Aperture to LightRoom conversion

I'm a potential buyer of LR but one thing that is holding me back is the prospect of manually trying to load my images from aperture to LR. My library contains around 10k images so I suspect its not a large one compared to others but the prospect of recreating my folders/categories and re-importing them never mind reapplying the editing (if I export the masters) is a daunting task one of which I'm not quite ready for.
Is there a migration path from aperture to Lightroom either from Adobe or third party?
TIA
Mike

I just moved my images from Aperture to LR beta and the method I used took a little work but it went very smoothly, which is what I care about.
First, I created a folder structure that mirrored my Aperture folders (Project > Folder > Album).
Next, I selected all images in each Aperture album and relocated the masters to the corresponding folders I created in the first step.
Then, I imported them into LR.
It all went pretty smoothly but it took a little time. I should say I only have about 6K images in my managed library with about 15 -30 images per album so a collection of tens of thousands will no doubt be a big pain using the same procedure.
One weird thing happened though. When I started using LR everything was crisp and responsive but after importing ALL of my images LR was so darn slow I had to force the app to quit and restart my machine. I mean the thing just ground to a halt even after I forced LR to quit.
SO, on a hunch I went back into Aperture and deleted everything. All the projects, folders, and albums. Then I went back to LR and the thing was fast. No problem opening any files, switching modules, making adjustments, etc.
I have no idea if the leftover file references in Aperture caused a problem but after they were gone all was/is good.
For reference my machine is a 17" MacBook Pro Core Duo w/2GB ram.

Similar Messages

Finder vs. Aperture/iPhoto/Lightroom et al

I’ve tried everything from iPhoto to Lightroom to Aperture, but have found happiness with Finder+Tags. I offer this “solution” for image organization and archiving for anybody who is interested.
Caveat: this is a narrowly defined system that works best, for me, under these conditions.
I shoot in RAW, so conversion is always a primary component of any process
I use the Desktop for initial organization, but also works by importing directly to any spot on your HD for review
I do all my RAW conversion in Adobe Camera Raw and editing in Photoshop for layering and compositing reasons
This is a low volume workflow, one image is edited at a time, no batch processing
Having said all that, the simple Finder Tag workflow using colors as categories:
Import images > Desktop folder > Name and Tag folder YELLOW > Tag images RED for conversion/editing > Delete untagged images
RED Tagged image > ACR > Photoshop > Edit > Save & Tag (GREEN + PURPLE or GREY) and change RAW original from RED to ORANGE
Files keep the camera file name + Tags; Folders are arranged by simple 4-digit code (MM/DD) + Tag YELLOW (still editing one or more images) or GREEN (finished editing).
That's it. It's simple and it works. For me. But I'm always open for any comments/criticism and suggestions on how to make it work better.
Brian

To get an idea of the benefits of Aperture and Lightroom you might visit the DAM (digital asset management) forum and see what they say about those applications over there.
The DAM Forum
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Aperture vs lightroom vs adobe bridge

I'm very very very new to all this, I plan on buying an imac soon and I'm trying my hand at amateur photography, but I am unsure what the difference b/w aperture, lightroom and adobe bridge is. Can anyone explain the differences in a nutshell?

Alejandra-
What Charles said. Aperture, Bridge and Lightroom are all applications for advanced digital image handling. Each has a steep learning curve that requires prerequisite full conversance with the Mac, batch image handling and digital photography in general. Simply running a trial version of Aperture, for instance, will not give a novice an appropriate idea of how Aperture behaves and what it is capable of.
Take at least a thousand digital pics and manage them using (free) iPhoto. Buy (inexpensive) Adobe Photoshop Elements and learn basic image editing and manipulation. Then re-ask your question. New Aperture and Lightroom versions and new training routines will then be available and you will get much more relevant advice. Do not run the 30-day trial until you have righteous hardware and training CD tutorial(s) in hand.
Planning an iMac purchase be aware that images processing is very hardware intensive. Anyone intending images processing should plan on buying strong hardware: Mac Pros, Macbook Pros or the highest end of the iMacs. Best performance will come from the strongest hardware. 2 GB RAM should be considered minimal.
-Allen Wicks

