Find And Delete Duplicate iPhoto Photos And Videos

iPhoto on my Mac has over 15,000 photos. Last week, again, I uploaded photos from my iPhone and digital camera and both contained duplicates.

They both had photos I’d already uploaded once before, and, again and blindly, I uploaded the duplicates, too, because I wasn’t sure. I’ve been doing that for a long time so iPhoto has plenty of photo and movie duplicates. What’s next?

Find And Eliminate All Duplicates

iPhoto is very forgiving in that it simply stores what you give it, even if you give it the same photo and video a half dozen times. It’s also forgiving in that cropping and enhancing don’t destroy the original photo.

Duplifinder is one of those increasingly popular one-trick pony apps for the Mac that does one thing very well.

Simply put, it finds the photo and video duplicates in iPhoto.

Then, Duplifinder gives you a few choices. First, you can look through what it finds. The original is displayed first, then the duplicates. All of them, and their dates.

The interface could not be any simpler.

Duplifinder displays all the duplicates for you to inspect.

Second, you have the choice of doing nothing (don’t be afraid; you have a backup, right?). Or, click the Add Duplicates to Duplifinder Album.

That means the duplicates are segregated from all other photos and videos in iPhoto so you can delete them later.

Or, you can be brave and click the Move Duplicates to iPhoto Trash for later deletion.

The end result is a clean and pristine iPhoto Library with a single original to satisfy your OCD requirement for neatness.

I’d like to see some kind of visible green glow or border around the original photos and videos, and maybe a reddish glow around the duplicates which would make them easier to see.

Simple And Cheap Is Better

Duplifinder is another app in the trend of simple is better. It’s also not an app you’re likely to use every week or even every month but it’s handy to have, hence the low price.

UPDATE: Duplifinder’s developer, Stefan Reitshamer, says a new version is available with more features, including the ability to group duplicates (with border shading so they’re easier to view). A double click now reveals the photo in iPhoto, and the delete key deletes the photo. Nicely done and very handy.

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