Print With the release of iLife '11 comes a freshly polished version of iPhoto, the digital photo manager that's been helping us keep our photos in tip-top shape since 2001. The updated software introduces a handful of new and improved features that will surely make it easier for you to organize, edit, and share those precious digital memories. We put some tips together to get you started with the new release, or to give those of you who still haven't upgraded a sneak peak at the new update.
It's always a good idea to backup your media before an upgrade; iPhoto should be no different. There's a reason people always answer that they'll grab photos first if their house is on fire.
Head to /Users/username/Pictures and then grab the iPhoto Library folder and copy it somewhere safe. An external drive that's unplugged from your Mac when you update is a good idea.
If something does go horribly wrong during the update, Shut down iPhoto. Copy the backup you made to the Pictures folder on your Mac and replace the corrupt iPhoto Library file. Restart iPhoto '11. iPhoto will update the library and you should be golden.
If you're still having problems, right click on the iPhoto Library file. Select Show Package Contents, and then navigate to Masters. This folder contains all the photo and video originals you've imported into iPhoto over the years. If nothing else is working, drag these photos back into iPhoto and start all over.
But seriously, folks, keep one important thing in mind whenever you open up up iPhoto: backup before the update!
If you were feeling a bit claustrophobic in the previous versions of iPhoto, the new full-screen option in iPhoto '11 will certainly please you. One click turns your entire screen into a distraction-free photo organizer by hiding the Desktop, Menu Bar, and all other unwanted noise.
To go full-screen just click the button in the lower left corner.
You'll then notice five different Full-Screen Modes listed at the bottom of the window:
Events View is bigger than ever before and continues to let you to easily scan through thousands of photos without getting lost. Slide the Zoom to adjust the size of the event thumbnails.
The familiar cork board in Faces View showcases any faces that you've identified. We clearly need to identify more faces.
If you're obsessed with tagging, you'll certainly appreciate the larger Places View. If you've tagged any of your photos with a location, your map will receive a pin. Click the pin to see all photos tagged at that location.
Oh the Places You'll Go
The new Places map has a fancy set of drop down menus that show you the Countries, States, Cities and Places you've been.
Select a place, and the Map zooms into the area. Much better than the old way of zooming in and out manually.
Once you're down looking at a destination. Hit the Home button to return to world view.
Smart Map Album
Once you're zoomed into an area you can click on the Smart Album button in the bottom right hand corner to create a Smart Album of the destination you're at.
Those fashionably unkempt stacks of photos represent your curated Albums. Scan through albums the same way you would an Event.
Adjust Background
No more white or black, now you can adjust the background from white to black with a hand slider.
Just head to iPhoto > Preferences > Appearance, and then use the Background slider to adjust.
Reflections
You can also turn the Reflections option on and off in the Appearance Tab. If you're running an older machine, you might want to keep this off.
This bookshelf is the place your print projects call home. If you want to print something again, or make a few edits, you can revisit them here at any time.
Editing photos just got a whole lot more user-friendly. With the new full-screen mode there's room for a dedicated sidebar which houses all the various Quick Fixes, Effects, and Adjustments you might want to apply.
In addition to the sidebar there's also a convenient filmstrip in the bottom toolbar which enlarges as you hover over it. This filmstrip allows you to quickly navigate back and forth between photos you want to edit, without having to go back to the main iPhoto page.
Setup multiple accounts
Your photos don't want to be confined to your hard drive; they want to be on the web where they can flourish and be seen by friends and family. Thankfully, iPhoto has made it even easier--and more worthwhile--to connect with services like Facebook and Flickr.
To add an account, head up to the Menu Bar and select iPhoto > Preferences. In the Accounts tab, you can start linking up any services you wish to add.
Enabling your Facebook account is officially worth your time.
You can easily select and upload entire albums to Facebook. Find the photos you want to upload and click the Share > Facebook button in the bottom right corner.
You can upload the images as a new album, add them to an existing album, or just post them to your Wall.
If you only have one image selected, you'll also be given the option to upload it as your new Profile Picture.
Before you send it off, make sure the privacy settings are as you'd like them to be.
Once your photos are on Facebook, you can monitor their activity right in iPhoto.
Photos that you've uploaded to Facebook from iPhoto will remain in-sync and the comments will be visible in the right sidebar.
