iPhoto import preferences

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Level 1

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iPhoto import preferences

Hi All

Can anyone either explain or point me in the right direction to get info on the implications of unchecking the box in iPhoto preferences (advanced) which says "copy files to iPhoto Library folder when adding to library"?

Does this mean that iPhoto then acts just as a browser rather than a digital asset manager and just references the files in whatever location they are stored?

If so, what happens when I make an alteration? Does it save a modified file somewhere or overwrite the original?

I like iPhoto as a browser and occasionally use it for minor adjustments (like straightening horizons) but do just about all my editing in Photoshop wher I often make numerous slightly different versions of the same image. I know that Aperture can keep track of something like this but can't at the moment justify the extra cost.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

John Newman

Imac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 20, 2006 4:31 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,320 points

Nov 20, 2006 6:23 AM in response to JohnMNewman

John

If you uncheck the 'copy file to iPhoto Library Folder ...' what happens is that iPhoto does not take responsibility for file management, you do. Therefore the file structure that you use is the primary one.

However, there are no circumstances where iPhoto acts as an image viewer only. It is a digital asset manager. It is a database, files have to be imported and exported. Simply putting files into a folder is not enough. iPhoto will not see them unless they are imported. If you move the file independently of iPhoto it will lose track of them - and that happens whether you manage the files or it does.

The upshot of this is that while iPhoto may not include the Originals in your scheme, it will still create a Modified Folder for photos that you edit, plus a Data folder for thumbnails.

In the case of making many slight variants of an image, you can still do this via iPhoto. Set PS as your external editor. Then when you want to save a variant, simply use the Save As command. This will create the file outside iPhoto, and you can then import it later.

iPhoto always works on a copy of the Original, and if you make a straight save, then the result is saved in the Modified folder.

However, it's very easy to get to the actual files in iPhoto:

There are three ways (at least) to get files from the iPhoto Window.

1. Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.

2. File -> Export: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size.

3. Show File: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.

There are many many image viewers for the Mac, search on http://www.macupdate.com

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

JohnMNewman Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 20, 2006 7:17 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks

I guess I was hoping iPhoto wold be all things to all men etc but I guess not!
Your suggestions were very helpful. I actually played about a bit and found that if I unchecked the box, iPhoto Libary then had only an alias for the photos pointing to their original folder but as soon as I altered one, it created a picture in the modified folder of the iPhoto library as well.

I think the way forward for me is to create as many duplicates of the original as I want and then play with each one as desired so that I have the variants all in one place (and posibly combine this with multiple iPhoto libraries)

Thanks again

John

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