Interesting speed test - Aperture vs Lightroom

Still noodling on the whole Aperture v Lightroom thing and I as I mentioned in an earlier post, I like the corrections (develop) portion of Lightroom but pretty much like everything else in Aperture, especially the workflow and organization. The thing that I find troubling is the SLOW speed of Aperture.
So, I have Windows running on my 1GB Macbook via Parallels and installed Lightroom for Windows and it FLYS. The speed is the same or faster under Parallels/Windows than Aperture is natively and may be faster then just OSX version of Lightroom. . .wow.
This leads me to believe (hope maybe) that a performance bump for Aperture is in the works and probably won't be that hard for Apple. It almost seems like some debug/logging has been left on. . .
Adam

I totally agree that in real life working conditions that Aperure is a faster program. I think we have to qualify this speed issue...Lightroom has less system requirements that Aperture so it appears to be faster on the surface. The best way to test the program is to run it through its paces with your current workflow.
I posted the following findings on anoher forum...
LIGHTROOM
PRoS
- Easier to pick up and use
- Slightly more in depth Editing Tools (Curves, more color sliders, Black Level etc). Can acheive the same with Aperture, but not as easily.
- Fast (but with a few gotchas - must let the program finish building previews etc)
- Can create and share Presets with other users and apply Presets on Import
- History - can go easily back to Prior state
- System requirements not that stringent. Can also Mac & PC
- Healing Brush/Clone Tool is nicely done
- More Camera support...
CoNs
- File Management (DAM) seems to be the least in depth part of the program.
- Stacks/Virtual copies could be more intuitive. This seems more to be an after thought in this program and I am not sure what Adobe was doing here. Aperture just does a much better job in its exectuion. People that use both prorams will understand what I mean. Lightroom Also doesn't handle the import of Raw/Jpegs with same name well. Need to do a workaround.
- Modules (forces you into set way of doing things). The best part of the program is how easy it is to figure out due to the modules, but that is the part of the program that limits you the most once you figure it out. You end up hating the thing you love the most. The modules slows down your workflow to the point that it is counter productive and negates any speed increase the program has on the surface.
- User Interface is somewhat customizable, but you cannot customize the view as much as in Aperture...I actually found the interface too restrictive with the modules.
- Email feature and watermark feature not as intuitive. Sends images for email to a folder.
APERTURE
- Best FM/DAM Features of the two. Program clearly geared more towards File Mgmt
- Loupe - This tool alone gives Aperture an advantage
- Stacks - Extremely well done
- Versions etc...
- Can get CLOSE to Canon DPP (colors) conversions when using this program much faster than Lightroom. The best way to describe this is Aperture has less editing tools, but they are all very functional.
- Faster to Navigate and do things on the fly due to open nature which greatly speeds up your Workflow. Program geared more towards managing large amount of images IMO. The open nature of the program makes it much faster tool to get a final product when working with large number of images.
- Emailing functions are very intuitive (e.g. adding watermark etc). Click on email and my image goes straight to mail resized and with a watermark just add the persons namde and hit send. This is one feature that illustrates why with Apple you feel as if you are working with one big program, than a bunch of seperate programs.
- More Customizable UI..Can display images a multitude of ways
- Presets for each section
CoNs
- Learning Curve. The program is daunting at first due to its wide open nature. I suggest buying a book or you will miss out on many of its features. Many folks are not aware of the depth of the program.
- Focus was on clearly more on File Mgmt features than on editing features. The Editing features needs to be more in depth and improved. E.g. The Lift and stamp Tool is extremely difficult to use. Lightroom also has a few features that Apple should a good look at. I.e. Curves, History, More sliders etc.
- POWER HUNGRY - The program requires way too much computer (GPU) to run it adequately. I think Apple focused too much on using Aperture in the beginning to promote hardware. The program still cant get pass that stigma.
- The program locks you out once you start your conversion to Jpegs (you can’t work in the program during this time). Apple has to correct this because it really cuts down your productivity.
Conclusion
The best way to figure out if a program works for your particular needs is to test it under your working conditions. I had a week of down time and I decided this was the time to learn and test Lightroom vs. Aperture because I was looking for an alternative to Cannon DPP mostly due to how it handled shadow details and also sorting through pics etc.
Background: I am a fashion/model photographer and in my field we shoot a lot of photos to ensure we have that Money Shot . A shoot with over 1000 images is quite common. From this I have to narrow down to the best photos to send the presentable sample to the client without overwhelming them. One week turnaround is customary. I shoot only RAW so I have to do some edit to get the pictures to a state where they POP. Photoshop is not used in this phase unless I see a shot that needs something done that my DAM software cannot do and I HAVE to send it to the client because it is a winner.
After testing both software, I chose Aperture. It has some drawbacks, but I found it t be the better program for my needs. It helped me tremendously to sort through photos, apply keywords and create smart albums. For Example I came up with a key word Submission Package and I created a Smart Album tied to that keyword. I went through the images and tagged all the shots that caught my eye immediately with that keyword. This was while deleting the obvious bad shots, and editing the pictures and lift and stamp. Click over to the smart album titled Submission package and all the shots I want to send was sitting there already edited and ready to go. This made the program much FASTER in getting a final product.
I tried this with Lightroom, but the modular nature frustrated me because I don’t do things in a set order...For Example I might be applying Keywords, then see a pic I want to crop, then I decide I want to stack a few pics, then I want to tweak a photo. I was so tired of switching between modules and trying to remember what I could do where that I just gave up and went back to Aperture.
Ultimately I found that Aperture was a faster program in exection. At the end of the day it is all about of getting a great product in the shortest amount of time to my client and Aperture helped me the most to meet this objective...
Macbook Pro Core Duo 2.16 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

