Photos for Mac: A Take Control Crash Course

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Photos for Mac: A Take Control Crash Course

About the Book

Join Jason Snell, former lead editor at Macworld, and make yourself at home in Apple’s Photos app, which replaces both iPhoto and Aperture.

Jason tells you what to expect from Photos in comparison to iPhoto and Aperture, and walks you through importing libraries from iPhoto and Aperture.

Once your images are safe and sound in the Photos app, Jason helps you understand the Photos interface and points out how you can organize your images. You'll also learn how to work with the editing tools — and how to use third-party editing extensions.

And, for those who are feeling crafty, there's a chapter about using Photos' features to create your own books, cards, and calendars. The book doesn't stop with what you can do within Photos on the Mac. You'll also get help with syncing photos with iOS devices or an Apple TV, and with sharing your photos via social media.

Jason answers a bunch of burning questions, including:

  • If I import a library into Photos, can I still edit it in Aperture or iPhoto?
  • Will Photos require a huge amount of disk space to import my iPhoto library?
  • What should I do about iPhoto or Aperture metadata that doesn’t map to Photos?
  • Where’s the sidebar?
  • What is the System Photo Library, and why is it important?
  • What should I expect if I turn on iCloud Photo Library?
  • Can I delete iPhoto? What about my old iPhoto library?
  • How do I interpret (or turn off) the icons that overlay my photos?

You’ll find directions for editing photos, including help with:

  • Using basic editing controls, like rotation and crop.
  • Taking advantage of the blue checkmarks on the Adjustments pane.
  • The utility of each of the special adjustment controls.
  • Creating a default set of adjustments.
  • Applying a specific set of adjustments to more than one photo.
  • Removing a blemish from a face in a photo.
  • Editing a raw file (instead of the JPEG).
  • Using a third-party photo-editing extension.

You’ll also find advice about:

  • Why the search field is so important in Photos.
  • Sorting all your albums and sorting photos within albums.
  • Applying location information (geotags).
  • Working with keywords, and using the heart-icon Favorite button.
  • Training Photos to recognize a particular face.
  • Setting up albums and smart albums.
  • Sharing an album online via iCloud Photo Sharing.
  • Configuring the Ken Burns effect in a slideshow.
  • Exporting a slideshow as a video file.
  • Using Apple’s print service for printing photos.
  • Editing a photo while working in a book, card, or calendar.

About the Author

Jason Snell
Jason Snell

Jason Snell has been writing about Apple since it was doomed—1994, to be exact—and was the lead editor for Macworld for more than a decade. He also oversaw editorial operations for PCWorld, TechHive, and Greenbot. 

He currently writes about technology at sixcolors.com, and hosts the Upgrade and Clockwise podcasts at relay.fm, and produces and hosts many other podcasts at theincomparable.com.

Jason lives with his wife and two children in Mill Valley, California.

Table of Contents

  • Read Me First
  • Introduction
  • Photos Quick Start
  • Photos vs. iPhoto and Aperture
  • Import from iPhoto into Photos
  • Import from Aperture into Photos
  • Import Your Files into Photos
  • Use Multiple Photos Libraries
  • Navigate the Photos Interface
  • Add Info about Your Photos
  • Make Albums in Photos
  • Define Smart Albums in Photos
  • Sync with iCloud Using Photos
  • Work with Photos in iOS
  • Process Your Photos
  • Edit Your Photos
  • Share Your Photos
  • View Photos on an Apple TV
  • Make Slideshows in Photos
  • Make Books, Calendars, and Cards
  • Make Photographic Prints
  • The Photos Grab Bag
  • About This Book
  • About the Author
  • About the Publisher
  • Copyright and Fine Print

About the Publisher

This book is published on Leanpub by Take Control Books

With its Take Control series of ebooks, alt concepts inc. covers a wide range of technology topics, with a special emphasis on Apple products and services. Our catalog comprises over 100 titles, and we’ve sold hundreds of thousands of ebooks in the process of providing expert advice and technical know-how to tens of thousands of readers around the world. Join us today!

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