How I use iPhoto for my digital supplies....

[AllynD]

I promised Patricia I would write up something to describe how I use iPhoto for organizing my stuff, so here it is.

I like to keep things simple. I like things that are easy. I don't like to spend money unnecessarily. I am a visual person. Those are the reasons I use iPhoto for organizing my digital scrapbooking supplies.

First: I have multiple iPhoto libraries. Hold OPT when opening iPhoto to create or select a library. I have a separate library for old scanned photos, for current digital photos, and for digital scrapbooking supplies.

And one more thing upfront: the one problem with iPhoto in oranizing scrapbooking supplies is that .PNG files are displayed on a black background. BUT in EDIT mode, they are on a white background, so that is my personal work-around for this, and it works like second nature to me now. I simply look at any black .PNG files (like brushes, for example) in edit mode.

Here is what I do:
1.) I keep all my product downloads in the folders in which they arrive. For DD, that makes things extremely simple because almost all the designers title their folders with their names as a prefix. For those who don't (Pattie, e.g.) I simply rename the folder by adding the designer's name or initials as a prefix. For other sites, I do the same-- adding either the designer name or source as a prefix. This makes it easy to alpha sort and find things by designer. My brain works that way-- I usually can remember who the designer was for an item I think I may want to use.

2.) I accumulate a bunch of downloads in my "DOWNLOADS" folder, and only periodically import items to iPhoto when I have a bunch (batch).

3.) I import things to iPhoto without copying. (>Preferences>Advanced>uncheck "copy items to iPhoto library"") This keeps required space low and iPhoto fast. I also like to keep my files outside of iPhoto because I have an oppositional nature and refuse to become software dependent. IOW, if I decide someday that iPhoto and I need to part ways, the parting will be amicable. I think of it as something like a software pre-nuptual arrangement. Also, sometimes I like to go directly to the item, if I know exactly what I want.

4.) When importing, I simply highlight all the folders that I want to import within my "DOWNLOADS" folder. iPhoto then imports each folder as a separate "EVENT." Importing just means it is creating a visual catalog of thumbnails of everything I import. It won't import certain types, such as TOU text files, but that's OK, they are still in the original folders if you ever want them. After importing, I go into the "event" and select the PREVIEW which is always a .JPG and make that the "Key Photo" for that "EVENT." Now, when I look at all my events, I can browse the previews, and that is the usual way I get to what I want. You can sort events various ways (>View>Sort Events)-- I usually keep them sorted by name (designer), but you could sort by date or manually.

5.) Now here is what makes this method work for me: If I move those product folders, my computer and iPhoto magically know where I put them! After importing, I move all the imported folders from my DOWNLOADS folder into my one great big super folder, which I call "01 SCRAPBOOKING" which is in my DOCUMENTS folder. [actually it could go anywhere you want, like your PICTURES folder, or wherever.] Guess why I call it "01 SCRAPBOOKING." All my digital scrapbooking products are in there: within that folder are all the little individual folders, one for each product. This way of doing things helps me keep track of whether I have imported something yet or not. [Incidentally, I keep all my layouts in a folder called "01 Scrapbooking Layouts."]

6.) Within iPhoto, when I find the item I want (I usually find the preview, look inside, then select what I want), I select it (one or multiple items) and drag it to the PSE6 icon on my dock. Bingo. PSE opens the file and I'm good to go.

7.) Searching and tagging: I used to tag a lot of items, until I found that search works on titles pretty well, and often the product names tell what they are, so now I can search on "stitch" for example, and it will bring up a lot of stitches, stitching, stitching holes and any product that has "stitch" in the title. I could search on just a few letters, like "stit" and that will give me most of what I want, too. That works most of the time for me. Now I mostly only tag papers.

8.) When I do tag, I use CMD+k to bring up the keyword list, select groups of items, and tag them all at once.

9.) SMART ALBUMS. This is the genius of it all!!!! I have smart albums defined for: Papers (keyword contains paper), Stitching (anytext contains stitch), Frames (anytext contains frame), Journaling (this one is a little tricky-- anytext contains journal OR keyword contains journaling), etc.

I think that is about it.

[AllynD]

If you want to build the iPhoto Scrapbooking library the first time:

1.) Create the library and change your preferences to not copy files.

