Create 'rotate capable' desktop images from iPhoto5
Fri, Jul 22 2005 at 9:53AM PDT • Contributed by: tboydsto
Fri, Jul 22 2005 at 9:53AM PDT • Contributed by: tboydsto
I recently posted on Apple Discussions a method of create rotating (automatically changing) Desktop images from iPhoto 5 without any fancy scripting. As we all know, the move to iPhoto 5 removed our beloved virtual file system of directory-based albums containing softlinked photos. I found this out when I reset my iPhoto library, effectively eliminating all those directories. As a consequence, the "Change photos every X minutes" no longer works on iPhoto albums. Well, that is what I thought, but here's how I got it to work with a SmartAlbum:
[robg adds: I find this change in iPhoto one of the most annoying 'improvements' in iPhoto5. Really, what's the purpose of having a bunch of albums of cool images if you can't automatically cycle through those images on your desktop? I keep hoping a minor update will bring back this useful feature...
In testing this hint, I found it works great for one display. It doesn't work, though, if you want the cycling images on your second display -- the iPhoto Selection folder doesn't appear in the list of choices. However, the presence of the new iPhoto Selection folder in the Finder provides a (further) workaround: on your second display, use the Choose Folder option in the Desktop panel, and then navigate to the iPhoto Selection folder. After all this work, you'll now have what you had in iPhoto4 with a couple of clicks -- a set of cycling images on your second display. Of course, if you want to change the selection, you'll have to go through the whole process again. Sigh.]
- Open iPhoto and select the SmartAlbum you want to use for your changing Desktop images.
- Click Edit -> Select All, or just use the Command-A keyboard shortcut.
- Select the Desktop button on the toolbar in iPhoto.
- The Desktop section of the Desktop & Screensaver prefs panel should open.
- You should now see a folder called iPhoto Selection, make sure it's selected, and then check the 'Rotate every X minutes' box.
[robg adds: I find this change in iPhoto one of the most annoying 'improvements' in iPhoto5. Really, what's the purpose of having a bunch of albums of cool images if you can't automatically cycle through those images on your desktop? I keep hoping a minor update will bring back this useful feature...
In testing this hint, I found it works great for one display. It doesn't work, though, if you want the cycling images on your second display -- the iPhoto Selection folder doesn't appear in the list of choices. However, the presence of the new iPhoto Selection folder in the Finder provides a (further) workaround: on your second display, use the Choose Folder option in the Desktop panel, and then navigate to the iPhoto Selection folder. After all this work, you'll now have what you had in iPhoto4 with a couple of clicks -- a set of cycling images on your second display. Of course, if you want to change the selection, you'll have to go through the whole process again. Sigh.]
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