Tips for Scrapping on a Mac?

MsJessica · 06-02-2010, 11:15 AM

Hi ladies,

I know there are lots of us out there using Macs, so lets put our thinking caps together and add some of the most helpful tips you have for scrapping on a Mac, including but not limited to working with iPhoto, what software to use, organizational tips, etc.

Looking forward to seeing what we come up with!

>>aruaL<< · 06-02-2010, 12:20 PM

I hate iPhoto, I ended up pulling all of my photos out of it and I just have my own folder structure set up that I use to pull photos from. It crashed allllllllllllllllllll the time. It was starting to get ridiculously annoying and a huge waste of my time. Bummer too cause I use to really like iPhoto....

MsJessica · 06-02-2010, 12:31 PM

That's really too bad about iPhoto - any idea why it was crashing so much? Just too many photos or something else? I haven't used it much yet...

>>aruaL<< · 06-02-2010, 12:40 PM

Jessica, I'm not sure why it crashed so much but I know I wasn't alone in the matter. I found many people online complaining about the same issue. Whenever I had Photoshop open at the same time, it was never a good thing. I could use iphoto alone, if photoshop was closed, and it worked fine most of the time... but I like to scrap with my photos accessible at the same time, so that just didn't work for me.

debilou · 06-02-2010, 03:01 PM

I never liked Iphoto either. It's been over a 18 months since I've tried it, but, I do remember one MAJOR problem was either seeing all black or all white .png files..

Your COULND'T see them in iphoto.

I am very happy with Adobe bridge, and, now with CS5 - and it's mini bridge - which let's you open up files directly in CS5 - I think it was the best choice for me.

debilou · 06-02-2010, 03:05 PM

And, basic tips are: in Windows PC's you will see the

CTRL +
or
ALT +

on Macs

The same shortcuts would be

CMD +
OPTION +

jennilynn10 · 06-02-2010, 03:23 PM

This is a GREAT thread! Thanks Laura & Debi for the tips. And thanks for starting it Jess. I just switched to a MacBook.

I was wondering about iPhoto and where to put my photos. I guess eventually they will all go on an external hard drive and I will just create a file structure based on photos and digi-kits. I used to use ACDSee and always liked it. I am thinking now of trying to learn Adobe Bridge with my CS5. I hope it is not too difficult!

MsJessica · 06-02-2010, 03:25 PM

so far, I've been using iPhoto - I like it for certain things, like publishing things to Facebook and that sort of thing. I've often been terrible about it and I have uploaded two albums in the last two days because it's so easy.

>>aruaL<< · 06-02-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennilynn10

This is a GREAT thread! Thanks Laura & Debi for the tips. And thanks for starting it Jess. I just switched to a MacBook.

I was wondering about iPhoto and where to put my photos. I guess eventually they will all go on an external hard drive and I will just create a file structure based on photos and digi-kits. I used to use ACDSee and always liked it. I am thinking now of trying to learn Adobe Bridge with my CS5. I hope it is not too difficult!

I have all of my digi-supplies and photos on external hard drives. I MUCH prefer it this way. I also use Bridge (Im on CS4... soon to be CS5) and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Bridge... it's easy :-)

MsJessica · 06-02-2010, 04:01 PM

I'm trying to decide if it's worth the money for CS5, even with an academic discount. I downloaded a trial of Pixelmator last night, so we'll see how that works for me, and then I'll have to make that decision!!

>>aruaL<< · 06-02-2010, 04:09 PM

I haven't ever heard of Pixelmator.. what is that?
I loveeee my CS4... and can't wait to looveeee CS5 too.. hehe. I used the academic discount too.
I learned this weekend that my brother uses photoshop.. or tries to. hehe....

**webfrau** · 06-02-2010, 04:11 PM

I use PSE8 which on a mac comes with Bridge CS4. I love Bridge, it's so easy to use. It was worth switching to mac just for that.

MsJessica · 06-02-2010, 04:16 PM

Pixelmator is a Mac-only image editting program. So far I have found it pretty similar to photoshop (at least, CS2) so we'll see - as I said, I downloaded the free version, so we'll see how it goes.

MsJessica · 06-02-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webfrau

I use PSE8 which on a mac comes with Bridge CS4. I love Bridge, it's so easy to use. It was worth switching to mac just for that.

So, tell me about Bridge - I HATED Bridge in CS2

**webfrau** · 06-02-2010, 04:35 PM

Lauren has a great tutorial on her blog about bridge and smart collections which is what I mainly use.
http://create4u.blogspot.com/2008/11...ctions-in.html

I believe this appeared in CS4.
I don't tag or keyword any of my scrapping stuff. I just point Bridge at my scrapbooking folder and tell it to search for what I'm after. I find I'm using a much bigger variety of items than I used to, finding things I'd forgotten I had.