I'm moving from Aperture to Lightroom ...

I have used Aperture for the last few years and really liked storing a lot of photos on an external disk, but having them categorized within aperture folders or albums or projects. I have a very large collection on an external hard drive and they are sorted by date, but within Aperture I can find them under various categories. That way I can look at the albums, and find the photo I want and then connect the external drive and work on it.
If I am able make collections on that external drive of the photos in the places I want them (say with folders which say things like "AbbeyFirstYear", "JoshGradeSchool") and then managed them with Lightroom do I choose "Copy" or "Move" when I bring them into Lightroom? I'd like to keep the actual files off my hard drive (this is a space issue) and just want references.
Separately, I backup that external drive to another external drive. If something should happen to the original one can I easily tell Lightroom to relink the images to the backup external drive?

Hi Pamela!
Lightroom is excellent at referencing images on external drives. If the drive is offline Lightroom will indicate that in the Folders panel. Once your images are added to the Catalog you can view, rate, tag, etc even with the drive offline. If you want to work on an image then you would need to connect the drive. To bring the images into your catalog, connect the drive and choose ADD in the import dialog. That will add the images but leave them in place on the external drive.
If a file gets corrupted or deleted you can connect the Catalog image to another copy that you have or copy from the backup to your external drive and then reconnect the Catalog image with the new copy.

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Moving from Bridge to Lightroom, when adding existing files on hard drive, will metadata transfer? Should I choose embed sidecar in file handling or will it automatically happen if I choose standard?

Moving from Bridge to Lightroom. Will metadata in existing files be recognized by Lightroom, and should I select embed+sidecar when adding files to library for the first time.

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.
CHRIS - you are exactly right about my FUTURE workflow. What I'm trying to figure out now is how to best handle images already processed. My import should be OK based on the way I have duplicates in separate directories, BUT I'm wondering how to avoid seeing all of these duplicates in LR when I search by keyword, etc.? I guess I can somehow flag the RAW files and only get them in my results.
One question though - Stacks, etc. sounds great for the LR processed images. But what about variations based on processing in Photoshop after the LR Develop stage? I guess in this case I will just have to keep duplicate images if I have multiple versions from my PS work?
ISAAC - Thanks for clarifying that LR will recognize my XMP files from Bridge. What about the opposite direction . . . if I edit something in LR and capture this via XMP, it won't prohibit Bridge from recognizing XMP info if I access a file via Bridge, will it?
ALSO - Do you know where I can find info about tracking via XMP vs. the central database? You mentioned a couple of valid points, but I'm not sure I have a full handle on the pros/cons of these options.
Thanks!
Mark

How do I import images from Aperture into Lightroom 5?

I've just installed Lightroom 5 onto my Mac. I waited for it to ask me which image management software I wanted to use as default (I currently use Aperture); then I went looking to find the 'source' to enable me to import images. It doesn't recognise Aperture or the 3000+ images held in its folders.
How can I import the images?

Have you tried some of the online articles?
e.g. http://lightroomsolutions.com/articles/migrating-from-aperture-to-lightroom-where-do-i-beg in/

Swith from Aperture to Lightroom?

Considering switch from Aperture to Lightroom (have used Aperture for 6 years, but also PS). Aperture is giving me "unsuppoerted format" notices on existing files. If I go to Lightroom, will I be able to go back into my old Aperture libraries?

That article contains a lot of irrelevant details and isn't very clear about the key steps.
For your raw files, use Aperture's File > Export Masters and make sure that, as you are migrating raw files, that you tick the Create IPTC Sidecar File (the screenshot in that article is misleading).
That creates a copy of your files - so you will need free disc space equal to the existing disc space taken up by those raw files. You then use LR's File > Import command to bring the files into LR. Just follow the standard import process - ie don't follow that article's advice to Copy as DNG (that's another issue).
Essentially that is it. Try the above with a few raw files, just to see the basic process for yourself. Then deal with any other complications.
John