2.) Then go to wherever you have all your scrapbooking stuff. Hopefully you have all the product folders within one larger folder. Go to import. Highlight all the product folders and import. iPhoto will import everything within each product folder, creating an "EVENT" for each product folder and keeping the product folder name as the name of the "EVENT."

3.) Look in each "EVENT" and select the Preview and CTL+left click on it to get the drop-down menu and pick "Make Key Photo" -- now when you look at all events, you will see all the previews.

It is a good idea, by the way, to make sure you have preferences set not to copy files each time you import if you have multiple iPhoto libraries. You might accidentally change the setting when moving back and forth between different iPhoto libraries.

Now that I have written, proofread, and edited these instructions, I have a headache. Going to go have a nice cup of tea, or maybe a Glenfiddich, I think....

[Chris]

Lynn, thank you so much for all this information. It's all so well thought out and easy to understand. I printed it out (for anyone who doesn't know, it's the "thread tools" towards the right above lynn's head), and now will try it step by step. I've got separate libraries for digital scrapbooking, and did love opening up, say Katie's all papers one, or the frames library, but I never really knew where to go after that and mostly forgot about it. This is going to be a tremendous help.

[iUma]

WOW!! Thank you Lynn for all this clarity and help. I think I am just about caught up to you with my DD stuff. It works so well.

Now, my only regret is that I am not there to share the Glenfiddich!!
Later, baby!!

[Cricket]

Thank you for this Lynn!!! I'm going to give this a try, sounds like a really good method you have here!!

[AllynD]

You could create smart albums for things like all Katie's papers (anytext contains Pertiet AND keyword contains paper), or anything with the words botanist or botanical in the title (anytext contains botan), or...-- GOSH, the possibilities are endless.

It just depends on how you like to work and what you spend the most time looking for when you scrap. Just ask yourself: What was the last thing I looked for when I was doing a page? Then start by defining a smart album around that search. Now anytime you add a new product it will automatically be included in your smart albums.

[kikimama]

Thanks for this! As I've just started I don't have that much yet, so I'll have a go while I can cope with the amount, before it causes a headache.

[SANDRA GARCIA]

Lynn

I used to have all of my pictures on iPhoto...I guess I'm doing something wrong or stupid, but I definitely need your help. I have one big folder on my desktop with all of my digi stuff. When I had my pictures on iPhoto and wanted to create a book or print online it will tell me that the pictures were in low resolution. what???? so I guess one of my preferences it's wrong or something so I don't use it anymore. Anyway...do you have any suggestions???

Sandra

[AllynD]

Hi, Sandra,

I just sent you a private message. I am not sure what the problem is. Are you trying to print through iPhoto? I have never done that.

[SylvieFromBelgium]

Yes ! I didn't all understook but I can say that I use too iPhoto for small album digital and the result is correct ;-)

[Britgirl]

BLIMEY! that must of taken you forever to write!! I"m so impressed. I never knew I could make a new iphoto library which opens up worlds to me. and undoing the copying to iphoto, and key photos being alterable...
seriously the more I own my mac the more I realise theres so much it can do I have no idea about,
SO thankyou for this, and all that info. how kind you are to share it with us.
*mwah!*

[AllynD]

*MWAH* right back at you! You all are so generous with your time and talent, comments and advice, that it was the least I could do.

[KarenA]

Thank You so much Lynn for this information on iphotos.

I am new to this forum - but not to DD.

I have learnt so much from you about iphotos.

Thanks to you, I now have all my digital 'stuff' tagged and have set up smart folders all in iphotos. I am loving it

Before this I was just using bridge but was never happy with it.
I tried shoebox - but me & it just did not get on.

I am also one that did not know you could have multiple iphotos libraries. I am going to set some up for all of my scanned photos - one day when I have nothing else to do

Karen

[iUma]

Dang, girl. I'm glad I asked. We have all got a new lease on our stuff!!

[Shanah-rhymes with Donna]

Holy cow..this was over the moon generous of you. Off to try and digest it bit by bit . THANK YOU...SO much!

[iUma]

Just installed the new iLife suite, including iPhoto 09...everything transferred beautifully and works VERY fast.