IPhoto, Aperture and Lightroom

The basic question - should I stay with iPhoto or move over to Aperture or Lightroom? I've done a ton of reading on the web and end up with more questions than I started with! Some of the reading included http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/03/05/aperture-vs-lightoom.html and http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/digitalmedia/2007/03/05/aperture-v s-lightoom.html?page=1
Background stuff: I have been a long time user of iPhoto plus iPhoto Buddy which allows me to manage several iPhoto libraries (actually about 15). My photography is of three very different types - the first type being family and friends which are mostly candid shots that document the moment and are often a tad short on the artistic side. The second type is when I try to be Ed the Serious Amateur (my website http://blueorbimages.com/index.htm#). The third type consists of photos I use in reports I create for the consulting work I do - overseeing the proper construction of building exteriors for large buildings such as hotel, office buildings and hospitals. These photos are purely documentary. I have been shooting jpegs but am now shooting RAW for my serious work and jpegs for the Family stuff. In switching over to RAW I also took a hand at using Adobe Bridge as I use PS CS3 along with a lot of the other CS3 components - Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, etc. While Bridge is a good file organizer I started to look at Lightroom as a better tool. I also have been looking at Aperture for the same reason. I am now leaning toward Aperture in part due to the ability to "manage" my current iPhoto files, the "versions" feature and the preservation of the original. As stated before - I also have a number of unanswered questions:
I use SuperSlideshow Pro for creating my web pages. I want to keep the "slideshow" format - am I correct in that Aperture only produces thumbnail type galleries?
From what I've seen on this forum I have concluded that I will be better served to export/import all my iPhoto images to Aperture rather than access the iPhoto images via references - is this correct?
Two features in iPhoto that I use frequently are to email images (often reducing the file size) and to export images for resizing for other purposes - insert in Word reports, upload to a photo forum that I belong to (Photozo.com), merge into a data base I created in Filemaker for managing the printing, framing and displaying of my work at various exhibits. Are these features available in Aperture?
I'm a big user of Photoshop for my consulting work as well as my serious photography - cropping, color balance, adding text and symbols and the precise management of color in the printing process - I do most of my own printing on an Epson 2200. How easily can I go from Aperture to PS and back to Aperture?
I get a feeling that MacWorld SF 2008 may give us an update to Aperture - any thoughts here?
Any other issues I should consider?
BTW my Mac is an Intel 2 x 2.66 dual core with 7GB RAM, 30" Apple display and a 21" Samsung display and 1.5 TB disk space spread over 3 drives. I feel I should have no problems with horsepower, monitor real estate or storage space when using Aperture. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Thanks in advance for any and all input/comments.
Ed