Few questions related to moving from aperture to iphoto

i have decided that i want to move from aperture to iphoto,
a. provided iphoto can meet some basic needs that i have in mind. assuming it can,
b. the next question will be on how to make the move easiest and effective.
why, you might ask:
aperture is great but is more difficult to edit in. further aperture does not have some fun and easy edits - apply styles for instance. not to mention faces and places (although one can expect these features to find their way in aperture over time).
anyhow i am realizing that if my photo software was as simple as iphoto, i would share more and enjoy more . therefore moving. but moving is tough - need to think through. help appreciated!
Couple of questions:
0. i have looked and looked. did not find any solution that is thorough. these two links are the most relevant. http://bit.ly/1WSexN (this one is more of a sync solution, i need to research if it accomplishes what i need done - which is to abandon Aperture. at some point be able to delete Aperture library and the photos that Aperture refers to because the set will quickly get outdated) and http://bit.ly/zc7mC (this one does not answer the questions i have below, although it does seem to suggest that one can do export of projects such that nested folders are created)
1. i would like to move my projects (comprising of images in aperture) into folders on the hard disk, such that the IPTC tags are stored in the images on the HDD. I assume that masters will already have the tags and versions - no idea? anybody know about this. i will try test it too.
2. i have rated images extensively in aperture. anybody know how to transfer those ratings to iphoto? one kludgy way i can think of is to save an IPTC tag for every rating level and that hopefully will get transferred over to iPhoto.
3. importing folders into iPhoto - i am assuming that folders can be imported (by reference, without copying the image file into iphoto library) into iPhoto as events. how will i get the albums from aperture - not sure. kludgy way will be to enter album name as IPTC tag and then create smart albums. too kludgy and painfully slow in my opinion... anybody have ideas?
3.a. if i import nested folders of images into iPhoto, how would iPhoto treat that? again i can test, but if somebody knows, will not mind the commentary.
4. simple question - when i edit tags in iphoto, does it edit IPTC tags or does it have non-IPTC tagging approach?
5. simple question - when i make an edit in iphoto, where does it same the edited file? or is it a virtual version of the master image as in Aperture.
and that is all

0. What do you want to move? Use the Show Aperture Library in iPhoto will access your Aperture Previews not your actual files.
You need to export from Aperture to folders on the desktop and thereafter import to iPhoto. You need to decide if you want to export Originals - which means you'll have to start editing from scratch all over again - Versions, (which will be the edited photos, but you won't have your Originals) - or both. But if you import both to iPhoto you will have a large amount of duplication.
. i would like to move my projects (comprising of images in aperture) into folders on the hard disk, such that the IPTC tags are stored in the images on the HDD. I assume that masters will already have the tags and versions - no idea? anybody know about this. i will try test it too.
When you export from Aperture you will need to explicitly choose to write the tags to the output file. This is a setting in the Aperture export dialogue.
3. importing folders into iPhoto - i am assuming that folders can be imported (by reference, without copying the image file into iphoto library)
I strongly urge you not to run iPhoto in Referenced Mode. IPhoto works best in the default mode. Should the path to the files change at any point in the future - especially if you move the files to a new disk - then you may find yourself resolving the location of each individual photo in your Library.
Is there a particular reason you want to run a Referenced Library?
how will i get the albums from aperture - not sure. kludgy way will be to enter album name as IPTC tag and then create smart albums. too kludgy and painfully slow in my opinion... anybody have ideas?
That's the best way.
3.a. if i import nested folders of images into iPhoto, how would iPhoto treat that? again i can test, but if somebody knows, will not mind the commentary
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'. Now each folder will be created as an Event. There are no nested events.
If you don't uncheck the box, then each folder will be broken by date and time into Events.
4. simple question - when i edit tags in iphoto, does it edit IPTC tags or does it have non-IPTC tagging approach?
IPhoto works exactly the same way as Aperture. It does not edit the tags on the pic, but stores them in the database. The tags are written to the IPTC on export.
5. simple question - when i make an edit in iphoto, where does it same the edited file? or is it a virtual version of the master image as in Aperture
When you edit a pic with or via iPhoto it creates a new version of the photo. This is stored inside the Library package.
A Note about the iPhoto Library Package:
In this folder there are various files, which are the Library itself and some ancillary files. Then you have three core folders
Originals are the photos as they were downloaded from your camera or scanner.
(ii) Modified contains edited pics, shots that you have cropped, rotated or changed in any way.
(iii) Data holds the thumbnails the the app needs to show you the photos in the iPhoto Window.
Remember: iPhoto depends on the structure as well as the contents of this folder. Moving things, renaming things or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.
Regards
TD

