iPhoto '11 folder and trash question.

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iPhoto '11 folder and trash question.

Hey everyone,

I tried to look, but could not find an answer to this question. I'll try and be quick.

My question is this:

When I move a photo or even to the iphoto trash, does that delete any remains of the photo after I empty the iphoto trash?

I ask because of what happened when I deleted duplicate photos using the Finder and not through iPhoto. Here is what I did:

The first time I opened iPhoto it asked me to import photos. I chose to import from MacHD>>>myUserName>>>Pictures.

After I did that, I noticed I had a bunch of duplicates from different folders within the Pictures folder.

I deleted some of these photos and a few of the folders using the Finder and moving them to the System Trash, then I emptied the System Trash.

When I opened iPhoto '11 back up, the Events and photos that I delete through the Finder were still in iPhoto.

Does this mean that when I import photos in iPhoto, the application creates it own "copy" of each photo? If so, if I delete a photo through iPhoto will it not remove it from the folder that I imported it from?

Thanks for the help and sorry if I missed this somewhere.

iPhoto '11, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Apr 27, 2012 10:10 AM

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Answer 1

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LarryHN

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106,110 points

Apr 27, 2012 11:01 AM in response to brucey_b

Primary Rule of iPhoto - iPhoto is a SQL database program and you must NEVER make any changes of any sort to the structure or content of the iPhoto library using the finder or any other program except iPhoto!

By default (and very stongly recommended) iPhoto copies imported photos into the iPhoto library and you can delete the source from outside the iPhoto library. this is called default "managed" library (the iPhoto preference to "copy imported items to the iPhoto library is in its checked state). When you delete a photo from an event in iPhoto, empty the iPhotio trash and empty the system trash then that photo and everything about it is gone form your system. iPhoto never touches any photo outside of its library so you must manage any photos that you have anywhere else.

LN

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Answer 2

brucey_b Author

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Apr 27, 2012 11:54 AM in response to LarryHN

Thanks for the response Larry!

Just to clarify your statements, you said that iPhoto "copies" the photos that I import. So are there 2 copies of the original photo? That doesn't seem correct because it would take up so much hard drive space. Does it then just "point" to the original copy?

Thanks again for your time.

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 27, 2012 12:08 PM in response to brucey_b

By default (and very stongly recommended) iPhoto copies imported photos into the iPhoto library and you can delete the source from outside the iPhoto library.

I'm not sure how this is not clear

By default (and VERY STRONGLY recommended) iPhoto COPIES the photo to the iPhoto database when you import photos.

There are no duplicated because once you have imported it you delete the source photo - hence the only copy is the original within the iPhoto database which you can get out at any time if you want

iPhoto does have a referenced mode where it points to the photos in their original location -- This is VERY STRONGLY NOT recommended - it is extremely troublsome - it requires that yiu never change the path to the original photos which makes upgrading hardware or replacing defective hardware very difficult - it also makes importing deleting photos more complicated - You should not consider it unless you are a very experianced iPhoto user and know how to Hack SQL databased to overcome problems

LN

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Answer 4

brucey_b Author

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Apr 27, 2012 12:35 PM in response to LarryHN

Ok, maybe were not on the same page.

I just deleted my entire iPhoto library. Emptied the iPhoto Trash, which moved my iPhoto library to the System Trash. Then I emptied the System Trash.

I went back through the Finder and the original folders with all the original photos were still there. No deletion of anything. iPhoto must make a copy and store it in the "iPhoto library".

Just to be clear, the original photos came to exist on my Macbook because I imported them from an external drive. Basically, drag and drop onto the hard drive. I did not import onto the Mac using iPhoto. That might be the difference.

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 27, 2012 1:08 PM in response to brucey_b

You are asking about how iPhoto operates

That is simple and clear

By default (and very stongly recommended) iPhoto copies imported photos into the iPhoto library and you can delete the source from outside the iPhoto library.

There are no duplicated photos because once you have imported it you delete the source photo - hence the only copy is the original within the iPhoto database which you can get out at any time if you want

iPhoto never touches any photo outside of its library so you must manage any photos that you have anywhere else.

That is the way iPhoto operates and is totally consistant with your observations

And as stated several times by default and strongly recommended iPhoto copies every imported photo to the iPhoto batabase and then you can do what you want with the source photo including deleting (the normal action) it - nothing you do will affect iPhoto as long as you leave the contents of the iPhoto library alone and nothing iPhoto does will affect any photo or file outside of the iPhoto library

Hope this is clear

If it is not please reread unil it is

LN

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Answer 6

brucey_b Author

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Apr 27, 2012 1:12 PM in response to LarryHN

Got it. Thanks.

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