iPhoto file size vs Original Photos

[Yerman]

I'm switching from iPhoto to something else. Not sure what yet...just not iPhoto.

So I exported all my photo's from iPhoto and the folder size is 46.36GB vs my iPhoto Library folder size of 80.96.

Is that normal for the iPhoto library to be almost twice as big?

I want to make sure everything is good before I delete the iPhoto folder for good.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Be sure you exported those image files at full resolution. Also, did you Export as Original, export the edited versions, or both?

But yes, an iPhoto library contains a lot more than the original images, so it can be significantly larger than a set of folders containing only the master image files. Every image has a Preview version as well as the Master. The Previews may be smaller than the Masters (especially if the masters are RAW), but for lower-resolution cameras that output JPGs, the Previews may be almost as large as the Masters. There are also (much smaller) Thumbnail versions of the images, plus all the data (image metadata, data describing the edits made to the images, data describing the organization of all the Events and Albums you've created....).

 

[maflynn]

Is that normal for the iPhoto library to be almost twice as big?

The iPhoto library holds the edits, previews, extra metadata, and possible some deleted images so yeah its possible. As noted above, be sure to export the Masters.

 

[Yerman]

Ya...I made sure to select "Original" when exporting. Thanks guys.