Transfer files from aperture into lightroom 5

Transfer raw images in aperture into lightroom 5

dxr_msp wrote:
However there isn't much documentation on exactly how it works. For example, I'm not sure how it handles your Aperture Library if all the Photos are contained within the Library, versus referenced files.
I have a step by step here if it helps: Ready to move on from Aperture or iPhoto? | The Lightroom Queen

I just switched from Aperture to Lightroom and PS CC. My images exported from LR and PS suffer color loss. Where do I begin to correct this problem?

I just switched from Aperture to LR and PS CC. My exported images suffer color loss? How do I correct the issue?
I shoot with a Canon 5d Mark III in Adobe 1998 Color Space. I've been exporting JPEGS for web with Color Space sRGB.

Does your issue have anything to do with switching from Aperture?
In other words, if you take a new photograph with your camera, and import it in Lightroom, then export it, is there still a problem?
Or is the problem somehow tied to transition from Aperture, or photos migrated from Aperture...?
I'm guessing the reason you brought up Aperture is that you did not have export "color loss" issues in Aperture, like you are having in Lightroom, but since you didn't say... (just want to be sure).
~R.

Convert from Aperture to Lightroom

I have a "managed" Aperture library with 18,000 Pics. The library is located in my pictures folder on my main HD. I want to convert my collection of pics into lightroom while retaining the keywords that I have assigned. I want to create a "bucket" file structure that will reside on an external HD. The pics are an assortment of file types consisting of NEF raw, Tiff, jpeg & DNG.
I have tested a few pics to get a feel for exactly the best way to do this. I tried exporting a master with a sidecar file and when I import into lightroom I cannot see the keywords. When I view the file with iView the keywords show up and I cannot figure out why LR doesn't see them.
Thanks,
Kevin

Annoture was the answer.... Here is how I was able to do it
1. In Aperture export each project as a separate folder w/xmp to final desired drive location rename files to master filename (the file name is important later when running Annoture)
2. Drag the new folder into iView
3. Use Annoture to copy metadata from Aperture to iView (it will look for matching filenames)
4. In iView Sync Annotations- (export to original file)
5. Import into LR at current location and ratings & keywords are now visable
The only thing that I don't understand is what to now do with the XMP sidecar files?? Do you need a sidecar file with a DNG or do you only need them with JPEG & RAW files? I notice that if I remove them when I go into LR all of the information is unaffected. Does this mean that I have altered the original file or is LR keeping track of this somewhere else? Should I remove all of them?
Thanks,
Kevin

Transfer from Aperture to Lightroom

I am a current Aperture user, including use of their database structure. I wanted to transfer to Lightroom in the most straightforward way possible. Could anyone offer assistance?

It can be a mess, but Lightroom has an Aperture Importer plugin that can help. I'd recommend you first use a small subset of your main Aperture library, and import into a test Lr catalog.
It also helps to do some prep in Aperture first, and understand the differences. For example, it makes a BIG difference if you manage your photos in Aperture (i.e. copy them INTO an Aperture library) or reference photos in Aperture (they remain outside of the Aperture library in regular Finder folders in say your Pictures folder).
Also, while many things carry over, photo adjustments (like say a bunch of color changes, dodging, etc) in Aperture do NOT. There are several ways to deal with that, but we'd need to know more. In general you have to export those adjusted versions from Aperture.
If you do have a lot of adjusted images you want to save, I'd also look at Aperture Exporter (note it runs FROM Aperture, and is an external application). It offers some features the IMporter doesn't. https://apertureexporter.com/ They have a demo available.

