I have a new MacBook Air (used, but new to me). I have a few different iPhoto library backups on an external hard drive and want to combine them into one library for my new computer. What is the best/easiest way to do this?
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iPhoto and pictures questions
- Thread starter rpearlberg
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Assuming that you're also moving from iPhoto to Photos have a look at this from Macworld: merge and consolidate you libraries
Thanks. I currently have iPhoto on Mavericks (haven't upgraded to Yosemite yet). Right now all of the pics are on an external hard drive, but I think they are in a few different libraries...
I don't think it matters if you're using iPhoto or Photos. Using iPhoto, export images from each of your iPhoto libraries (in a jpg format if you want to preserve and bake-in your edits). Create a new consolidated iPhoto library and import the photos into the new library.
If shooting RAW, you can also export the original RAW images to a back-up location someplace in case you want to reprocess an image from scratch.
This will depend on whether you use a referenced or managed library. You can read about the difference: here
I suggest that your new consolidated library be "managed" then it doesn't matter where you put the images as they will be imported into the library. I would put them in folders on an external drive where you have space and can keep them as back-up. You can create any number of folders on that external drive to keep things organized and then import the images folder by folder (one at a time) into the new library. Just remember to keep track of your import progress so you know when you're done and you've got them all. Depending on the number of images it could take a little while to get it done. Be patient and let iPhoto do what it needs to do.