I modified a photo and iphoto won't import it to my library because it says it's already there. But the modified photo is NOT there. What can I do?

Did the edited version have the same file name as the orignal? That's probably why it indicated that it was already in the library. But you don't need to save the editied version outside of the library and import. Did you have Elements setup to work from within iPhoto.

Here's how to use PS Elements from inside iPhoto:

Using Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.

1 - select Photoshop as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.

2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done. 3 - however, if you get the navigation window

Click to view full size

that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.

This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..

NOTE: With Photoshop Elements 9 the Saving File preferences should be configured as shown:

I also suggest the Maximize PSD File Compatabilty be set to Always. In PSE’s General preference pane set the Color Picker to Apple as shown:

Click to view full size

NOTE: If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and PS without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected PS as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". That will let you either edit in iPhoto (double click on the thumbnail) or in PS (Control-click on the thumbnail and seledt "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu). This way you get the best of both worlds.

OT

To have each edit by PS to be a separate file and in the same roll you will have to save the edited version to the Desktop and import as a new file. That will, as you have learned, come in a new roll and will have to be moved to the roll you wnat it in. That's just the nature of the beast.

What version of iPhoto are you using? Can you click on the Library icon at the top and then drag the one roll or event onto the other to combine/merge them?

Make sure you have the Helvetica Neue font installed. Open the Font Book application and look for that font. If you find it select it and deactivate. Then re-activate it. Launch iPhoto and try selecting and dragging a photo again.

iPhoto uses that font to indicate how many photos have been selected and are being dragged.

If that font is missing or deactivated iPhoto won't let you drag photos anywhere.