Migrating from Aperture to Lightroom?

I am currently examining the possibility to switch from Aperture 3 to Lightroom 3.
I am currently looking for best practices to do so and start on a good footing.
For example, I have exported all masters from my managed library using a "Year/Month/Project" hierarchy. This pretty much reflected the folder structure I had in AP3.
The export process created the NEF (RAW) files along with large JPGs.
Question 1: Do I need to keep the JPG files? Or can I delete them?
Question 2: Will LR3 "see" 2 pics if I keep the JPG file or will it link it to the NEF master file?
Question 3: What happens to the post-processing jobs I did in AP3? Is this lost?
Many thanks.
Max
maxphotoblog.net

If you don't have a need for the large JPEG files, then Lightroom will be fine with just the raw files.
But (2) if you decide to keep them, Lightroom will normally only display the raw file but manages it and the hidden JPEG. So if you rename the raw file or move it to another folder, Lightroom will quietly rename or move the JPEG too. However, if you want to see the JPEG as a completely independent file, there's an option in Preferences > General.
re 3, yes you'll lose the Aperture adjustments. So as a strategy, I'd suggest leaving the new masters folder as it is. Don't ever rename any files in it, and don't move any files or folders. If you want to reprint one of these "legacy" pictures with Aperture adjustments, you'd do so in Aperture.
You can keep keywords and other IPTC data though - use Aperture's Metadata > Write IPTC Metadata command. When you then import the files into Lightroom, all your metadata will be brought in too.
John

Moving from Aperture 2.14 on a laptop to Aperture 3 on a mac mini

I have Aperture 2.14 on my laptop (macbook pro) and recently bought a mac mini and Aperture 3. How can I move my photos with all of the image enhancements and information (ratings etc) to the new computer and new system?
Also, if I want to update Aperture 3 on the macbook pro do I have to buy Aperture 3 again for that computer?
Looking for advice,
Thanks
Lisa

Also, be aware, the upgrade from Aperture 2 to Aperture 3 requires a massive rearrangement of the Library and particularly your Master images. This is especially important if you have a Managed Library, as they will be totally rearranged. (In Aperture 3, the Thumb, Preview, and Master of a given image are in a single folder, in Aperture 3, all of the Thumbs are in one folder, Previews in another, and Masters in another.)
Remembering the blood bath of a few years ago, I strongly recommend performing the upgrade on a large, empty disk - one with at least twice as much free space as the size of your Library. Doesn't have to be that fast a disk, I used an external FW800, but depending on the size of your Library, you can expect the process to run for many hours. Best to let it run overnight. Doing this on a disk that does not have adequate free space is, at best slow and, at worst, likely to result in a crash.
After the upgrade, you may want to perform the "Bergsma Bash" and delete various cache and Pref files. This has greatly speeded up Aperture 3 performance for many of us.
Delete the following:
Hard Drive/Library/Caches
Hard Drive/System/Library/Caches
Hard Drive/Users/(Your user)/Library/Caches
Hard Drive/Users/(Your user)/Preferences/com.apple.aperture.plist
Reboot... It will take a little bit.
The upgrade is not hard, just be sure that your Aperture 2 installation works correctly and is fully backed up before you start.
Best wishes,
DiploStrat

Anyone moved from Bridge to Lightroom?

I read Adobe's product info and some topics in this forum. However I wonder if anyone has used Bridge a lot for photography and has now moved to Lightroom (or tried and went back) and why. I'd rather hear a short review from you than from Adobe (pro, contra compared to Bridge). Also how do the two work together, I'm reading a lot about lost Camera RAW adjustments.
Thanks and if you have a good link to a topic that already covers this, could you post it? I couldn't find much. Sorry if this is asked frequently.
What I understood so far is that Lightroom is better as a database for lot's of photos because it copies them to the hardrive. It also seems to be better for presenting pictures to a client because it can be costumized visually (logo etc) and doesn't have non-photo features clustering up the screen. But is that all? Are the metadata features identical?

