Aperture & iPhoto metadata when images NOT stored in iPhoto

Question

Thinking of "upgrading" to Aperture from iPhoto '11 - still want to use iPhoto for organization but Aperture for hopefully better editing capabilities, etc.
Have 30,000+ images with keywords, etc. in iPhoto; the image files are NOT stored IN iPhoto, i.e., they are organized in folders external to iPhoto's library. The iPhoto library file best I can tell stores thumbnails and keyword metadata, etc.
I'd like to use Aperture and have access to all of iPhoto's keywords, etc. but to use the original photo files.
Can Aperture be setup to work this way? i.e., to pull in the 30,000+ photos' keywords yet reference the same originals that iPhoto is referencing?
I don't want to duplicate the 30,000+ originals... In all likelihood I'd only ever want to manipulate a small percentage of the total image library in Aperture.
Any suggestions appreciated!
Alex

Answer 1

Alexander Mcleod wrote:
Thank you for taking the time to reply...
re: "Basically to edit an image, stored in iPhoto, in Aperture you would have to export the image from iPhoto import into Aperture modify it export it out of Aperture and import it back into iPhoto."
My point is that in my case the images are NOT *stored* IN iPhoto...
Yes I understand, your iPhoto library is setup using referenced masters, the termed used when the master file is stored outside of the programs database. And you could setup Aperture in the same way and they would both be pointing to the same master file, external to both programs databases.
But here's here's the kicker: The master file *is never modified* by either program. I believe iPhoto makes a copy of the master when you apply adjustments (someone with a greater understanding of iPhoto can correct me here) how it does it isn't important what is important is that he master isn't modified; Aperture also leaves the master alone. It records the adjustments you make as a stream on instructions and applies those to the master when you want to create an adjusted image. What you see (normally) in Aperture's views are previews of the adjusted image. So changes you make in Aperture won't be seen in iPhoto because iPhoto is looking at the original master file, not Aperture's adjusted version.
Now you can share the preview from Aperture with iPhoto, but at this point you basically have the adjusted image in two places.
And in reference to the other response that suggests that iPhoto and Aperture use different databases, I'd completely expect that to be the case. What I'm wondering about is can Aperture initialize its database from iPhoto's database; i.e., create its equivalent to iPhoto's "library" file (where all the iPhoto metadata is stored) from iPhoto's AND like iPhoto reference the original files in their original location.
Yes Aperture can initialize a database of its own based on the iPhoto library and that library can be setup to use referenced masters, see above.
I don't see why I'd need to 'export' any image from iPhoto (unless of course I'd "edited" it in iPhoto - in which case the *modified* file IS I think stored IN iPhoto's library) but that's my point... I don't WANT to edit the files with iPhoto... I want to edit the files with Aperture.
You're right you won't need to export from iPhoto if you setup both with referenced masters. But like I said above to get back to iPhoto you will have to export from Aperture unless you can live with using the previews in iPhoto. But again you will basically have two identical library structures, at least at start, as time goes on they will diverge.
I hope this better clarifies what I'm trying to explain.
It does, I hope my reply also helps explain the difficulties with this setup and why it's not as cut and dry as it first appears.
I have read *many* other posts that point out what you're pointing out but they all seem to make assumptions about wanting to modify files in Aperture which were previously *modified* in iPhoto. The unmodified "original" photos (assuming both iPhoto and Aperture have the ability that iPhoto has to reference the original files from a location *external* to iPhoto) are then by definition are already shared between iPhoto and Aperture so there's no need to 'export' from one to the other, no?
As I've said whats shared is the original unmodified master image. Once either program modifies it it is no longer shared.