I use SuperSlideshow Pro for creating my web pages. I want to keep the "slideshow" format - am I correct in that Aperture only produces thumbnail type galleries?
Correct, although there are export plug-ins for Gallery etc.
From what I've seen on this forum I have concluded that I will be better served to export/import all my iPhoto images to Aperture rather than access the iPhoto images via references - is this correct?
I never had enough images in iPhoto to know, hopefully others can answer.
Two features in iPhoto that I use frequently are to email images (often reducing the file size) and to export images for resizing for other purposes - insert in Word reports, upload to a photo forum that I belong to (Photozo.com),
Aperture has an 'email image' function, you can set quality/size etc. For use in other apps such as Word you will either need to turn on Preview generation (with a performance hit) and will be able to drag-n-drop directly, or you will need to export Versions as needed to the Finder and then import to the other app.
merge into a data base I created in Filemaker for managing the printing, framing and displaying of my work at various exhibits. Are these features available in Aperture?
There's an Aperture-to-Filemaker export plug-in, but as I don't use Filemaker I've no idea how useful it will be. If you are relatively knowledgeable when it comes to AppleScript you should be able to set up your own copying of data between the two apps.
Note that LightRoom has no scriptability +at all+, and only gained the ability to add export plug-ins in the most recent version, so there aren't many yet.
I'm a big user of Photoshop for my consulting work as well as my serious photography - cropping, color balance, adding text and symbols and the precise management of color in the printing process - I do most of my own printing on an Epson 2200. How easily can I go from Aperture to PS and back to Aperture?
Reasonably easily, but it's going to involve 16-bit uncompressed files so will use up HD space quickly. You shouldn't need to be doing any cropping or colour balancing in PS as that can be done first in Aperture.
I get a feeling that MacWorld SF 2008 may give us an update to Aperture - any thoughts here?
It seems likely...
BTW my Mac is an Intel 2 x 2.66 dual core with 7GB RAM, 30" Apple display and a 21" Samsung display and 1.5 TB disk space spread over 3 drives.
A minimum of 2GB RAM and as good a graphics card as you can afford...
Ian

I downloaded Adobe immigration software for Aperture, opened Lightroom, but the Aperture library was grayed out so it couldn't be selected to import. How do I get it to work? I only have a few days left on the test version of Lightroom to see how it works

I downloaded Adobe immigration software for Aperture, opened Lightroom, but the Aperture library was grayed out so it couldn't be selected to import. How do I get it to work? I only have a few days left on the test version of Lightroom to see how it works with my Aperture library.

Gracias photo-enthusiast por tu respuesta pero hay docenas de de usuarios que tienen esta mismo problema, me da la sensación que nos tomas por gagas que no tenemos ni idea de lo que tenemos entre manos.
Me alegro enormemente que no hayas tenido tu este problema.

Work with both: iPhoto and Aperture (or Lightroom)

I have iLife '09 and the newest MacBook pro with Leopard (last edition) and I am New in Apple Scene.
All my photos now are imported in iPhoto. How can I organize lot of photos, when I want to work with Aperture (or Lightroom)? Do I need then iPhoto? Or only organize all photos in Aperture?

Aperture, Lightroom and iPhoto all cover the same ground in different ways.
iPhoto is aimed at the domestic market. It's very user friendly and works very well with Point and Shoot cameras especially.
Both AP and LR are focussed firmly on the Pro Shooter shooting high volumes of RAW. They both have significant learning curves.
That said, there is much to be gained as an Amateur photographer using either app if you are shooting RAW. Much less so if you you're shooting jpeg.
You can download trials of both AP and LR.
AP works in a limited fashion with iPhoto. You can share your Previews with iPhoto, for instance, and there is a facility to easily migrate from iPhoto to Aperture. You can migrate an entire library or just particular photos.
LR is utterly unaware of iPhoto. There is a third party plug-in that facilitates exporting from LR to iPhoto. There is no easy way to migrate from iPhoto to LR.
Subject to the caveats above about shooting RAW: I would use Aperture as the primary organisational and processing app. I choose AP because it's much more powerful that iPhoto and because it has excellent OS integration entirely missing from LR.
Regards
TD

Aperture vs Lightroom: any head-to-head comparisons/reviews?

I've spent a good deal of time looking for a head-to-head comparison of Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom and haven't been able to find anything. Can anyone point to to something?
I'm an amateur photographer who is progressing toward semi-professional (from a hobby standpoint anyway). I've been thinking about "upgrading" from iPhoto to Aperture or Lightroom. I've downloaded the demos of both but at this point I'm a little overwhelmed at figuring out which I like better (I know it's ultimately my decision, but would like to see some sort of comparison of the two). I use Photoshop Elements, but tend to be a bit of an Apple fanboy, so am leaning toward Aperture.
Thanks for your thoughts....

