HELP!: XP -> OSX ... picasa-> iPhoto

[kmccanta]

I am used to organizing my photos in folders named "2008-07 Zoo Trip" for example. I used Picasa2 on the PC.

Now that I bought my wife a macbook, I am a little uncomfortable with iPhoto storing all the originals in a package. I feel like the files should be files, independant of what software I want to use. If I choose to migrate the files in the future, I shouldnt need to "export" them. I just want my data to be clear and accessible.

But I like how easy iPhoto (and Picasa) are to use.

Does anyone else have an easy way to organize your photos that works on either PC or MAC?

Is there anyway to orgnanize my ohtots the way I am used to AND use iPhoto without it making copies of all my data? SHould I just give up and do it the way Mr Jobs says is best for me?

-k

[a a i b]

The originals are actually stored in a hierarchy managed by iPhoto. You can always access any of the files independently, though there are a lot of folders to drill through. iPhoto's "export" feature is merely a convenience for users who don't want to know how the software manages its files.

But, if you are a purist, look at Aperture. Much more powerful, and it lets you work with RAW files as if they were jpegs (that is, simply). Best for you -- Aperture will allow you to reference files, letting you keep them in any organizational scheme outside of the program that you'd like.

Personally, I'm happy letting the software manage the files (and the changes to the files). If I were to move on to another system or program, I'd simply export the organizational structures I'm working with within Aperture.

[jzamora]

The files are actually there you just have to know how to access them. In finder go to the pictures folder and within there you will see the iPhoto 'package'. Double clicking on it just opens iPhoto. but if you right click or control click on the package you can 'show package contents.' From here the folders are organized by 'Originals' or 'Modified' and within those by 'year' and then 'event.' So if you want a modified file from the event disneyland in the year 2008, then look under
pictures>iphoto library(right click-show package contents)>modified>2008>disneyland
A a bit of a way in but once you understand how it's organized it's not to bad

you can also right click on a file in iphoto and click 'show file' which will open finder in the correct folder.

Hope this helps
JZ

[davemdsn]

Originally Posted by jzamora

you can also right click on a file in iphoto and click 'show file' which will open finder in the correct folder.

Hope this helps
JZ

That is the easiest way to find them.

On a Mac, a 'package' is like a folder that requires a special step to open so the it can be somewhat protected. If you go deleting files in a package you will likely confuse the heck out of the application that uses that package. However, the contents inside the package are in their original format, just like they would be in a folder on a PC.

You also don't have to import photos into iPhoto's package. You can set it to import photos at their current location and it will leave them wherever you have them stored already. This can be useful if you want to access those photos with other applications. However, you have to remember that a library application is referencing those images "exactly" where they are and if you move them around you can "lose" them in iPhoto.

How you use iPhoto is entirely up to you. It is flexible enough to allow you have have some control over it.

[leadbelly]

I'm using Aperture, and it is much easier to manage photos than with iPhoto... you can also do minor tweaks with your photos in Aperture, as a a i b said, you can work on RAW files like they were Jpegs. To add, you can work on Jpegs as if they were RAW files... Oh, and if Aperture editing isn't enough, you can edit it in Photoshop then return to Aperture when you're done...

[dopeytree]

in iphoto just control click on the photo and click show in the finder this will show you the file, the original or the modified depending on which you choose to click on

[jmdeegan]

i trust how iphoto brings them in...but i also tend to import via lightroom, and in a separate external drive/folder, add another copy of the DCIM folder, dates accordingly. Big fan of many backups

[kmccanta]

Originally Posted by davemdsn

That is the easiest way to find them.

On a Mac, a 'package' is like a folder that requires a special step to open so the it can be somewhat protected. If you go deleting files in a package you will likely confuse the heck out of the application that uses that package. However, the contents inside the package are in their original format, just like they would be in a folder on a PC.

You also don't have to import photos into iPhoto's package. You can set it to import photos at their current location and it will leave them wherever you have them stored already. This can be useful if you want to access those photos with other applications. However, you have to remember that a library application is referencing those images "exactly" where they are and if you move them around you can "lose" them in iPhoto.

How you use iPhoto is entirely up to you. It is flexible enough to allow you have have some control over it.

Hmmm.... So the way I am using my two machines... is that the macbook is the most accessible and easiest to get my SD cards into... so I would want to use the Mac to collect all the photos, cull the bad ones, order snaps of the decent ones etc...

Occasionally, I want to post-process something more extensively... on the PC, where I can leave GIMP up and running and not be bothered by some other family member looking something up on the macbook.

I guess it sounds like I should go ahead and let iPhoto organize the data, then occasionally "export" something to a working directory for PP on the other machine.

It also means that I have to train my wife to "export" jpgs to a temp folder for upload to costco since there is no plug-in for iphoto?

[davemdsn]

We are a dual platform family as well, though only because we can't afford a second Mac at the moment and I rarely let anyone touch mine. We need a family iMac bad. Anyway, what I would do... have iPhoto reference your photos on an external drive. iPhoto can still browse the photos even when the drive is not plugged in. Then you can also reference the same drive with Picasa. This allows you to have the best of both worlds. You can move the drive to either computer and not have to think about where the photos are. Either computer knows where all the photos are.

If you were to put Gimp on the Mac you could assign it as the editing application for iPhoto, which would open the image in Gimp when you double click it, instead of editing it in iPhoto. Just another idea.

[JrPentax]

the two serious contenders for photo concious people on the mac IMHO are LIGHTROOM and APATURE....

both have their advantages and disadvantages - i use lightroom at this time, but may check out apature again some day....

ill let others explain what makes them both good or bad as they see fit...

good luck