Mac photo import workflow?

[donlavange]

I am a little new to Mac from the Windows world and I am having a problem importing photos from my card reader into Phoyshop CS.

On the PC, I was able to copy to a folder on my desktop and erase the card contents in one command. On the Mac, I am told that I should "use" IPhoto as it will do the same thing. I photo is nice, but it is no Photoshop.

So, I am importing into Iphoto (and erasing the card) and then exporting to a desktop folder that I can reach with Photoshop (the Iphoto folders are not clearly marked).

What am I missing here?? Any thoughts?

[Jyoti]

I use iPhoto to import all my pics but I don't set it to erase at the same time, just in case (I re-format the card in my 10D instead).

Once they're in iPhoto, I quickly delete the obvious rubbish shots and then any photo that needs work I just send to Photoshop CS by ctrl-clicking on it ('Edit in external editor').

I know other Mac users swear by iView Media Pro but iPhoto is fine for me.

Oooh, one thing I would say - iPhoto maintains all the orginal pics (in folders marked 'original') so you can undo edits. Every now and then, I delete these folders so I don't have enormous amounts of duplicated data. But this is after anything important is backed up, of course.

Hope that helps! :)

[paulhillion]

Once you've connected your card reader you may well get a iPhoto message asking you to use it, I just click on 'quit' to exit the iPhoto message. You should then see your reader appear on your desktop as a external drive, open it & just copy/drag the image folder/s to your desktop where from you can browse through them in PS. Or you can explore the image folders in PS directly from your reader.

[donlavange]

Thanks to you both for your thoughts!

[robekert]

I am assuming that you are shooting jpeg. iPhoto does not recognize RAW. I shoot RAW and my hard drive is filling up fast. What I do (I have a 1DMKII) I browse through the shots using Canon's EOS Viewer (or File Viewer Utility). I delete the out of focus or bad shots. Transfer the keepers to a new folder on the hard drive. I can then open them in any program. Format the card when back in the camera.

If you shoot jpeg you can download using iPhoto. You can then set iPhoto's preferences to open a single image in Photoshop. I have my preferences set so that if I double click on an image in iPhoto, it then opens in Photoshop.
Cheers,
Rob

[RJSorensen]

I might do it a little differently . . . I drag and drop the files from my Lexar Firewire card reader to a new folder I create for each shoot, to sort and backup to CD/DVD from. I then import this file into iphoto for viewing. This way I have a 'safe' copy that does not get changed and or modified in any way, and the files are all there in native format for backup.

I have lost my iphoto files in the past and will no longer trust it to keep items of such value. I only use it to view the files. As for photoshop work . . . I copy a file I wish to use from the 'master' folder to the desk top and open it with PS as needed. I know everyone knows this, but never, never work on the 'master' copies of your files.

After the files are copied to the new folder I created, depending on the importance of the shots on the card, I drag and drop them to the trash and empty, then drag the CF card to the trash and eject. Paid shoots are kept on the card until a CD/DVD has been burned and verified . . . it goes without saying. Then the card is formated in the camera or the CF reader as it maybe.

Hope this helps or gives you options in your work flow.