This looks interesting.
The Showdown: Apple Aperture and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
A new breed of software has recently emerged that promises to shift the digital photography landscape. Designed to streamline and integrate the digital workflow, Apple’s Aperture and Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom represent an exciting new generation of imaging applications.
What sets Aperture and Lightroom apart from the current stock of programs is the unwavering focus on digital photography, integrating the most critical aspects of the digital workflow from image import, metadata management, and cataloging to image correction and output.
But how well do these applications capture the nuances of the typical professional workflow? How do they compare with existing applications? And what does it take to integrate these applications into your existing operations?
Join us in March for a highly instructive and information-packed evening as we jump headlong into both Aperture and Lightroom and discover the nuts and bolts of how these applications work. You’ll learn how these programs were designed from the ground up to help you tame the digital avalanche and help you manage, select, and output your best images.
You’ll also learn how Aperture and Lightroom fit in with your existing tools ranging from raw converters to digital asset managers such as Microsoft iView Media Pro and Extensis Portfolio. You’ll discover when it makes sense to perform image manipulation within Aperture and Lightroom, and when you’ll need to turn to a higher-end image manipulation program, such as Photoshop, for advanced adjustments.
Our panelists will provide expert advice on how to use advanced new features in both programs to quickly examine hundreds of images, and how to organize your libraries for maximum flexibility and efficiency. You’ll also learn about new high impact options for outputting your images to print or the Web.
So be sure to join us in March for a lively and comprehensive exploration these two exciting new applications. You’ll come away with a good understanding of what these applications do, and how they compare with existing tools you are already using. You’ll also discover time-saving tips and learn important best practices that will help you maximize efficiency and capitalize on the state of the art in digital tools.
Speakers:
TBA
Sponsors:
TBA
Venue:
Blue Sky Rental Studios
2325 Third St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
415.626.7232
Date:
Tuesday, March 13
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Social hour: 6:00 p.m.
Cost:
ASMP members Free
Students $10
General $20
Advance Tickets: through Pay Pal
Jeff

Export aperture to lightroom

Please help, I have wasted so many weeks and hours trying to Export my 44,000, 270 GB image library from Aperture over to Lightroom . It's a nightmare! Nothing works.
First I tried using the built in Aperture importer inside lightroom. It take 8 days to transfer 25% , then it crashed. I did see that it had preserved project structure and keywords. I was storing my masters on a separate toshiba 3.0 bus drive.
I then started a new catalog in Lightroom and tried all over again, this time with a Thunderbolt 2TB drive. The inbuilt aperture import plugin started off a lot more promising, much faster, but after 4 hours of only 5% it seemed to slow down. I cancelled the process. I hoped that I can break it down into smaller chunks by running the plugin again, hoping that Lightroom would be able to detect duplicates and not import them.
However, it did not let me run the plugin a second time.
I have now paid for and downloaded a third party programme called Aperture Exporter. When I ran it however, it seemed to come up with so many errors (not imported CR2 or mov files, for example) that it was hardly worth the try. Need my money back
The next thing I tried was just exporting one project (march photostream, with 800 images) to my desktop in a folder. That also seemed to have an error or two, but when I imported into LIghtroom, it seemed not to recognise that there was already a 2015 folder there, so it put the images losely in date subfolders, but not in the pre-existing year 2015! ARRGHHH!!!! So I don't think it recognised duplicates (but I'm not sure yet).
What am I to do>??? I just want my photos in one place!!! Not Photos, not Aperture, but LIGHTROOM!!!!
It should not be this difficult - i dont even care anymore about my aperture keywords, edits or anythihg - just the dates going into the right places so I can sort it all out again in Lightroom.
What is a CR2 file anyway.
Please help advise me on the workflow I should be following, which plugin I should try with again, or how to do it manually but quickly. I have very little time!!!

From an Aperture point of view this is quite simple: Export your images to the Finder, write any metadata you prefer to the images on export, at whatever setting you choose.
https://documentation.apple.com/en/aperture/usermanual/index.html#chapter=21%26s ection=1%26tasks=true
has details of that process.
All you say about Aperture problems is:
The next thing I tried was just exporting one project (march photostream, with 800 images) to my desktop in a folder. That also seemed to have an error or two,
I'm not sure what help you expect with a problem described as vaguely as "an error or two".
what to do about my workflow - should I be trying to export folder by folder from Aperture? Exporting Versions?
I exported project by project from Aperture. Then imported to Lightroom. There is no right way, there is only the way that you want to do.
Same with exporting versions or originals. No right answer. It's what you prefer.
As for errors, what are they?

