iphoto folder back-up
How do I back-up iphoto folders without having to go through them one by one in order to keep the photos on the folders I created on Iphoto?
Is this iPhoto on your Mac or iPhoto on your iOS device?
8 replies
How do I back-up iphoto folders without having to go through them one by one in order to keep the photos on the folders I created on Iphoto?
- On your Mac copy your iPhoto library to a backup disk or include your iPhoto Library in your regular Time Machine backup. If your iPhoto library should be on an external disk, include that disk in your Time Machine backup.
- On your iPhone, iPad, iPod use the backup to save all photos from the camera roll, and use iTunes Photo Sharing to make an additional backup on your computer: iCloud: iCloud storage and backup overview
Regards
Léonie
iPhoto is on my MAC. Please take a look at what I'll answer LeonieDF.
Hi Leonie, thanks for the reply. I got to my iPhoto folder where the library is but the folders I created on iPhoto were numbered and not named as I had named them. Is there a solution for this? Could you please go step by step on how to get to that library folder again as I did it but can't recall how I got there and it seems like a very delicate process on how to get there. This should be easy but is driving me completely insane. I'm really upset. Is there a better program I could use?
Mariana,
what is your iPhoto version?
In recent iPhoto versions you should see your iPhoto Library as a package in your "Pictures" folder (by default, if you did not move it). It should show a colorful icon with a fan of pictures.
To make a backup of this package, drag the icon to an external disk, that you want to use for backup. You really should backup the complete library and not only the folders inside. Otherwise you may lose all your edits, tags, albums.
I got to my iPhoto folder where the library is but the folders I created on iPhoto were numbered and not named as I had named them. Is there a solution for this?
I take it, you have been looking inside the iPhoto library package and seen iPhotos internal data. iPhoto stores internally the photos according to the date of the import session, but that should not upset you, since you are not supposed to access iPhotos database this way. It is easy to corrupt the iPhoto library by accidentally moving files, if you open the package and move or modify the files inside.
You may want to read Terence Devlin's User Tip: How to Access Files in iPhoto
It explains how iPhoto stores the image files and how to access them in a secure way.
Regards
Léonie
Hi Leonie,
My intent is to delete some folders from iPhoto (not all of them) in order to allow more space in my computer in a way that I can retreive them in the future sending them automatically back into iPhoto. Is it possible to do this preserving the job I had separating and naming the folders?
Unfortunately, not as I wish, I’m still unhappy with the result but I do appreciate your concern. I went through all the links you sent me but I believe much of the information is not up to date with my Mac book pro OS X version 10.8.4.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4491
On the above link, underneath the last image it says:
“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.”
I clicked on MacOSXAutomation but it took me to a page which I don’t know what to click. Could you help me with that please? Maybe this is the solution don’t you think so? I’m counting on this as I could not find any other solution.
Plus, there isn’t a menu called Services on the version 10.8.4.
I tried all export options but none of them were favourable preserving the work I had separting my images into folders.
I also remembered how I got to the page I mentioned before, where my images were separated into numbered folders. This is what I did:
On the Picture folder I right clicked the iPhoto Library icon which looks like a fan and I chose “show package content”. The issue is there are 2 folders apparently with the same content, one named Masters and the second one Previews, but not only do they have different sizes, but some folders are missing in Masters, which also happens to have photos which are slightly bigger in size. This is a screenshot of what I found:
Thank-you very much for helping me with that.
Mariana
My intent is to delete some folders from iPhoto (not all of them) in order to allow more space in my computer in a way that I can retreive them in the future sending them automatically back into iPhoto.
Then the easy way to do this is as follows:
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
Now you have two full versions of the Library.
3. On the Internal library, trash the Events you don't want there
Now you have a full copy of the Library on the External and a smaller subset on the Internal
Some Notes:
As a general rule: when deleting photos do them in batches of about 100 at a time. iPhoto can baulk at trashing large numbers at one go.
You can choose which Library to open: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
You can keep the Library on the external updated with new imports using iPhoto Library Manager
Exporting the images from iPhoto is inevitably more work, forcing you to choose between originals and other versions and so on. So, don't export.
Re: the article on exporting.
As you're on 10.8 the paragraphs you're quoting are of zero relevance to you. The Media Browser is built in everywhere.
The Services menu is under the Application Name.
On the Picture folder I right clicked the iPhoto Library icon which looks like a fan and I chose “show package content”.
Don't do this.
You are welcome, Mariana.
TD said it all 🙂
iphoto folder back-up