I cannot fathom why it's so large. It's kind of blowing my mind. I mean, it's a photo organizer, there's only so much it can do, right?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So why the heck is iPhoto 550MB?
- Thread starter Stu L Tissimus
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Hmm 550MB is nothing, mine is just over 10GB 
Its probably because its keeping the original image and any modified images, which can double the size if you modify all your photos.
Its probably because its keeping the original image and any modified images, which can double the size if you modify all your photos.
Wait, so it actually stores you images inside the Applications folder? That seems a bit backwards...
The map database files for the new Locations feature seem pretty large. Maybe they grow as you import pictures from different locations. Mine are nearly 150MB right now, and I have no iPhoto Library on this computer.
To see these files, right-click iPhoto.app, show package contents, and navigate to Contents/Resources. I have PointOfInterest.db and VectorMaps.db
To see these files, right-click iPhoto.app, show package contents, and navigate to Contents/Resources. I have PointOfInterest.db and VectorMaps.db
No it doesn't store images in your App folder. I believe WhiteNoiseMaker was referring the the iPhoto Library (which is the repository for your images- whose default location is "/Users/your user name/Pictures" rather than the iPhoto application itself that I think you were asking about.
Some info about your pics (GPS info it seems at least, and I suspect some Faces info) is stored within the iPhoto application "package" which can contribute to the reported size of the app itself. Mine is currently at 372Mb while my default Library (that I have moved to another drive) is at 21.28Gb currently.
I would normally agree.
I was getting ready to say that was exactly right but I decided to look at the size of mine just for fun and realized it's only 77Mb! I opened the package contense up, and all my pictures were inside! So then I open iPhoto up and under info it says I have 2,664 pictures worth 2.2Gb. Anyone know why this is?
I was getting ready to say that was exactly right but I decided to look at the size of mine just for fun and realized it's only 77Mb! I opened the package contense up, and all my pictures were inside! So then I open iPhoto up and under info it says I have 2,664 pictures worth 2.2Gb. Anyone know why this is?
Aha! I found the main offender. Contents/Resources/Themes takes up 400MB!
*delete*
That sounds like all the books, calendars, and cards you can make with your photos. I hope you never use that feature.
Although others are reporting smaller sizes for the app (mine is 176 MB) so it sounds like you erased something that's growing over time. What has been put in there, I couldn't say! I'm glad you feel comfortable to erase things that you don't know what they are. That's to scary for me!
Aha! I found the main offender. Contents/Resources/Themes takes up 400MB!
*delete*
What version of iPhoto are you using for curiosity? I just took a look at one with the iLife 08 version and one with the iLife 09 version and neither had a Themes folder in /contents/resources in their packages. I looked at an iLife 06 one that had a small "Themes" folder there (something like 150Mb), but no later ones.