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WOPR · Aug 1, 2004, 02:38 AM

My iPhoto library is now nearly at 2gb, and although I backup my Mac regularly to a FireWire hard drive, I like to make a backup to CD too so I can keep it offsite. Is there a fairly straightforward method of doing this? - I was really disappointed that iPhoto doesn't handle this kind of thing; if the library is bigger than the size of a CD-R you just get an error box - I expected an Apple app to say: "The backup will take 3 CDs, insert disk 1..."

Anyway, although I'm getting a G5 in a couple of months it will still be a pain to have to copy all the photos over to that just to use the SuperDrive. I have Toast Titanium but even that doesn't offer multi-CD archiving (at least not that I can see).

Anyone got any good advice? Thanks in advance.

demograph68 · Aug 1, 2004, 02:52 AM

You could try to burn what's in the iPhoto Library folder onto separate cd's.

WOPR · Aug 1, 2004, 02:55 AM

I realise that but it's not exactly convenient is it? I really think Apple should have an option for multiple CDs especially when they aim Macs like the eMac at the consumer market.

zachs · Aug 1, 2004, 03:12 AM

You could break up your library into several different albums, each with a CD's worth of pictures. Then burn those to CDs.

WOPR · Aug 1, 2004, 04:43 AM

Originally posted by zachs:
You could break up your library into several different albums, each with a CD's worth of pictures. Then burn those to CDs.

But how do you tell how many megabytes are in an album?

Zoom · Aug 1, 2004, 08:39 AM

This sounds strange. What OS version are you running? I thought for sure that iPhoto would warn you that the data is too much for one CD and prompt you to do a multi-CD burn. I'm sure that iTunes will do this, for instance. This should work, though I admit I haven't tried it (I burn to DVD). Maybe try using DiskBurner (Apple's built-in burn function in the Finder window) on the iPhoto library folder directly.

If you can wait till you get your new G5, you can burn to a DVD from there (assuming you get a SuperDrive). When you upgrade your Mac, use the Setup Assistant to copy everything from the old Mac to the new Mac, then burn the DVD.

Can you take your external FW hard drive to a friend's house or to work and burn CDs or a DVD from there?

WOPR · Aug 1, 2004, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by Zoom:
This sounds strange. What OS version are you running? I thought for sure that iPhoto would warn you that the data is too much for one CD and prompt you to do a multi-CD burn. I'm sure that iTunes will do this, for instance. This should work, though I admit I haven't tried it (I burn to DVD). Maybe try using DiskBurner (Apple's built-in burn function in the Finder window) on the iPhoto library folder directly.

If you can wait till you get your new G5, you can burn to a DVD from there (assuming you get a SuperDrive). When you upgrade your Mac, use the Setup Assistant to copy everything from the old Mac to the new Mac, then burn the DVD.

Can you take your external FW hard drive to a friend's house or to work and burn CDs or a DVD from there?

I'm in 10.3.4 with iPhoto 4.01. The Finder just says there's not enough room to copy the library to the CD. iPhoto doesn't have a multiple disk option either. My setup is that I have all my personal work and photos on my 12" PB, and also at home I have a G4 which will soon be replaced by the G5 (I work at home but my employer supplies my Mac). I guess I'll just have to burn the DVD from my backup on the firewire drive. I'm just surprised Apple have made such a glaring omission in iPhoto and the Finder to create multiple disk archives.

Randman · Aug 1, 2004, 11:52 AM

You don't have .Mac do you? Backup should allow this.

Zoom · Aug 1, 2004, 03:18 PM

Yeah, you migght try the Backup 2.0 app.

You're right - iPhoto isn't smart enough to split the library across multiple CDs. There's a rumor about iPhoto getting updated soom, maybe they'll fix this then. That's odd that one iApp is smart enough to do it but another isn't.

WOPR · Aug 1, 2004, 03:23 PM

.mac isn't enough use to me to justify the cost so no I don't have Backup. I guess I'll just wait for the G5 to arrive (I'm counting the days!).

madmacgames · Aug 1, 2004, 06:00 PM

Impression. download the demo and burn your photo's folder. Will span across CDs/DVDs.

Mithras · Aug 2, 2004, 06:53 AM

Using iPhoto 4, the following works for me:

1. View Photo Library. Select view as rolls.
2. Option-click on a disclosure triangle to "fold up" all of the rolls.
3. Click the Burn button.
4. Insert a blank CD.
5. A CD icon appears, indicating that you will overfill the disc.
6. Command-click one roll at a time, starting from the beginning, until you've selected enough to fill a CD.
7. Burn a CD.

Then repeat the process, starting from the roll where you left off.
It's a little bit manual, but works fine for me.

WOPR · Aug 2, 2004, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by madmacgames:
Impression. download the demo and burn your photo's folder. Will span across CDs/DVDs.

Exactly what I was after - many thanks!

Old Toad · Aug 2, 2004, 07:31 PM

If you're getting a G5 in a couple of months, copying your entire 2G iPhoto Library folder to it would be very easy, either thru an ethernet cable connection or from the external HD. Then burn the entire library to a DVD in one fell swoop. Messing with multiple CDs is not the easiest thing to do especially when you have to figure out how to manage the burn from iPHoto. If you don't burn rolls or albums with the Burn button you'll lose your comments and general organizational. Moving the whole library at once seems to me the best way to go, but then I'm basically lazy.

Good luck.