iPhoto 9 - Can't Edit photos. Only get black screen

Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:

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 #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.

Fix #2

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.

4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

5 - Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

OT

Do you use time machine?

The recommended course of action at this point, is to:

1. Back up your current (bad) iPhoto Library

2. attempt to fix the library using iPhoto's build in "first aid"

3. try rebuilding the library using "iPhoto Library Manager"

4. Restoring from a back up

I see you stated you already tried "iPhoto Library Manager". Did you also try the iPhoto first aid?

For the images that are giving the error while trying to import them......try this:

1. Open up this image in "preview"

2. file / duplicate

3. a second copy of the image will open over the first - file / save - change the format to .TIFF

Try to import the .TIFF file. Does this import?

Where is your iPhoto Library located??

The default location is - home user / pictures. Do you have it there, or is it on an external drive?

Also, try creating a new iPhoto Library to see if this also happens in a new library, because it is starting to sound like a permissions issue with the location of your library.

iPhoto 11 - iPhoto '11: Create a new iPhoto library or switch between libraries

Do you have another mac computer you can test these images on? It will help isolate if it is this computer or not.

"iPhoto cannot import your photos because there was a problem writing to the volume containing your iPhoto library."

The above message may mean we have an issue with the hard drive, or the OS is corrupted. Also, the fact you have the same issue in a new user helps confirm that. Make sure you back up your computer as a precautionary measure.

boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and try editing and importing into your library.