Photo goes black when editing it

Question

Photo goes black when editing it

Hi,

I acknowledge this is a fairly common matter, but let me try to share my on experience.

For the past few days, I have been importing photos in my iPhoto library either from .jpg docs or brand new ones from my digital camera.

Each time I try to edit one of those, the image goes black. Surprisingly, if I try to crop a picture, the image comes back to view !?

I have unsuccessfully tried to:

- repair iPhoto library permissions

- reconstruct library

using the Cmd+alt keys when lauching iPhoto.

I have NEVER experienced such a painful behaviour in the past, as I have to go back and forth between the editing and normal modes to see the results of my editing.

Any educated advice would be appreciated.

Mac mini Core 2 Duo - 2 Go RAM - OS X 10.7.5 - iPhoto 9.4.1

Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 6, 2012 3:42 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,334 points

Oct 6, 2012 11:14 AM in response to Philippe Hauguel

There can be several reasons for the black original file, permissions is one of them. Try the following: make a temporary, backup copy (select the library and type Command+D) if you don't already have a backup and apply the fix below:

Fix #1

Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.

Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #1, followed by #3 and then #4 as needed.

OT

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Answer 2

Oct 7, 2012 4:58 AM in response to Old Toad

As suggested in my post, I have already tried all these 3 options IN VAIN.

To make things worse, option #4 made a mess of every single album; I was fortunate enough to be able to restore my iPhoto library from TimeMachine!

Any other idea?

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,334 points

Oct 7, 2012 9:19 AM in response to Philippe Hauguel

The fact that you can edit those photos and get them to display correctly via a new, modified file indicates that the originals are damaged somehow.

Select one of the thumbnails and use the File ➙ Reveal in Finder ➙ Original menu option to take you to the original file located inside the library. Copy the file to the desktop and try the following:

1 - download Convert to JPG and Embed sRGB profile from Toad's Cellar and unzip it.

2 - drag the file from the desktop onto the application.

3 - import the converted files into iPhoto and see if it appears as it should.

If the above works you could run it on each file in the library. Unfortunately you would have to open each subfolder in the Masters folder and drag the files onto the application. That will be a lot of manual work.

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