Splash of Style...Macs, Photography, Design, and other Passions

iPhoto – How to Resize & Export Photo Files

My Dad just bought a cute Mac Mini, and he’s feeling overwhelmed. He used to use Picasa on his PC to export photos to use on Craig’s List, now he’ll be using iPhoto. This tutorial is for him. It’s a very basic beginner tutorial. I am using iPhoto 2008 but it is very similar for iPhoto 2009.

Launch iPhoto from the Dock

First launch iPhoto by clicking on the icon on the Dock, which is found at the bottom of your screen.

Choose an Event

On the left menu, click the Events link to show all your "Events" – Then double click an event to open it. You will now see all the photos placed in that Event.

NOTE: Events are how you organize "groups" of photos. You could opt to a create a separate event for each different item for sale on Ebay or Craig’s List.

Choose the Photos for Export

Choose each one of the photos you would like to resize and export.

Click the first photo with your mouse, and while holding down the "Command/Apple" key choose multiple photos. (NOTE to my Dad: on your keyboard, it’s the key with the Windows icon on it.)

A colorful outline will display around the photos that are selected.

Choose Export from the File Menu

Choose File>Export

Export Photos Window

The iPhoto "Export Photos" window will appear.

1. Make sure the "File Export" tab is selected.
2. Notice at the bottom left, the number of exported photos is displayed.
3. Click the little arrow icon next to each setting to show menu. See further steps below for details on each setting.

Export Photos: File Format (Kind)

First, click the menu for the "Kind" setting – this determines which file format to use for export. Choose JPEG. NOTE to my Dad: You can also leave it as "Current" or "Original", as your original files are already saved as JPEG. Each of those choices will work.

JPEG Quality

For web use, Medium is a good choice for JPEG quality.

Export Size

Choose "Custom" for Size.
Change the Max Dimension to 300px if you are exporting to Craig’s List. If you are exporting for a desktop wallpaper or print, you will want to type a larger number.

Optional File Name

By default, "Use Filename" is chosen for the exported "File Name" – if you would like to export using a more descriptive name, choose “Sequential”. See next step for more details.

Sequential Text for File Name

If you would like a more descriptive exported file name, choose "Sequential" and type descriptive text for "prefix".

For example, if you are exporting photos for a calendar. You can type "calendar" as the prefix and all photos will be exported starting with the word "calendar" and followed by a number. calendar1.jpg, calendar2.jpg, etc

It’s a great way to organize photos and know what they are at a glance.

Optional: Create New Folder on Desktop

Next, iPhoto wants to know where you would like to save these exported photos. The easiest spot is in a new folder on the Desktop.
1. On the left menu, under "Places" choose "Desktop"
2. To create a new folder on the Desktop, click the button at the bottom "New Folder"
3. Name the folder "CraigsList" or whatever you choose.
4. Click the OK button to Export.

Next Time You Export

Once you create a new folder, you can use the same folder over and over for all your future exports.

In future exports, when you get to the Export window,
1. Under Places, choose "Desktop"
2. Choose the CraigsList folder
3. Click OK

Launch Finder

After exporting your photos, where did they go? Find them using Finder.

Launch Finder using the Dock at the bottom of your screen.

Find Your Photos in Finder

The Finder window opens.
On the left menu, choose Desktop
Then click the CraigsList folder
There are your photos!

Uploading to Craig’s List

Once your photos have been exported, it’s time to upload to your Craig’s List ad. My previous tutorial explains more details, but when you "browse" to the location to your photo(s), it will ask you to find your photo in a Finder window. Just browse to your Desktop again, and find the Craig’s List folder.

Good luck, and have fun using iPhoto!
(Love ya Dad)

Permalink | Comments (24)

There are 24 comments

I just got a Mac – and this is EXACTLY what I needed for ebay and craigslist!
You are a gem!
Thank you!
Comment by barb on April 12th, 2009
Glad to hear it, Barb!

Have fun w/ your new Mac. My mom and dad both love theirs. It took awhile for my dad to get used to it, but now he’s a pro!
Comment by debbie T on April 12th, 2009
Gosh you answered almost everything this 60 year old struggling diva was trying to find out! The only things I still don’t understand is under events, can I make a folder so that I may have pictures for classes and then folders under that with the name of the class and the photos that go with that class. I love my Mac but I am struggling how to actually USE it! Thank you sooooo much.
Comment by Cas Rifkin on June 27th, 2009
Hey Cas, glad the tutorial worked out for you.

I am not sure I understand your question exactly, but maybe albums will help you.

You can create regular albums, or “smart” albums. It helps to organize your photos.