Hello T-
The thing to understand about Lightroom is that, rather than trying to be a total replacement for Bridge/ACR/Photoshop, it's a new approach to managing your photographic workflow, especially to those of us who primarily shoot in a RAW format. I specify that, because there are many programs that do what Lightroom does for jpeg and tiff files, but Lightroom shines among RAW processors and the concept of non-destructive adjustments to RAW files. It also does non-destructive adjustments to jpeg, tiff and psd files, but at first look, I think most people using those formats will likely think "I can do more in Photoshop". In fact, though, Lightroom incorporates more "image management" tools than Bridge, such as collections, that might make it more attractive to many users.
Bridge has a more "seamless" connectivity with Photoshop and other Adobe apps, but for most of your work Lightroom's Export and PS Edit functions work just fine. The two functions that you might resort to Bridge for regularly are Bridge's HDR handshaking with Photoshop and Bridge's Panoramic stitching handshaking. Lightroom at this time doesn't manage those operations and, in fact, can't deal with panorama pictures with dimensions of greater than 10MP in either dimension.
Other than those specialized functions, Lightroom is great for organizing and basic processing of your images. For RAW, I don't know of any other program that has so much functionality, although I gather Apple's Aperture is similar (I'm not a Mac user).
The main complaints about Lightroom are 1) as a new application it has noticable bugs and 2) it lacks some important features, requiring a lot of users to resort to Photoshop or some other external application to "get it right". Yes it's a new application, both issues are valid, but still it is well worth delving into and learning the workflow. You will find yourself turning to Bridge less and less, and the Adobe team will provide us with updates as they are able that address pressing issues.
Tony

Which is the best way to migrate from aperture to lightroom?

Hello everybody,
I have been using the Aperture trial for some time and I found it interesting.
Unfortunately in the meanwhile Lion came out and I find it ugly. Although I do not want to discuss about Lion here I plan to move away from Apple as soon as my 2007 iMac stops working, so I moved to applications supported by other OSs (Preview->Acrobat reader, iWorks->MSOffice, Mail->Thunderbird and so on). I am also going to buy Lightroom, that will also work on my new Win7 laptop I had to buy for a new job.
My question is: is there a way to quickly migrate my Aperture library to Lightroom or should I reimport all the original photos into it?
Thank you for your attention
Stefano

I realize this topic is old but doens't appear to be answered.
phosgraphis
I agree. I went the adobe way. I love my MBPr though.
stefano67
I wrote about why I think it's better for photos here why it's better for video (for fusion videographers only) here, why I switched here, and how to switch here with this associated video tutorial for switching.
Those posts list the pros and cons between the two.

Migrating photos from Aperture to Lightroom when you can't open Aperture

Is there an easy way to import Aperture photos into Lightroom if you no longer have access to Aperture? My version of Aperture is so old it doesn't work with Maverick. I moved to Lightroom years ago, but it sure would be nice if I could get at those photos easily.

Have you gone to printer who have warned you about the quality?
For the type of printing that you want you would need 300dpi for good quality. For A4 paper that would be a pixel size of 3,500 x 2,500 approximately. Are your exported files that size? Are your files in Aperture that size? Look at the Megadata.
If you don't require magazine quality then a smaller image can be used, but will result in reduced quality.
Message was edited by: Jim Calderwood

Moving from Aperture....

I am moving away from using Aperture and was wondering what the process would be to move all of my files out of the Aperture libray and put into a regulr folder to be used by other programs. I'm really only concerned about the masters........
Thanks for any help you may offer
Frank

Take a project and use File _ Relocate Masters to ......folder / exernal HD. The question I have for you is what organization is in that folder. You will have to make that decsion when you are in the Relocation Dialog box. There is a lot to you problem/request so this is no way complete of an answer. Write back so we can expand. Frank is right also. Cheers

I'm moving from Aperture to Lightroom ...

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