Aperture to Lightroom Export/Import question

For those who have done the Aperture - Lightroom move (for whatever reason), did you use the built-in Aperture to Lightroom importer that I understand is part of of LR5 or did you use a third-party exporter like Aperture Exporter?
What were your reasons for your choice? My Aperture library is around 68,000 photos, but only around 3,000 show up when I check as "adjusted", so my main concern is trying to maintain some semblance of my folder structure and things like keywords, ratings, etc.
Thanks. Steve

I tried the plug-in (got a trial version of LR5) and after making sure that my entire Aperture Library was referenced, started it - and made sure to tell it to leave the files where they were! To my dismay (1) a lot of photos that I would have expected to be imported came back with errors - even though the ORF Olympus RAW file was a supported camera and more importantly (2) a lot of my photos that were in particular folders, now found themselves in folders based upon the date the photo was either taken or imported into Aperture. Now I read about this - but it is only supposed to happen if you had a managed library and then LR would move the image files into folders based upon dates.
My library had about 68,000 images and after about 6 hours it was up to 30% or so, so I just clicked on DONE to see how it was handling my folder structure.
I am now trying with an application called Aperture Exporter (they have a trial version, but it has limitations on how many photos it will import) and it seems to be handling the export much better. It is keeping my folder structure intact, keeping my metadata (mainly keywords) and any photo that had adjustments in Aperture applied it gives you the option of exporting the original RAW/JPEG file along with a copy of the adjusted one - either as a JPEG or TIFF. Only "issue" would be that you have to have enough hard drive space to duplicate - at least initially - your entire photo library. Don't see an issue to do the export one folder or project at a time (at least not in the demo version).

Aperture Vs Lightroom 4

Could anybody tell me which is better between Aperture and Lightroom 4 please. I need to decide
Badrakumar

I'm glad I could help and I'm glad you decided. I think you'll enjoy LR. I've been a very loyal Aperture fan for years but have just switched to LR recenlty. Make sure to learn what catalogs, folders and collections are and I bet you'll be a super LR user in no time.
I don't really understand the question? What version of PS should you buy? If I was you I'd play with LR for a long time before deciding if you need PS. Most pro's find they are doing moe and more of thier work in LR completely. PS can sure do things that LR can't, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying LR (or Aperture) can do ALOT!
If PS is definitely on the plate then what's your budget?
If money is no object and you only will ever be interested in photography, then I'd say buy PS CS6.
If you are strapped for cash then find a previous version for sale. I wouldn't go before CS4, when they added 64 bit.
Make sure to take advantage of the education or teacher versions. Just know upgrading down the road may be hindered if you do.
Creative Cloud-
If you don't mind spending more in the long run, want to always have up to date software, and want to dabble in video, audio, web sites in the future then go for Creative Cloud. It the leasing service Adobe just invented. If you do the math it's highway robbery.
That being said I'm a creative cloud customer. I went from PS CS3 to now having access to all of CS6, and let me tell you I LOVE it. It's given me no excuse to not download a new software and totally be blown away by what thier other software can do. With the help of Lynda.com I've learnt Premiere Pro. Look what I did with my Canon 60D and a $30 mic, http://youtu.be/lPRgdNvIIPE
Then hearing my sister wanted some kind of logo I designed it in PS downloaded After Effects, learned how to use it and made an animated logo for her charity. Wow pretty neat skills to have access to all for the same price!

MBA and Aperture or Lightroom

Does anyone have experience using the Late 2008 1.86GHz MBA with either Aperture or Lightroom? I am a newcomer to digital photography and was warned off the 1st gen MBA for use with either of these programs.
I'd appreciate learning from users' real world experience.

