I am wondering what is the best way to merge a very large iphoto library (from my MBP) to my new iMac (which has a few hundred photos on it now), and then upgrade to Aperture?

Try this discussion...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4956817?answerId=21742329022#21742329022

If necessary... type Merge iPhoto Libraries into the Search window top right and/or have a look at the More Like This sections on the right.

I have about 50GB of photos on my old MBP iphoto library.

To be able to merge your libraries, your Aperture version and iPhoto version must match. For basic reading see: Aperture 3.3: Using a unified photo library with iPhoto and Aperture

and Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries

Assuming you are running the latest Aperture and iPhoto versions:

• Before merging libraries ensure that your iPhoto Library has no issues. While still on your old mac run the "library first aid tools" on your iPhoto Library. Hold down the key combination ⌥⌘ and double click your iPhoto Library, then select "Repair database".
• Make sure you have a backup of your current Aperture Library and iPhoto library.

Do both macs have a FireWire port? Then you could connect your macs in Target Disk Mode:

See OS X Lion: Transfer files between two computers using target disk mode

This way your new mac could see your old mac as an external disk and you could copy directly between the macs.

Otherwise copy your iPhoto library by drag-and-drop to an external disk (on your old mac) and connect that disk to your new mac. Check, if the external drive is formatted for mac (MacOS X Extended (Journaled)). Otherwise reformat it, before you copy the iPhoto library to that drive.

When your iPhoto Library has been moved to your new Mac launch Aperture and use the command "File > Import > Library" from the main menu bar. If there are duplicates in the Aperture library (if you imported earlier from iPhoto) you may be prompted if you want to "Add" or "Merge". If you have lots of duplicates, pick "Merge", otherwise "Add".

Post back, if you need more detailed instructions.

Good Luck.

Léonie

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I have a very similar situation with possibly some added difficulties.

I have a late 2008 MacBook and an early 2008 iMac. Both are running Lion and iPhoto '08. I will be getting a new MacBook Pro Retina very shortly. I would like to move the iMac's iPhoto library to the new MacBook Pro and merge it with the MacBook's iPhoto library once that library is also on the MacBook Pro. I obviously need to get all iPhoto libraries up to date as you suggested above. I think I have a plan to achieve this, as follows, but I would appreciate your help:

1) Upgrade iMac to Mavericks (App store said that I need to do this prior to upgrading to iPhoto 9.5)

2) Upgrade iMac's iPhoto to 9.5

3) Use set-up assistant to migrate old MacBook to new MacBook Pro. This should upgrade the old MacBook's iPhoto library to the current iPhoto version on the MacBook Pro???

4) Install Aperture on MacBook Pro

5) Import MacBook Pro's iPhoto library into Aperture

6) Move the iMac's iPhoto library to the MacBook Pro

7) Merge recently moved iMac's iPhoto library into the new Aperture library

Is this a plan that will work?

Is there a way to do 6) wirelessly with migration assistant or some other method? Can I use the target disk mode method outlined above but use an Ethernet cable instead?

I already need to buy a Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter to transfer between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I'd rather not have to also buy a Thunderbolt-to-FireWire adapter to transfer between the iMac and the MacBook Pro.

Thank you.

Sorry, never mind about the ethernet cable. I forgot the new MacBook Pro does not have an ethernet port.

In preparation for merging two iPhoto libraries with Apeture, I ran "repair database" as suggested above by léonie.

After chugging for a while, iPhoto puts up a modal dialog box saying:

1293 photos have been found in the iPhoto library that are not a part of this photo library.

Would you like to import them?

What does this mean?

- nello

1293 photos have been found in the iPhoto library that are not a part of this photo library.

Sometimes the connection between the edited versions and the original image files get broken. Then Aperture cannot access the original images any longer. Aperture will collect such orphaned images files in a "recovered project" during a repair or rebuild of the database.

Let Aperture import these image files; this way you can check, if it are images that should have been trashed, or lost images that you need to keep.

Yes, apparently this is exactly what happened.

I re-ran the the repair on a backup of my library and chose "yes" on the import of of the found pictures.

Unfortunately, the saved pictures included both original and edited images and the import did not re-assemble them into just a single entry.

For example, I have a two pictures of a portico ceiling, the original (with an ID of P1010071_2) and another (P1010071) which is the same except that iPhoto's "Enhance" Quick Fix has been applied.

Is there any way rejoin the original (P1010071_2) and fixed images(P1010071) into a single entry?

- nello

Is there any way rejoin the original (P1010071_2) and fixed images(P1010071) into a single entry?

You can use the "Lift&Stamp" tool to lift all your edits and tags from the edited version and then stamp this edit tags onto the recovered original version. After that you can delete the redundant edited version.