Additionally, you can tag Facebook contacts in your photos the same way you would tag someone with Faces--and Facebook will recognize that tag upon upload.
Once you enable Flickr, your Flickr Sets automatically sync with your iPhoto library.
In Album View, you can see that Facebook and Flickr albums are now synced with iPhoto and are displayed under our main albums.
When we tried to add content from Flickr albums to print projects we were greeted with the following dialog box:
This means is that those files are still living in the cloud. In order to use them in projects such as Books or Cards, we would have to re-download them and import them to our library.
Next Page: Send Emails Directly from iPhoto »
Think of how much your Grandma would appreciate a customized email filled with some of your most recent photos. You've been meaning to send one but you haven't been able to set aside a few minutes to do the whole "Export, Resize, and Attach" dance. Well, now you don't have an excuse, because iPhoto '11 has made that process quite simple. Head back up to iPhoto > Preferences and add your email account to get started.
Select your email service. Enter your username and password. You're good to go.
Choose the photos you want to include in your custom e-mail and then click Share > Email.
After you've elected to Share via Email, the theme builder is launched. This is where you can choose a theme and re-arrange the photos to your liking. Next, you can add some sincere text, choose a suitable typeface and send it off!
Attach a Photo to an E-mail
We know that if you choose to Share a photo via e-mail iPhoto will create an email in app with a selection of fancy templates.
Well in addition to the fancy templates, you can send the photo as an attachment by checking the "Attach photos to message" box in the lower right-hand corner. You can even send the full resolution version of the photo.
Just send the picture
If you're a fan of just sending a photo without all that fancy template stuff. Select the album that contains the picture or pictures you want to send.
Select the picture or pictures you want to send and copy them (File > Copy or Command + C.) Open your favorite email client and paste (Command + V or File > Paste) them in.
This send the full resolution version of the photo. It's a lame work around, hopefully we'll find a better solution soon.
If a nostalgic, teary-eyed night in front of the computer is what you're looking for, then you should probably create a slideshow of your old photos. Brand new animated themes are pre-loaded and ready for you to use.
Choose the theme that best fits the style you're looking for. The Places theme is especially cool because it surfs around a virtual globe pin-pointing the locations where your photos were taken, assuming you geotagged them properly.
Each slideshow theme has it's own perfectly-timed default soundtrack. But if that doesn't give you the vibe you're looking for, you can easily pull in a different audio track of your choosing.
Fine-tune your slideshow by tweaking the additional settings.
Watch Movies in iPhoto
Remember when you had to open QuickTime to watch a movie in iPhoto? Man what a pain.
Now movies play directly in iPhoto '11.
Trim Movie
Oh, while you're watching your video, you can also trim them just like in QuickTime X.
Just click on the gear in the player control in iPhone and you'll be presented with Trim in the drop down.
And just like QuickTime you can trim off unwanted footage by dragging the yellow trim handles in and clicking on the Trim button when you're done.
iPhoto's new templates and printing options make designing books and cards simpler than ever before. Chances are good that there's going to be a lot of photo books and letterpress cards floating around this holiday season. Perhaps you should get started on yours soon.
Just like the previously mentioned Email template, the photo book requires a bit of customization as well. You can choose between Hardcover, Softcover, or Wire-bound book styles; Large or Extra-Large size; and a few different color palettes.
The Design button launches a sidebar which allows you to tweak various layout styles and background colors.
Once you make the final adjustments to your book's layout, click "Buy Book" to start the checkout process.
Forget those cheap Hallmark.com print-outs. Heck, forget even going to the gift shop for greeting cards anymore. iPhoto's new customizable letterpress cards are where it's at. And after you customize them, Apple ships them right to your door.
Start your Card project the same way you start a Book project: select the photo you want to use and then click Create > Card in the bottom toolbar.
You have 15 themes to choose from, each of which features the traditional--and legit looking--letterpress printing technique.
Use the Design sidebar to customize the text and colors used in your card.
When you're confident that you've crafted the perfect card, send it to the presses.
Just because Apple offers a premium printing service doesn't mean you can't print your projects at home. This is extremely helpful when you just want to print one card.
Once you're in the edit screen, you can just go to File > Print and you can print your card or book at home. Of course, you won't get the fancy letterpress.
