[samsontan]

I just "opened" my images using iphoto

Questions:
1. I noticed that there are about 3 of the same copies of each photo. Why is this?

2. My aim is to not have the same copies in my harddrive so that i won't be wasting unnecessary space, tell me how to do it (which file do i delete eg. original,etc)

3. In order to delete a file from iphoto just move it to the designated trash in iphoto and then empty it?

PS I'd like to delete my images from iphoto itself rather than going to finder. So, advise me which copy of the files should i keep.

[skybolt]

Frist of all, your third comment is the best. NEVER mess with your photos in finder -- will create havoc. The 3 copies are your originals (iPhoto keeps them all so that you can always revert to the original if you need/want to), then your modified photos, then thumbnails. Do not delete any of these unless you are sure you want them gone. If you delete an original, you will still have your modified (if you modified the photo in any way) but you will never be able to go back and re-do any of your changes.

To delete photos, yes, just drag to the iPhoto trash and empty.

If your hard drive is getting full, you could create another library on an external drive and archive some of your photos there.

[peeb]

Are there three copies in the iPhoto window, or did you find three copies on the disc? If your iPhoto library has three copies, feel free to delete the ones you don't want (make sure you have a backup). Don't mess with iPhoto with the Finder. Every time you modify a photo, iPhoto creates a new copy so that you can revert.

[samsontan]

Actually I've 4 copies of a certain file "013.jpg"
1 modified (if i've never modified any pics i won't have this appeared)
1 original
1 data
1 raw - the files located in a folder which i've not open with iphoto yet eg. pictures>my photos

Questions
1. Can i delete the raw after i've opened it with iphoto (this is when 1-original and 1-data will auto makes copies of the file)
my concerns are that iphoto makes so many copies of the same photo.. well not same because some may be modified as i've stated above.

[skybolt]

You might try using iPhoto Diet to see if you truly have duplicates (I suspect you DON'T have duplicates and that all files are needed)

[peeb]

It's kind of up to you. You could delete the raw, if you know you are never going to use it again, likewise with the original. Don't delete the data file, which should be small anyway.
I would think if you are desperate for space, and don't think you are going to use it, delete the raw - or burn it to disk. My advice would be not to touch the rest.

[ph0ust]

hold on here. let me get this straight since i am not an iphoto user.... you are telling me that iphoto creates full duplicates of an original that you are editing?!?!?! this can't really be true is it? why the hell would it do that instead of using a sidecar file??? doesn't aperture use sidecars to store all edits?

[peeb]

iPhoto creates a full duplicate of every photo that is edited. I presume that this is for speed reasons. I don't know about aperture.