How to use iPhoto Buddy

One of the problems with iPhoto is using it with other photo applications. If you use proprietary software to import, edit and organize your images they will not be available until you import them into iPhoto. They are then stored in iPhoto's library system and they may be hard to find with your other photo applications. A small free application entitled iPhoto Buddy allows you to use more than one Photo Library with Apple's iPhoto, and makes it easy to switch between them. This allows the user to create multiple iPhoto Libraries and select the library to open with iPhoto. Download the free application under resources below and read the steps to discover how to use iPhoto Buddy.

Things You'll Need

• A Macintosh system with iPhoto
• iPhoto Buddy

Instructions

1. 

   Make sure iPhoto is not running and open iPhoto Buddy. You may add an existing Library by simply dragging it from the Finder list into iPhoto Buddy. Chances are that all your images reside in one giant library and iPhoto Buddy automatically recognizes the default library. To create a new Library, simply click the PLUS sign button.

2. 

   Give a name to your new library and then click CREATE. This will create a new empty library in the list with the name you specified. I called this one Chicago Gallery to hold all my Chicago Images.

3. 

   You will receive this warning that the folder is not an iPhoto library. To make it and iPhoto library simply click the iPhoto launch button at the bottom right hand corner of the screen and iPhoto will open with an empty library to which you can add photos.

4. 

   With iPhoto open simply select the images you want to import into the gallery and click OK. I have now created an iPhoto Library that only contains the images of Chicago. You can create as many Libraries as you want and switch between them. This allows you to use your proprietary software for import and editing and still have all your images available for iPhoto in an organized way. It also makes it easier for you to find your images since they reside outside of iPhoto.

5. 

   I now have two libraries to choose from and can easily switch between them by opening iPhoto Buddy, selecting the library and clicking the iPhoto launch button. I could have a separate Library for each iPhoto album making it easier to find my images and all my images are located in one spot for easy editing.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that if you open iPhoto without using iPhoto Buddy, iPhoto will be defaulted to the last Library you selected.

• If you import all your images directly into iPhoto you still may want to use this system for organization of images.

Resources

• iPhoto Buddy