Where is the iPhoto library folder?

Directly accessing the iPhoto Library from the Finder is not supported, nor has it been on any version of iPhoto.

The First of these is what you want:

There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.

(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)

You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:

There's a similar option in Outlook and many, many other apps. If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.

If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.

If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running:

For users of 10.6 and later: You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu.

Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.

For Users of 10.4 and 10.5 Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser

Other options include:

Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.

File -> Export: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.

Show File: a. On iPhoto 09 and earlier: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected. 3.b.

b: On iPhoto 11 and later: Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Reveal in Finder -> Original. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.

"Directly accessing the iPhoto Library from the Finder is not supported, nor has it been on any version of iPhoto."

Sure it is. Users->Pictures->iPhoto Library (or wherever you keep your iPhoto Library) then right click on the iPhoto LIbrary and select Show Package Contents.

But to grab a handful of pictures, the method that Terence mentioned, using the Photo Browser is easier.

If you need more than that, exporting them directly from iPhoto would be a better way, depending on how your photos are organized.

What part of "not supported" is unclear?

How is "Show Package Contents" unsupported?

SImple - it is not a supported way to access your iPhoto photos

It is possible but is not supported -and additionally is dangerous and often leads to losing photos

LN

Very well. I was just going by the iPhoto '11 Library support article which tells you how to get there. It does give a Warning that "Altering" the contents of this package "Could" cause issues. But that's it.

And going directly into the library makes if difficult to get the correct version of the photo and you do not get metadata - again of course yu can do unsupported things but it is not a good idea and is not recommended

LN

if you click on iphoto and click show package contents there will be a folder labeled originals all your photos should be there

@elyseinwonderlandd

Did you even read this thread? Yes you can do that

BUT

It is DANGEROUS and is unsupported and there is no reason to do it - and lots of reasons not to

If you are going to suggest extremely dangerous, unsupported actions that can cause users to lose their photos then you must include the warnings along with your recomendation - you do what you want, no one cares - but when you make recommendations to other users you need to suggest supproted methods and give warnings about the potential conquences of unsupporte actions

And to revive a months old thread by giving poor advice is especially bad form

LN

TD,

Thanks for the detailed post. I can't get that first window - my side bar doesn't show the "Media" sub category. I can get to the Iphoto library using Browse photos in the mail option. Any suggestions on how to get "Media" to show up on the side bar?

Thanks, DR

that is not a finder window

it is part of every open/attach/browse window as noted

You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.

LN

Larry,

I don't understand your answer. I don't see "Media" in the side bar as pictured in the Devlin post. Can you give specific instructions on how to get to the window pictured in the Devlin post?

Thanks, DR

An any program go to the file menu and use the Open -- or -- Attach -- or -- browser command in the fi8le menu

What program are you using to try to access your photos? Under the file menu in it you will see one of those

(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)

LN

That sidebar is in Open/Attach/Browse dialogue wildows, not Finder windows. As an example launch Preview and scroll down the sidebar till the Media icon appears. It will be at the bottom of the list:

OT

Thanks - I got it.

The real problem is a lot of "empty" icons in iphoto. I see that the the iphoto 9.4.3 organizes photos Masters-year-month-day. But I have a lot of photos in the Masters that are "outside" that organizational scheme and I don't know how to get them recogniced by iphoto. I have tried to repair and rebuild the iphoto database - but no resolution to the problem.

Thanks, DR