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A question about using iPhoto4 (4.0.3) in Mac OS-X (10.3.5).
When one imports pictures into iPhoto, does the program DUPLICATE the image file (leaving the original unchanged) or does it just REFERENCE the original file? I.e.: after importation, can one then safely erase the originals?

In another list, I got the answer to my question.

Yes, iPhoto stored a file in its own directory (i.e., it makes a copy in that location) rather than referencing files elsewhere. So after importing -- whether from a camera or another folder -- one can delete the original image files.

And EXPORTING from iPhoto also creates a duplicate image file -- whether it is exported to the same or different drive.

Thanks to all.