You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Iphoto 11 -How to turn off faces?

Hello,

is there a way to disable the ***ing "face detection" function ?

It creates thousands of separate thumbnails, many of them do not even show faces, and same people are shown as different ones, so having more than 5.000 faces in my library (which is definitely not the case). This function only takes up space, steals cpu power and is useless for me. I have about 17.000 Pictures in iphoto, andi think it makes the database handling even more instable by creating multiple "faces" thumbnails and redirecting them to the corresponding file.


Thanks for an answer... (What do you think - Better move to LR?)


Michael

Macbook Pro, none

Posted on Jan 19, 2013 1:04 AM

Reply
84 replies

Nov 6, 2014 11:24 AM in response to KJCO

Please explain how I am supposed to export all the photos I have in iphoto WITHOUT exporting ANY thumbs so that I can use my free will NOT to use iphoto anymore!

To export photos from iPhoto select the photos in iPhoto and use the command "File > Export > Version/Original". This will let you export the photos either as the originals or as edited versions. Save them to a folder on the Desktop.

Nov 6, 2014 11:41 AM in response to KJCO

Exporting never exports any face thumbnails - if fact there is no way to export face thumbnails from iPhoto


All of the export options are shown here - Exporting From iPhoto - face thumbnails are not among them


and since you question has nothing at all to do with turning faces off (the subject of this thread) you should not ThreadJack a different thread but start your own - it works better for everyone - especially the OP and future readers who get confused with multiple subjects being discussed in a single thread


LN

Dec 29, 2014 2:59 PM in response to Yer_Man

Hey I did that feedback thing you told about, no it didn't help my cpu, and no it didn't stop iPhoto from being useless in regards to face recognition mandatory feature.


It's a shame that your only options are to either buy Aperture or submit feedback, at the very least you could provide a good suggestion why this feature should be on?!?!


I have the app I need to do all I want with my photos in terms of editing, I just need a library to check, organise my photos, faster than loading RAW pictures. It's not Aperture. It's just unfortunate that my app of choice doesn't have a library feature, it would prevent me from having to write here.


By the way I had a look at your iPhoto and file management... Reference Library all the way, but hey I'm a noob that won't trust +30000 RAW photos in just one huge database to call it a library that tries to find faces on landscapes.


Now, getting on my feet and tell you something you should be saying too for starters, In My Humble Opinion:


In My Humble Opinion, Face recognition is useless, I did my feedback on your suggestion, lets just hope...

In My Humble Opinion, Managed Library is just a marketing scheme into Aperture, so it seems it's working for you...

In My Humble Opinion, Managed Library presents a huge data loss risk, professionally and personally speaking, here is what I do, In my humble opinion, I have a single reference library, I manage my own files, they are not all in the same drive, some of my most favourite photos are even duplicated in separate hard drives, my own files, not multiple "managed libraries" like one could advise, just the files I want/love/need/whatever, call me a noob, i prefer to keep my work on my hands.


In My Humble Opinion my feedback on iPhoto was in favour of an issue around face smart album feature, allowing users to turn it off it's way to simple to call it a request for enhancement feedback, like what you can do with "places smart album"? 😉.


Maybe I'll try that command-line trick while feedback doesn't get any reply...if any.


Cheers

Dec 29, 2014 3:45 PM in response to MrSaintz

In My Humble Opinion, Face recognition is useless, I did my feedback on your suggestion, lets just hope...


Well done. Pointless, of course, as iPhoto is no longer in development.


In My Humble Opinion, Managed Library is just a marketing scheme into Aperture, so it seems it's working for you...


Well I won't pretend to be humble, but that's a profoundly clueless remark. Oh, and Aperture isn't in development any more either.


In My Humble Opinion, Managed Library presents a huge data loss risk, professionally and personally speaking, here is what I do, In my humble opinion, I have a single reference library, I manage my own files, they are not all in the same drive, some of my most favourite photos are even duplicated in separate hard drives, my own files, not multiple "managed libraries" like one could advise, just the files I want/love/need/whatever, call me a noob, i prefer to keep my work on my hands.


