Understanding Aperture?

[perrycho]

I just received my Mac Pro yesterday and I loaded my CS3 and Aperture 2 to the system. However I need some help as to how aperture and the file structure works.

In windows I use Breezebrower to view and cull my files and Photoshop to manipulate my files.

This is where I think my work routine might defer under the appple operating system. My main question is when I open aperture I am asked to import my files and if I say no, I can't go and search the directory and then view my files, I have to import them- is this correct?

If I import them where do I put them and does that mean I will have 2 sets of files on the hard disk? Can I use this software to cull and delete the pictureas that I don't really want like I do in Breezebrowser?

Is there an equivalent software like breezebrowser for mac.


Perry

[David_Buzzard]

When you import the files into Aperture, click on "leave files in Place", and it will only put the preview files into the library.

I use Photo Mechanic to edit the photos, then simply import the shots I want to convert.

[Martin_Doudoroff]

Originally Posted by perrycho

If I import them where do I put them and does that mean I will have 2 sets of files on the hard disk?

If you're asking this question, I think you need to pause and do fundamentals-and-up tutorials/reading on Aperture (and Lightroom), because the "short answer" glosses over lots of important details that place these two products in their own category. I highly recommend Luminous Landscape's Lightroom Tutorial (US$15 and worth much more). Apple has a heap of short video tutorials on Aperture on their web site; they're a bit fragmentary, but they're still a good place to start.

Originally Posted by perrycho

Can I use [Aperture] to cull and delete the pictureas that I don't really want like I do in Breezebrowser?

Yes, of course. And I suspect most Aperture users do precisely that. However, the Aperture designers have a slightly different take on the process than you may expect: their idea is that you import your entire shoot into Aperture, rate the images (including marking rejects) and only later decide whether to actually delete any files. (There's a menu item for that in the File menu.)

As David Buzzard points out, you can elect to whittle down the images you're importing, first, using Photo Mechanic (or Bridge or even the Finder if you're a masochist.) But you need to understand the respective natures of Aperture and Lightroom before you can decide which approach is best for your workflow. I guess I'm trying to discourage you from trying to force new tools to conform to your current workflow for the sake of expediency.

[PhilipKach]

Originally Posted by Martin_Doudoroff

I guess I'm trying to discourage you from trying to force new tools to conform to your current workflow for the sake of expediency.

A big +1.

Until recently, I was a Light Room user.

The first time I tried Aperture, I hated it. The second time I tried it, I did as David suggested and left the photos in their original locations. I liked it better but wasn't sold on it.

The third time I tried Aperture, I decided to cut the cord with the past and tried to use it the way it was designed including importing the masters.

After a few days of rough going, I finally "got it". I love the way it works and the way it uses vaults for backups. I also like the free form way you can work with your image. No more switching to develop as in LR.

Here my basic work flow.

1. Using Finder, I copy my images to my Firewire drive. I use a file structure by date and job. I do not rename the files and I back-up this drive. Original files for future use. I switched from Capture One Pro to LR to Aperture. Who knows about the future, so I want my original files.

2. I open Aperture and import from disk. (I store the masters in Aperture.) I rename them and place them in a new project. My projects are in sub folders by job, type, and year. I then assign keywords. Aperture is VERY strong in keyword, EXIF, date, and similar searches.

3. I pick the best and do a print album. If any need extra work, I send them to Photoshop. Aperture save that copy and keeps it with the masters and shows it in the album.

4. I export the whole print album to JPEG files in another folder.

5. I use a profession lab's software called TPI ROES.

6. After receiving the prints, I delete the JPEG files. I keep the print album with the project in Aperture if I want to do an exact reprint.

LR is good. I prefer Aperture. Good Luck

Philip