Getting used to your Mac takes a little time, if you are near an Applestore, you might consider signing up for their One to One service. I think it’s $99 for a years worth of personal training.
http://www.apple.com/retail/onetoone/

Good luck!
Comment by debbie T on June 29th, 2009
Thanks so much for answering, Debbie. We do not have an Apple store in the whole state of Arkansas, much to my regret. If this is too much for you, I understand but I will try to restate my question. I hold classes teaching the use of rubber stamps and the classes are called Stampin Gab. I hold them once a month. I made Events (by your instructions…thank you!) for each month’s Stampin Gab but instead of having 2 years of events separate, I want to have one event but with the 24 months of pictures (three pictures per month). When I drag one month’s event into the Stampin Gab Event, it loses its title once inside of it and they are all in there but randomly without any name and not together as a group. I also can’t find a way to individually title them. Is this clearer? thank you for your consideration.
Comment by Cas Rifkin on June 29th, 2009
Oh, I forgot, I didn’t figure out how albums work and maybe that is the answer but I couldn’t figure out how they are different from Events and how to title the individual photos in there too
Comment by Cas Rifkin on June 29th, 2009
I think I understand your question more clearly now.

Events are just one big lump of photos. You CAN’T sub-divide in events.

I think what you would want is a smart album.

Create one big event with all the Stampin Gab photos in it.

Ya know what, I am just going to show you. I will create a new tutorial. It will be easier to show you that way.

Be back soon
Comment by debbie T on June 29th, 2009
Okay, Cas, here is the Smart Folders tutorial. I think it’s what you are looking for.

http://www.splashofstyle.com/archives/2009/06/29/iphoto-smart-albums/

So, specifically, you would create an Event (or events) named “Stampin Gab”

Create a Smart Folder for each month. Make sure you use the “duplicate” option so you only have to change the date.

If you find that Smart Albums aren’t working for you, then perhaps creating an Event for each month would work better.

Hope that helps!
Comment by debbie T on June 29th, 2009
Many thanks Deb, this was just what this 60+ needed too. I’ll go up to Sydney for the Apple training sessions, but in the meantime I needed step by step instructions to get some tasks happening. You are a gem indeed! I’ll be back to try out your next lot of brilliant instructions.
cheers,
Meg
(They tell me 60 is the new 40. That message is still still trying to access my brain)
Comment by Meg on July 9th, 2009
Awe, thank you so much Meg. I am glad this helped! I’ll be 50 in a couple of years, so 50 must be the new 30 if 60 is the new 40!!!

Sounds good to me!

Have fun w/ your new Mac!
Comment by debbie T on July 9th, 2009
OK. Maybe I’m just lame, but there is never a “browse” button anywhere to go to. I get everything up to the point where it says “hit ‘browse'” and then I’m lost…again. What is it about 60 year olds, anyway?
Comment by Sheryl on July 15th, 2009
Sheryl, not sure where in the tutorial it lists “hit browse” but there is no “browse” button per se, browse means “go to” – as in go to where the file is located.
Comment by debbie T on July 16th, 2009
This is a delightful and very descriptive site that helped me use iphoto to do some basic things that are not obvious– like there is no “save as” command, which I find confusing. And I enjoyed the personal notes to your dad! My dad also could use some basic help like this, but I don’t know how to make such a beautiful website.

Jessica
Comment by jessica on July 20th, 2009
Can I use the same tutorial you made for your Dad to drag photo’s to a memory card for my digital picture frame???
Thanks
Comment by Gloria D on July 24th, 2009
no, Gloria, you would probably want to use Finder to drag and drop photos into a memory stick or card.

Good luck!
Comment by debbie T on July 24th, 2009
Thanks,
I will try.
Comment by Gloria D on July 25th, 2009
@Gloria, good luck! As I told Cas in comment #4, you might consider checking out the applestore in your area and see about signing up for some classes or personal training. It helps!

@Jean, I forgot to reply to your comment the other day. I think anyone can have a blog or web site! check out http://www.wordpress.com to sign up for a free blog. From there, you can write your own tutorials.

Google also offers ~~http://www.blogspot.com~~ http://www.blogger.com, and that is a good option too! Also for free!

Give it a go!
Comment by debbie T on July 25th, 2009
Thank you very much. I will try.
Comment by Gazitasari on January 31st, 2010
You’re an angel!

Thank you so much for these wonderful, easy-to-follow instructions. They got me exactly where I wanted to go, and I absolutely could not have gotten there without you…. I had tried everything I could think of and looked everywhere I could imagine.

I’m up and running!
Comment by Rob on February 20th, 2011
Glad it was helpful, Rob!
Comment by debbie T on February 21st, 2011
THis is an excellent tutorial!
Comment by carolyn on December 10th, 2011
I’m happy to hear that, Carolyn!
Comment by debbie T on December 10th, 2011
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was about to give up then I found your tutorial. I hope that I wasn’t so dumb as to not find it simply via Apple Tutorials but your help made my day! Thanks for thinking of others with the same problem!
Comment by Rando in Ft. Worth on February 14th, 2012
Thanks bro. it took me awhile to figure out why my craigslist post was “crashing” on me. The picture file was too big so I went looking online on how to resize photos for ebay or craigslist and your tutorital popped up. I had my post up and running in no time after reading your tutorial. Thanks alot!!
Comment by Joe on June 23rd, 2012