Okay then noob. Zero data loss risk, absolutely zero risk that is not also present in a Referenced system. It just stores the files in the same Finder that you are. Good luck if you ever change the path to any of those files, then.

Jan 1, 2015 4:07 AM in response to Yer_Man

Hi Terence,


So it seems, I was searching for a solution for a discontinued product line, I am new to the Mac world and products let's say from the 26th to be clear.


In terms of software, thank you, I'm not using it anymore, still looking for a good photo catalog app for Mac anyway.


About reference over managed, if that's still a subject to you, I don't see any "Zero data loss risk" in my argument, and if you read it more carefully, I just mentioned what I try to do to minimise it, you know that, I know that too, my point over that was simply managed library corruption represents real data loss where has in referenced, if the library gets corrupted, your files might not be, I not talking about hardware failure.


Any way you might be right from the first reply statement you did, it's pointless to discuss things over iPhoto or even Aperture since they are no longer in development, so you say.


Cheers

Jan 1, 2015 4:13 AM in response to MrSaintz

Any way you might be right from the first reply statement you did, it's pointless to discuss things over iPhoto or even Aperture since they are no longer in development, so you say.

As long as we do nat have a new native Apple application to manage iPhoto Libraries with at least the functionality of iPhoto we are stuck with iPhoto or Aperture. Apple should ensure, that these applications are working correctly with the current MacOS X version. The integration of my photo library software with MacOS X and other Apple applications is very important to me.

Jan 5, 2015 9:57 AM in response to léonie

I did the terminal thing which worked perfectly. Well done that man but i was left with 10,0000+ thumbnail faces left in my library. So i went into package contents inside iphoto using finder and searched face0 then from that search checked there were not any originals starting with face0 in their original name, to which there were two. Select all, minus those two and delete. Then same again, search iphoto face1, face2 etc then delete. I am now thumbnail free. Granted you may lose a photo if by chance it has face1 etc within the original name but i was willing in the unlikely chance to lose a couple for the greater good. Iphoto is running like a dream. Back up before attempting this and do at your own peril. It has worked for me that is all i know.


<Edited By Host>

Jan 1, 2015 12:18 PM in response to MrSaintz

I am new to the Mac world and products let's say from the 26th to be clear.


For a guy using the apps for three days you sure had a lot of humble opinions.


I never said that you said there was zero risk, what I said is that running a Managed Library has no additional risk that is not in your preferred Referenced one.


I know that too, my point over that was simply managed library corruption represents real data loss where has in referenced, if the library gets corrupted, your files might not be, I not talking about hardware failure.


I know that was your point. My point is that is not the case because regardless of whether you use a Managed or Referenced Library, the files are stored in the exact same Finder. So, it's the exact same risk.

Jan 5, 2015 8:16 AM in response to Yer_Man

For a guy using the apps for three days you sure had a lot of humble opinions.


Running into so much trouble using iPhoto for three days can indeed provide you a few ideas about the app, yes, not because of the app it self, but because of you experience with other catalogs such as LightRoom, PhotoDirector, ACDSee or any other option and how it works, so yes you might have a few ideas and opinion based on just three days, and of course they should be humble, don't get me wrong, but I can have a different view if, good arguments are presented explaining the way this works and why, why not.


I know that was your point. My point is that is not the case because regardless of whether you use a Managed or Referenced Library, the files are stored in the exact same Finder. So, it's the exact same risk.


As far as I could explore: managed, copies the full picture into the library, after finishing( or during import event, don't remember it now) import, the tool suggests to delete the full picture from where you are importing.

Actually it does so too with referenced option, witch seems even wronger, since you are not holding the raw picture anywhere if you do it, so might loose it right from the beginning...didn't even test it on either method anyway(I mean I didn't go with delete option).


If you use both Managed and keep the files you are just duplicating all your full work, where for me it's not the point of a library, I just want to know what I have, organize it in a good enough faster view, and start from that point, for editing it's another subject, again in my humble opinion.