[AllynD]

Thanks for the info on this. I am back in school now, so it will be a while before I can play with scrapping again! I will wait on the '09 until I have more time. But it is fun to have something to look forward to!

[maryannwise]

i am working on organizing right now lynn. Thanks so much!

[anke]

maybe when I get that Mac.....some day.....

[HeidiKnight]

Is iPhoto available to us PC users? I'm clueless!

[mszig]

I'm new to this site. I read the great directions about using I photo as an organizing tool and immediately tried it out. Then Got in trouble.

I created a new library and called it scrap supplies easily enough. The problems started when I tried to get my old library back. I held down the option key and got to the choose library page.

Then I didn't know what to do.....there were so many choices--i photo library then: data, modified, originals each with several folders inside them...Yikes! I just want my old i photo library with all my pics in one place back and another library with the digi scrap supplies.

Any suggestions GREATFULLY accepted!!!!

[AllynD]

Mszig--

First, don't panic. Take a deep breath and read this slowly all the way through before you do anything, OK? I have been there, and my first reaction is always to panic, and then I create more problems.

Your iPhoto libraries will all have the iPhoto icon. It will probably be called iPhoto Library. The new library you created will have whatever name you gave it. They will probably be located in your Pictures folder that is probably located in "Places" on the left side of your finder window.

If you have put it somewhere else accidentally, look for the iPhoto icon through FINDER. Don't look with spotlight, because I just tried it --and I see where you are finding all those other types of files. Do not try to open them.

One thing-- if you have several iPhoto libraries, you can't open the one you want by just clicking on it. You have to hold the "option" key when you open iPhoto and then select the library you want. OTHERWISE, iPhoto will just open whatever library you opened last.

Post again to let me know if this worked.

[hguenthe]

Heidi, no, I do not believe that iphoto is available for pc. Adobe Photoshop Album used to be considered an iphoto equivalent for pc but it was integrated into Photoshop Elements Organizer back with Elements 3.0. More reasons to switch to Mac?

[mszig]

Originally Posted by AllynD

Mszig--

First, don't panic. Take a deep breath and read this slowly all the way through before you do anything, OK? I have been there, and my first reaction is always to panic, and then I create more problems.

Your iPhoto libraries will all have the iPhoto icon. It will probably be called iPhoto Library. The new library you created will have whatever name you gave it. They will probably be located in your Pictures folder that is probably located in "Places" on the left side of your finder window.

If you have put it somewhere else accidentally, look for the iPhoto icon through FINDER. Don't look with spotlight, because I just tried it --and I see where you are finding all those other types of files. Do not try to open them.

One thing-- if you have several iPhoto libraries, you can't open the one you want by just clicking on it. You have to hold the "option" key when you open iPhoto and then select the library you want. OTHERWISE, iPhoto will just open whatever library you opened last.

Post again to let me know if this worked.

Thank you for the detailed response and understanding about the PANIC!. The option click i photo did allow me to select my i photo library and all was found. Too bad i photo doesn't just let us create another library altogether..then we could have one for photos and one for the digi supplies.

Your detailed directions were great! Now I don't have to buy another piece of software for organizing..more to spend on the digi stuff.

[sandy]

You can create more than one iphoto library. When you option click to open iphoto, it will give you the option to create a new library. Just name it and pick a location and it will be separate from your other library. I have 3 libraries currently in use.

[AllynD]

Mszig--

That is the whole point! I have one iPhoto library for my scrapstuff, and several others for different classes of photos (scanned, heritage, current, etc.).

I access whichever library I want to use by holding the "opt" key as I open iPhoto. Each has a different name, but they are all in my Pictures folder.

Lynn

[Amy L]

I just tried this. I created the iPhoto Library, named it, and uploaded some folders of digi stuff. But it didn't upload each folder as an event. It just uploaded every file separately, so now they are individual files in the library instead of the organized folders I started with.

They uploaded by date, i.e. the date they were put up for sale in the store, all the way back to 2005! Help!

[iUma]

Amy, change your view by option to title. It works.

[AllynD]

Wow, Patricia! That is some new avatar! Brrrrrrrr. Where are you?

[iUma]

Lynn, that's Eagle Lake in Bar Harbor, ME. Yesterday!! Big shift from Bham!

Here's my story...
http://www.designerdigitals.com/digi...66&ppuser=2200