Casey 5ense

Q: New Photos App, How to Make Background Dark?

Recently upgraded the OS on my Mac Book Pro. Boy is that new Photos App a drag...

 

No longer a dark background. Not easy to see folders or organization.

 

Three questions.

 

1) Can I just override the new app and use the old one?

 

2) Is there a way to make the background dark? Having a white background is terrible for viewing photos. I am fine with the Terminal is need be to make changes...

 

3) Any suggestions on a more professional photo organization app?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Jul 15, 2016 12:28 PM

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Q: New Photos App, How to Make Background Dark?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 15, 2016 12:31 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (103,651 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 15, 2016 12:31 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    1. Yes.
    2. No.
    3. Photos is fine for me, I couldn't suggest another application.
  • by Casey 5ense,

    Casey 5ense Casey 5ense Jul 15, 2016 12:42 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 15, 2016 12:42 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thank you Winston,

     

    How can I get back to the old "iPhotos" app while still enjoying modern updates?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jul 15, 2016 12:43 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (84,530 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 15, 2016 12:43 PM in response to Casey 5ense

    1- yes until it quits working which is will with some update - you already can not order print products with iPhoto - and of course it is far inferior in editing capability and system integration to Photos

     

    2 - only by viewing in edit mode - tell Apple your wishes - http://www.apple.com/feedback/photos.html

     

    3 - Depends on your budget and needs - Adobe LightRoom and Media Pro are two often mentioned here - I personally use Photos (as to the others who post here - that is why they are experienced Photos users)

     

    LN

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jul 15, 2016 12:45 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (84,530 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 15, 2016 12:45 PM in response to Casey 5ense

    You must have version 9.6.1 - if you do launch it and use it - but remember it is not supported, you can not order print products with it, it is not nearly as good as Photos and someday without warning it will quit working leaving you with a problem that may be hard to solve

     

    LN

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 15, 2016 12:49 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (103,651 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 15, 2016 12:49 PM in response to Casey 5ense

    Assuming your iPhoto application was up to date you should just be able to carry on using it by launching the app from applications folder.

     

    edit

     

    I much prefer photos and wouldn't go back to iPhoto now, however having said that it won't just stop working without notice. It will take some sort of system update to break it, all you need to do is ask here if iPhoto still works before applying any major system update.

  • by léonie,Apple recommended

    léonie léonie Jul 15, 2016 12:51 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (106,767 points)
    iLife
    Jul 15, 2016 12:51 PM in response to Casey 5ense

    1) Can I just override the new app and use the old one?

    You can still use iPhoto on Yosemite and El Capitan, if you left your iPhoto Library and updated to iPhoto 9.6.1. Only this version will run on the recent OS X El Capitan. You can no longer order print products fromApple using iPhoto however.

    2) Is there a way to make the background dark? Having a white background is terrible for viewing photos. I am fine with the Terminal is need be to make changes...

    Only in a limited way. If you head directly to the Edit mode you browse the photos on a black background using the arrow keys to step the photos.

     

    3) Any suggestions on a more professional photo organization app?

    The editing tools in Photos for Mac are actually better than in iPhoto, but if you want a professional photo management application check out Capture One Pro or Adobe Lightroom.

  • by Casey 5ense,

    Casey 5ense Casey 5ense Jul 15, 2016 12:58 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 15, 2016 12:58 PM in response to léonie

    Thank you for the help.

     

    I would definitely enjoy using the old app if possible.

     

    I tried to open the old library and got this message prompt:

     

    "The content of the iPhoto library “Photos” has already been migrated to Photos.  Open Photos to view your library or use a compatible version of iPhoto to open this iPhoto library."

     

    I clicked on "Learn More" and was brought to this page: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204259

     

    Looks like I need iPhoto 9.6.1 ... Where can I find that? Fresh download perhaps?

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 15, 2016 1:20 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (103,651 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 15, 2016 1:20 PM in response to Casey 5ense
  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jul 15, 2016 1:46 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (106,767 points)
    iLife
    Jul 15, 2016 1:46 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    "The content of the iPhoto library “Photos” has already been migrated to Photos.  Open Photos to view your library or use a compatible version of iPhoto to open this iPhoto library."

    If your iPhoto Library has been migrated, the filename extension of the iPhoto Library has been changed to ".migratediphotolibrary".  Change the filename extension back to ".photolibrary".  Then iPhoto 9.6.1 will be able to open it.

    The link that Winston Churchill posted explains how to update iPhoto by reinstalling.

    It will work, if iPhoto is showing in your purchases history at the AppStore.

  • by Casey 5ense,

    Casey 5ense Casey 5ense Jul 15, 2016 1:37 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 15, 2016 1:37 PM in response to léonie

    I will definitely be trying this tonight!

     

    Thank you everyone!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jul 15, 2016 2:59 PM in response to Casey 5ense
    Level 10 (141,085 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 15, 2016 2:59 PM in response to Casey 5ense

    I too would like to see the darker background.  Be sure to tell Apple what missing features you'd like restored or new features added in Photos via https://www.apple.com/feedback/photos.html.  The more feedback they get the better our changes of getting darker backgrounds.

    OTsig.png

  • by Casey 5ense,

    Casey 5ense Casey 5ense Jul 18, 2016 8:35 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 18, 2016 8:35 AM in response to Old Toad

    I'm literally about to weep. That was so easy and made life so much better! Thank you for all of your help!