron,

Have you tried the reboot "fix" yet? The originals that are in the iPhoto database are actually OK, go look at them in the Finder. If you haven't rebooted yet I suggest:

- reboot

- copy photos out of the iPhoto directories (either by hand in the Finder or Export)

- make double, triple sure you have the saved copy outside of iPhoto

- delete the black photos in the iPhoto application

- reimport them from the copy

This is what worked for me. Good luck

toron

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2012 5:52 PM in response to forbca

Worked! Thanks forbca.

- used finder in iphoto to locate originals and copied to another folder

- rebooted computer

- imported pics

Worked great! 🙂

Phil Ruff Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 31, 2012 6:07 PM in response to Old Toad

Old toad, I believe you should reconsider your advice here.

I can see ensuring that 'owner' has read and write, but i strongly disagree with setting 'executable' permission for a photo. I also strongly disagree to changing the permissions 'read and write and executable' for group and everyone.

Sorry, hate to argue with a level 10, but my previous life as a UNIX programmer is coming out. 😉

Phil Ruff Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 31, 2012 6:35 PM in response to toron

Toron,

I may have an easier for you, as long as there are not many pictures to fix.

This method preserves all albums and you stay with the confines of iphoto, as opposed to going behind the scenes, moving pics, re-importing, and re-copying to the appropriate albums. The downside to my proposal is that it can be time consuming if you have alot of pictures to fix.

I will give instructions in text and also have a short video clip to demonstrate:

Click on the photo
Click 'Edit'
Choose 'Rotate' - click 4 times
Click 'Photos' to return
Done

Here is the how-to(the 'insert video' icon in the reply window is greyed out, so had to use youtube):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QJ3v3EoOAc&noredirect=1

This has been reliable and repeatable for me.

Also, I have not run into the problem with new imports since I did the 'start iphoto with command-option, select all rebuild boxes, wait for iphoto to rebuild data base'...as stated above.

Do not use old toad's advice to set the permissions to wide-open read-write-execute.

Old Toad

Level 10

207,637 points

Feb 1, 2012 5:28 PM in response to Phil Ruff

Do not use old toad's advice to set the permissions to wide-open read-write-execute.

Just to be sure we're on the same page you are referring to "everyone", right?

I'm no Unix expert or even slightly knowledgeable about unix. I did it just to have max access to the library and all files there. I understand about using that in other files and folders but don't know what vulnerability that would have for importing and using imqge files. I certainly would like to know about that in regards to the iPhoto Library and where that could go wrong.

Phil Ruff Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 2, 2012 8:02 AM in response to Old Toad

Old toad, people see you as a level 10 and will follow you. They have no idea you are shooting from the hip and have no idea of the real reasons or even impacts of your advice.

You actions are blatently irresponsible and misuse the trust implied by a level 10 status.

Directly to your question....

Your advice set the executable bit for everything in the photo directly. This is a security threat. Worse, you set the everyone bits, so that any user on the system can now change, delete, execute anything in this photo directory. Files that are not supposed to be executable, are now executable, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesystem_permissions#Permissions

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,380 points

Feb 2, 2012 8:38 AM in response to Phil Ruff

Old Toad reached level 10 status for one reason only. A minumum of 8,500 people have found his advice to be useful in solving their issues with iphoto and other apps. He has spent many hours here helping people on this forum. He has misused no one's trust, at most he has made an error. Even if he has made an error - and lord knows we all do - he does not deserve to be hectored in the tone you use.

If you believe he has made an error, offer your correction and move on.

Old Toad

Level 10

207,637 points

Feb 2, 2012 11:20 AM in response to Phil Ruff

I understand and can change the tip. Anywhere else, absolutiely, but I just don't know what executible files could be in an iPhoto Library, that's all. And I appreciate the info.

Phil Ruff Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 2, 2012 11:31 AM in response to Yer_Man

Ok, I do have tremendous respect for the selfless and tireless hours that old toad has worked to get to level 10, and contibutions to the apple community.

Old Toad, I apologize if you where offended by my comments.

To the specifc point of this thread, old toad, please remove your incorrect advice and all is good.

Old Toad

Level 10

207,637 points

Feb 2, 2012 11:44 AM in response to Phil Ruff

No harm no foul. Don't need to remove it cause our discussion has make the point clear to the OP.

3rdparty

Level 1

4 points

Mar 18, 2012 11:31 AM in response to forbca

Rebooting also works for me but then I have to re-import the photos for them to display properly in iPhoto.

I'd like to know what is causing the issue in the first place so I don't have to reboot my computer whenever I want photos to import properly to iPhoto...

forbca

Level 1

0 points

Mar 18, 2012 11:40 AM in response to 3rdparty

Yes reboot and reimport. We never had to reboot again though. All further pictures imported normally for us. For us I think an iPhoto update triggered the problem. So maybe the update installer left iPhoto in a strange state. Thanks!

iphone 4 iOS 5 pics black in iPhoto but ok in Preview