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Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983
T h e R o a d L e s s T r a v e l e d
iPhoto's enchanting lure: Simple to learn, sophisticated to use
June 9, 2004
By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2004, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2004, The Post-Standard
Every now and then people who graduated from Windows to the Mac tell me they have never tried iPhoto. When I ask why, they're hesitant. Eventually, they tell me it's because they don't want to learn yet another new program.
We could call that the YANP Syndrome. I sympathize with everyone who suffers from it. But they're cheating themselves out of the best picture software on the planet by shying away from it.
Unlike all the picture software for Windows that i've ever tried -- and I've gone through dozens upon dozens of programs -- iPhoto doesn't insist that you learn anything. It doesn't demand that you read a manual. I doubt that it even has a help file. (Someone will write to me and tell me I'm wrong. But if there IS a help file in iPhoto, it's probably there just to give people who like to look for help files something to do.)
Don't get me wrong. iPhoto isn't perfect. It will slow down when you put too many pictures in your library. The current version of iPhoto does OK until it hits about 20,000 pictures. That seems like a sensible limit.
Folks who left Windows behind sometimes seem puzzled by the way iPhoto
stores pictures. They want to see where their pictures are located.
Bah! Humbug! That's what Apple says about this sort of request. iPhoto's pictures are stored in the iPhoto library, and that's that. The library is an odd collection of data that includes actual images, along with thumbnail versions, information about each picture and keywords that you can enter to help describe each picture.
Apple doesn't expect you to rummage through the library on your own. iPhoto does it for you.
Windows refugees also seem puzzled when they want to send iPhoto's pictures to someone else by e-mail. And they ask me how to copy any of iPhoto's pictures to a folder on their hard drive.
If you've wondered about these things, I'm going to make you smile. You are about to find out how Apple does its magic.
Finding your pictures: The left-hand section of the iPhoto window has a vertical area. At the top of that area is a small icon called the Photo Library. Click that Photo Library icon and all your pictures will show up in the main window. You might have to click and drag the scroll bar at the right to see more of your pictures.
Sending your pictures by e-mail: Click once on a picture, then click the "Email" icon along the bottom of the iPhoto window. Choose the size (smaller is better in most cases). Address the letter and send it. You can send more than one by clicking on multiple pictures before you click the "Email" icon. (Hold down the Cmd key when you click to make the others stay selected.)
Copying your pictures: Make sure the iPhoto window does not take up the entire screen. Choose the picture you want to copy. Click on it and drag it out of the iPhoto window and onto the desktop. You've just made a copy.
I'll have more iPhoto tips this summer.
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