This means most people that might be using iphoto, if in managed option, would tend to allow them selves to remove original picture. Saying this, by corrupting the library, all is gone since all original files were deleted from import.

I can agree that since delete option is displayed in both referenced and managed at import, it would make this software even more dangerous towards your work, has by using reference library, doing the same procedure, you are deleting the reference of a photo at import?!?!?I kind of understand now, maybe that's why Apple is giving up of this software?


Cheers,

Jan 5, 2015 8:40 AM in response to MrSaintz

Tell you what. after using Lightroom on a new OS for all of three days I would be slow to comment on it. But then I'm aware that things on other OSes and in other applications might not work the way I expect them to, and that does not mean that they are wrong, just a different approach. So, I would say that if you're running into trouble with a new app on a new OS after three days that there's a significant chance that you haven't grasped the application or the OS.


As for your opinions, yes you are entitled to opine that Faces is a feature of little use to you. To describe it as 'useless' fails to take account of other people's preferences. But when you say that a Managed Library is a marketing scheme to get people to Aperture you are simply talking though a pretty thin hat. You can migrate to Aperture with a Managed or Referenced Library. iPhoto's Managed Library predates Aperture by years and the option to run a referenced Library was introduced to iPhoto before Aperture was ever released. So, both in terms of history and the capabilities of both apps you're about as accurate as I would expect from someone who has used the OS and one of these apps for three days. In other words, clueless.


For the sake of others who might read this I'll clarify.


As far as I could explore: managed, copies the full picture into the library, after finishing( or during import event, don't remember it now) import, the tool suggests to delete the full picture from where you are importing.


iPhoto copies the file into the Library package, and offers to delete from the camera or phone. It doesn't suggest it, you can easily decline. I strongly suggest to people that they do, always have.


Actually it does so too with referenced option, witch seems even wronger, since you are not holding the raw picture anywhere if you do it, so might loose it right from the beginning...didn't even test it on either method anyway(I mean I didn't go with delete option).


No it doesn't. In fact, iPhoto cannot import a Referenced Structure. You need to get the images from your camera to your filing system yourself. Then add the images to iPhoto.


If you use both Managed and keep the files you are just duplicating all your full work, where for me it's not the point of a library, I just want to know what I have, organize it in a good enough faster view, and start from that point, for editing it's another subject, again in my humble opinion.


But why would you keep the files? You import to iPhoto. Confirm the import has gone correctly. Then reformat the card with your camera - which is actually faster. If you want to manage files use a file Manager. iPhoto is about managing Photos. Not the same thing.


This means most people that might be using iphoto, if in managed option, would tend to allow them selves to remove original picture. Saying this, by corrupting the library, all is gone since all original files were deleted from import.


Well actually no. in 99.9% of cases a corrupt iPhoto library means the database file is damaged and the photos are perfectly fine. As I keep saying to you - and perhaps, which you may not have grasped in your three days, is that the files are stored in the Finder. The self-same finder that you use. Just look inside the package. There they all are, in the Masters folder.


If there is a problem there are three approaches which guarantee 100% success in recovering data. Using either a rebuild with iPhoto's own tools, using iPhoto Library Manager's rebuild option or, ultimately the best protection against any data corruption, an up-to-date back up will solve any problem.


Or just the same tools you would use with a Referenced Library.


In your first post you said...


call me a noob


and I took you up on that offer as everything you wrote then - and today - is indicative of someone who is not familiar with the software and how it works.


For more on iPhoto and file management see this User Tip:


https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6361

Jan 22, 2015 11:01 AM in response to mkmichaelmk

  • Close iPhoto if its open
  • Open the Terminal app (search for it using Spotlight if you are unfamiliar with Terminal)
  • Type or copy & paste the following line:

defaults write com.apple.iPhoto PKFaceDetectionEnabled 0

  • press ENTER
  • exit Terminal
  • open iPhoto


This does not make the Faces tab go away, but it turns off future Faces auto-detection.

Iphoto 11 -How to turn off faces?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.