Mac computer question regarding photos

[Karen G]

I have over 3,000 photos saved in iPhoto. In one "event" there are 12 photos shown as thumbnails and I can see them all. But, when I click on one to enlarge it to full screen it will start to go full screen but then change to a black screen with a white exclamation point that is kind of fuzzy. This has happened with two separate "events" with just a few of the thumbnails going to this black screen/white exclamation point when I try to look at them on full screen. It seems to always be the same photos that do this.

This is something new and I've never seen it happen before.

Any Mac experts know what this means??

 

[Emily]

My best guess is that the thumbnail resides in the "event" folder but the "master" file or "original" file which is located in photos has either been moved in your actual hard drive folder, or has been damaged. The link back to the "original" is not there so you get an exclamation.

A few things you can try

Check Photo Library and see if the photo is there. Double click on it and does it get big? If so, . . delete the thumbnail under the "event" and add a new thumbnail - the link between library and event was somehow broken.

If if does not.

Write down the name of the file. Click on the desktop and under file go to find, enter the file name and search all areas for the file. The file may have been moved.

If you enter the name exactly and it doesn't come back in a search - either the name was changed or the original file has been deleted. (you would have had to intentionally done this)

 

[Carta]

Could it be that the pics in question were sent to your email address via cell phone? Just a guess.........

 

[Karen G]

Carta, no, these pictures were all taken with my camera and are in a series of pictures and the rest of the pictures show up.

Emily, I tried your instructions and found the pictures. Thanks! But, I can't figure how to get them to go back to the library. I'll have to research that some more, but I'm so glad they aren't gone forever.

The missing pictures are all favorite ones that I have emailed to friends. I wonder if there is some connection to emailing them??

 

[GregGH]

Karen

I would you just drag them on top of the application icon and they will be added. Then you may have ot go back and trash the older thumbnails that are not linked to any photo ( test first )

Also a good time to make a back up copy of entire library ( it is not IF but WHEN your hard drive dies )

Greg

 

[Emily]

Sometimes its hard to find the library that you want them in . .

Go into Iphoto - click on a picture in the library where you want the photos and write the name. Do a search under the finder/file/find to locate the folder. Drag and drop your photos into there as Greg suggested.

When emailing I always make a folder on my desktop and export pictures to there before emailing. That way I can reduce them in size, keep a copy at that size to send in the future and know which ones I've sent without looking through email.

By exporting a copy, it leaves the original in the library.

 

[Karen G]

When emailing I always make a folder on my desktop and export pictures to there before emailing.

That's a great idea!

I'm copying my pictures onto an external hard drive, as Greg suggested. Now I'm thinking I should delete them from my computer and free up space. Is that advisable?

 

[GregGH]

That's a great idea!

I'm copying my pictures onto an external hard drive, as Greg suggested. Now I'm thinking I should delete them from my computer and free up space. Is that advisable?

Hold on --I said make a back up copy ( just in case ) -- if you delete - then you still only have one copy

BTW --what version of iPhoto are you on?? The newer versions have some nice features added. See the demo video help files on www.apple.com

Greg

 

[Karen G]

BTW --what version of iPhoto are you on?? The newer versions have some nice features added. See the demo video help files on www.apple.com

Greg

I have version 7.1.5 (378) Apple 2008 and my computer looks just like the one pictured on the Apple link you sent with the 19" monitor. I've taken some of the free classes at the Apple store, but there is so much stuff that it boggles my mind. I'm happy that I can do the things I've learned so far, but I know there is so much more to it.