iPhoto Printing and Default Settings

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Level 1

9 points

iPhoto Printing and Default Settings

Help would be appreciated. All of sudden, with no other changes to my computer or my printer, when I try to print a photo to 4x6, 5x7, etc sized photo paper, the print is oriented to portrait, rather than to landscape. Can't find any settings to change the orientation. I've reset my printer to default factory settings. I've noticed that all of the print pre-sets in my computer are set to portrait, and I can't find a way to change the pre-sets. Very frustrating as I print quite a few pictures this way and have never had a problem. The only way I could print a 4x6 and get the whole picture is to print it on 8x10 paper. Thank you for any suggestions. Using MacBook Pro (2011), HP Officejet 8500 all-in-one, and iPhoto 9.5.1.

iPhoto '11, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 5, 2014 12:26 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 5, 2014 1:15 PM in response to MelYow

First crop the photo to the print size aspect ratio. Start the print process and in the next window select 4x6 print size and click on the 4 x 6 layout.

OT

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Answer 2

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 1:37 PM in response to Old Toad

Photo is cropped. Photo shows up as above. I've selected 4 x 6 as the size. I then select print. There is no option for 4 x 6 layout. I see a landscape oriented mat with a portrait oriented picture. Tried screen capturing what I'm seeing with Shift-Command-3, but when I try to paste it, can't find the screen capture (not in pictures). So, unfortunately, it didn't help. As I mentioned, I've been printing these pictures forever, just like you indicate above. All of a sudden, with not changes to my computer, software, or my printer, this anomaly started. Can't figure out where to go from here. Thanks! Mel

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Answer 3

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 1:46 PM in response to MelYow

Here's my screen shot once I click on "Print." Thanks for any suggestions. Mel

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 5, 2014 1:47 PM in response to MelYow

Try the following:

1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your

User/Home/Library/ Preferences folder.

2 - delete the contents the following folder:

User/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto

3 - reboot, launch iPhoto and try again.

NOTE: For Mavericks, 10.9, go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Options menu to bring the this window:

where you can check the Show Library Folder checkbox.

Message was edited by: Old Toad

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Answer 5

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 2:02 PM in response to Old Toad

Sorry, I must be pretty dense. I can't find User/Home/Library/Preferences. Also did a file search on container.plist. Can't find that either. I'm using Mavericks 10.9. How do I find the "Home" folder. I don't see anything like that in Finder. Thank you for your assistance!

Mel

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Answer 6

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 5, 2014 2:11 PM in response to MelYow

The library folder is invisible and needs to be made visible.

NOTE: For Mavericks, 10.9, go to your Home folder and use theView ➙ Show View Options menu to bring the this window:

Or use Find Any File to search for the exact file names. FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't, like invisible folders. system folders and packages.

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Answer 7

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 2:40 PM in response to Old Toad

OK, I finally found the folder and deleted the contents (Old Data, Data, and the .plist file). Rebooted. Tried printing again. Same problem. Here's a screen shot after I tried the foregoing. Doesn't seem to be any options for changing the orientation. Mel

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Answer 8

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 5, 2014 2:46 PM in response to MelYow

Two more tests:

1 - As a test launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it?

2 - log into another user account on your Mac and try printing from there.

This will tell us if the problem is local to your library, your account or system wide.

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Answer 9

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 2:58 PM in response to Old Toad

Created a Test library as above. Imported some photos. Set up to print as usual. Problem still exists. I don't have any other user accounts on my MacBook. So I couldn't try step 2, unless I could use "Guest" as an account. Mel

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Answer 10

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 5, 2014 3:16 PM in response to MelYow

Either use the Guest account or creatre a new, non administrative account for testing. It takes up very little disk space and is a great trouble shooting tool.

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Answer 11

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 9:10 PM in response to Old Toad

Created a Test library as above. Imported some photos. Set up to print as usual. Problem still exists. I don't have any other user accounts on my MacBook. So I couldn't try step 2, unless I could use "Guest" as an account. Mel

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Answer 12

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2014 9:12 PM in response to MelYow

I used the guest account, imported some photos from my camera, and the print function worked perfectly. See screen print below. Not sure where to go from here. Doesn't work in my account. Worked as expected in the guest account.

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Answer 13

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 6, 2014 8:07 AM in response to Old Toad

Re: iPhoto Printing and Default Settings

Mar 5, 2014 9:12 PM (in response to MelYow)

I used the guest account, imported some photos from my camera, and the print function worked perfectly. See screen print below. Not sure where to go from here. Doesn't work in my account. Worked as expected in the guest account.

#

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Answer 14

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 6, 2014 8:45 AM in response to MelYow

That indicates that the problem is limited to your account on the Mac. Since deleting the iPhoto preference file didn't help it could be another pref file that's messing up the process. Here's a way to determine if that's the case:

Trouble Shooting Preferences

NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.

If you're running Mavericks, 10.9, go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Options menu to bring the this window:

1 - close all applications.

2 - open your Home/Library folder and Option-drag (copy) the Preferences folder to the Desktop.

3 - select the contents of your Home/Library/Preferences folder and drag them into the Trash bin in the Dock. You will be asked to provide your Admin password.

4 - reboot. Be sure to know your account's username and password as you will be asked to log in with it.

5 - run the application again and determine if the problem(s) is fixed.

6 - If the problem is fixed:

A - open the working Home/Library/Preferences folder.

B - Open the Preferences folder on the Desktop, select all of the contents and drag them into the working Home/Library/Preferences folder.

C - When the Copy window pops up check the "Apply to All" check box and then click on the Don't Replace or Skip button.

D - reboot.

7 - If the problem is NOT fixed, drag the contents of the Preference folder on the Desktop into the Home/Library/Preference folder and replace the entire contents that were created by clicking on Replace.

8 - reboot and you're back as square one.

Note: keep the Preference folder on the desktop until you're sure all registration info for your apps are working. If not you can copy the required files from the desktop pref folder to the working one.

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Answer 15

MelYow Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 6, 2014 9:24 AM in response to Old Toad

OK. Did steps one through five. Problem was fixed. At step six, I don't see a Home folder in Finder. See screenshot below. I have the contents of the old preferences folder on my desktop. Can't find a place to make the Library visible. Also, now I have to click (push down to click) on the touch pad, rather than just touching, as I did before. How do I restore the click function as well. Thanks. Mel

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