how to import Photoshop files into iPhoto?

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Level 2

221 points

how to import Photoshop files into iPhoto?

I'm just starting to use iPhoto 6 and my picture collection is mainly in Photoshop (v7) format. Is there any easy way to import them into iPhoto or do I need to figure out a way to batch-convert everything to JPG first? I hope not - the images are in a nested folder tree with many different depth branches... If that's the way, does anyone know of a batch convert utility that can follow subfolders recursively?

Mike

G5, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Mar 3, 2006 3:53 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Mar 3, 2006 7:31 PM in response to Michael Levin

iPhoto will import psd files just as it will jpgs. I use PS as my editor or choice and it works with iPhoto just fine.

You can also use PS from within iPhoto to edit in leu of iPhoto's editing tools or in conjunction with. If you want to just use PS go into iPhoto's General Preferences pane and select PS under the Edit with: menu. Then when you double click on a thumbnail, PS will open that file. The once caveat is that if you edit a jpg file and create a layered file or do an edit that requires you to save the file with the psd extension you must save the file to the desktop and re-import as a new file. If the file already has the psd extension you can edit and do a normal save as without problem.

If you want to use both iPhoto's tools and PS, just go back into the preferences and select Main window instead of PS. Then you can Control-click on a thumbnail and select Edit in external editor from the contextual menu to use PS.

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Answer 2

Michael Levin Author

Level 2

221 points

Mar 4, 2006 3:35 AM in response to Old Toad

iPhoto will import psd files just as it will jpgs. I
use PS as my editor or choice and it works with
iPhoto just fine.

weird - when I try to Open those photos, it grays out a lot of them in the file list. I have files of type "Adobe Photoshop File" and all of those are grayed out; I have files of type "Adobe Photoshop JPEG File", and about half of those are grayed out. Why won't this thing let me import them? I don't see any particular difference between the files.

Mike

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Mar 4, 2006 9:20 AM in response to Michael Levin

Mike:

Locate one of them in the Originals folder and check out the ownership and permissions on it. Try resetting the ownership and permissions on the entire iPhoto Library folder as follows:

Setting Permissions for iPhoto Library Folder

1 - Select the iPhoto Library folder and type Command-I.
2 - When the Info window comes up go to the Ownership and Permissions section and make sure You have Read & Write permission and that the Owner and Group have Read & Write also. Others - Read Only.
3 - Then click on the "Apply to enclosed items..." button.

Just in case also do a batch "unlock" according to this Apple KB document: iPhoto 6: "Unable to upgrade this photo library" message. Although you've upgraded your library OK this just unlocks any file that may have gotten locked somehow. Just a precaution.

For those that you can't import select one and bring up the Info window, type Command-I. The in the Default Application section select Preview as the default application and click on the Apply to all... button. See if that helps.

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