Aperture Works great. If you are doing any editing etc - the fan will come on after a minute or 2 - but it runs fine. I submitted a large review of the new MBA SSD machine and the various heavyweight programs it can run well etc, but it was rejected by the site admins here since I didn't ask any questions in my review.
It runs fine. there is no worry about it overheating the machine etc, or it slowing down the system excessively. I don't have an overly large photo library on the MBA - but I only use Aperture for editing and not for tagging etc. Same goes for Photoshop CS3 and Logic Pro - they both work great.
Message was edited by: McGilli

Aperture vs Lightroom Color Renderign

Like many I have downloaded the Lightroon beta to stack against Aperture. It is an interesting excercise to run the two side by side on a 30" screen. Takes a bit of grunt.....
I have a question that maybe someone can answer:
If I open the same image (either RAW or JPEG) in both Lightroom and Aperture, and ensure that all auto editing is turned off (I think!) there is a MAJOR difference in the color rendering of the same image between the two applications. I have to say that Lightroom seems to be doing a MUCH better job on flesh tones than Aperture. But why are they different???
An explanation, would be greatly appreciated.
Rgds
Chris

I think I am doing better than that. In the small cog menu at the top of the Aperture adjustments pane there is a menu option 'Remove All Adjustments' which I select prior to comparison. Likewise in LIghtroom there is a Reset button bottom right corner of the Develop pane. I would point out however that even pressing this reset button produces a different color rendering than that in the Library area of Lightroom. I therefore see THREE raw states
1.Lightroom Library
2. Lightroom Develop (with reset pressed)
3. Aperture Master Image.
This used to be a problem with the likes of iView Media Pro in that it was not color managed but both Aperture and Lightroom are color managed and yet producing completely different renderings of color.
Chris

Aperture to Lightroom

When I migrate my photos from Aperture to Lightroom, will my photos merge with any preexisting Folders in Lightroom of the same name or will they remain in a separate Folder called Aperture?
If they remain separate, will I be able to move them into a folder or Collection within Lightroom?
currently my photos are on my hard drive in Pictures in Aperture.
thanks
john

Hi John
It depends on your set-up in Aperture e.g. whether you have a referenced library or a managed library. Some users are awaiting Adobe’s next iteration of the plug-in but if you wish to try now, Victoria Brampton has a useful article on her Lightroom Queen blog.
http://www.lightroomqueen.com/ready-move-aperture-iphoto/

Aperture to Lightroom: Switching experiences?

I'm wondering what experiences any users can share who have made the switch from Lightroom to Aperture.
How long did it take you to convert your Library?
How is the performance working for you in the new application?
What features of the new application have surprised or dissapointed you?
Was it worth the trouble to change?
Thanks for sharing!

Before Aperture 1.5, I used Lightroom extensively. In fact, I was asked to be in a select group of Beta testers that were able to communicate directly with the engineers. It is a good program and does the job for some people. However, after trying Aperture 1.5, I never went back to Lightroom. There were 3 main reasons:
1) The file management is superior in Aperture. Projects, albums and folders allow me to organize my work exactly how I want to. I can take care of both my assignment and stock clients in a very efficient manner. Plus, I use Aperture to manage my fine art prints and personal photos.
2) Aperture is a much more polished and mature product. So much thought has gone into how the program should work. Initially it was different than what I was used to in my old workflow, but I quickly realized the benefits of Aperture. Version 2.0 of Aperture will only add to the features and capabilities.
3) I processed some of my typical images using Aperture and Lightroom, and thought Aperture's photos looked better. Aperture's files were natural and film-like (without the grain!), while the Lightroom files had a plastic look to them.
My feeling is that Lightroom works for fine art photographers or pros and amateurs whose volume of work is low. If you are the typical professional, Aperture's workflow and features will make your business more efficient and thus make you more profitable. And you may even have more time to spend with your family!
I am a Canon shooter and have not been affected by the recent delay in support for new cameras. I would suggest people waiting for support to look at the big picture. First, you will not be updating your camera on a frequent basis. The D3 and D300 are far superior to older Nikon cameras, which caused Nikon shooters to jump at the new cameras. Future Nikon camera improvements will probably be more modest and you will not immediately need to buy them. Second, I think the Apple people have learned from this experience and may be able to implement changes for quicker support. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it just makes sense. And third, with Joe Schorr's posts, it is obvious the new camera support is almost here. It would be ashame to jump ship with support just around the corner.
If Aperture will benefit your business, then try find a workaround for this short period of time. What about shooting raw and jpg files and using the jpgs in Aperture? Then you would have the raw files to use with ACR for problem images.
My 2 cents,
Dan

Aperture to LightRoom conversion

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