Every time I import pictures to iPhoto, my vertical pictures are black. Is there something I can do to remedy this, or is Apple working on fixing it?

Option 1

Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.

If that fails:

Option 2

Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.

Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .

Regards

TD

Is there a reason for this happening? Mine has been working fine until yesterday. Same camera, memory card, etc, but suddenly the vertical shots are black. I'd rather not have to rebuild the whole library if I can avoid it, especially if we don't know the cause of the issue yet.

Sure. Database corruption. Hence the solution is the rebuild the database

LN

I did both things suggested as well as using other option said in a previous question. None of them work.

Create a new account (systempreferences -> accounts or Users & Groups on 10.7) and see if the problem is repeated there. If it is, then a re-install of the app might be indicated. If it's not, then it's likely the app is okay and the problem is something in the main account.

Regards

TD

I am not sure why this started happening but I do have a workaround. If you open the photo and click edit you should be able to see it. rotate it then click edit again to let it save. now open it back up in edit again rotate back to the way you want and it should display correctly.

Instead of creating new users or rebuilding databases, here's a quick and easy non-destructive workaround (must be applied to all freshly imported portrait-orientation pictures).

1. Select all the black portrait-orientation photos.

2. Photos menu > Rotate (command-R).

3. Photos menu > Revert to original – and confirm in the alert dialog that pops up.

That should tide us by until the fix eventually shows up.

Note that the problem occurs only with 3:2 aspect ratio photos (from DSLRs), not the 4:3 aspect ratio iPhone photos.

I had the same problem. I tried every bit of advise above, but unfortunately nothing worked for me until I stumbled upon a seemingly unrelated article. For this, I'm going to hope and assume that you have backed up your photos somewhere.

The trick is storing your photos outside of the iPhoto library.

If they're not already, transfer your photos to your Mac's Photo folder (in Finder). Once transfered, this is the point where you should organize your photos if you need to.

At this point, you should either delete the corrupted photo folders in iPhoto or create another library in iPhoto, so you dont create duplicates of all your pics. Once that's done,

Open iPhoto. Go to Preferences > Advanced > and uncheck the first check box "Copy items to the iPhoto library"

Unchecking this box lets iPhoto reference the photos on your computer, but not transfer them iPhoto, which is where the problem is.

You can now go to Import Library, and begin "importing" to iPhoto.

A further explanation, as well as other helpful tips can be found in the article at:

http://www.macworld.com/article/1143828/referenced_library.html

Good luck!

You really, really don't want to do that. No really. Running a Referenced Library adds more work and gets you no extra benefit at all - none whatever - and has several very significant pitfalls.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0

for more on those.

It also has nothing - zero - to do with the issue at hand in this thread

Regards

TD

Yes, this is good way!!! Many thanx!

Instead of creating new users or rebuilding databases, here's a quick and easy non-destructive workaround (must be applied to all freshly imported portrait-orientation pictures).

1. Select all the black portrait-orientation photos.

2. Photos menu > Rotate (command-R).

3. Photos menu > Revert to original – and confirm in the alert dialog that pops up.

That should tide us by until the fix eventually shows up.

Note that the problem occurs only with 3:2 aspect ratio photos (from DSLRs), not the 4:3 aspect ratio iPhone photos.

This worked for me. Thanks!

This worked for me too - but why the heck do I have to go through these shenanigans? Shouldn't iPhoto just work - like it has done for me for years?

drewfromca wrote:

Instead of creating new users or rebuilding databases, here's a quick and easy non-destructive workaround (must be applied to all freshly imported portrait-orientation pictures).

1. Select all the black portrait-orientation photos.

2. Photos menu > Rotate (command-R).

3. Photos menu > Revert to original – and confirm in the alert dialog that pops up.

That should tide us by until the fix eventually shows up.

Note that the problem occurs only with 3:2 aspect ratio photos (from DSLRs), not the 4:3 aspect ratio iPhone photos.

This worked for me. Thanks!

This worked for me - great fix!

Latest iphoto update does not fix this issue. Please send feedback to Apple via iphoto.

Thanks this worked for me too!