Image Editing in Aperture?

Can I do basic image editing such as erasing stuff and copying some background and placing it over a smudge mark or whatever in Aperture?
I am using Adobe Elements 3 and Adobe Photoshop 6 (via Parallels) and they run so slow and unreliably as to practically lockup my machine.
Can I do this in Aperture or do I need to buy a new version of Elements or something?
Thanks.

Thanks a bunch Jim.
Trying to turn the ship around in the dark over here...

Similar Messages

IPhoto images edited in Aperture?

It is pretty easy now to open the iPhoto browser in Aperture and editing images from the iPhoto library in Aperture. Once done with the edits, however, is it possible to return the Aperture preview to iPhoto or flag the image in iPhoto to indicate it was edited in Aperture?
Thanks.

I do not use Aperture so can not test or verify this - any there may be an even better way but iPhoto can have any editing program set in the preferences as the external editor - I assume that this would include Aperture and that once you have edited in Aperture you would save (not save as) to return the photo to iPhoto and have iPhoto update the thumbnail and place the edited photo in the modified folder
To do this go to the iPhoto menu ==> preferences ==> general as set the edit photo menu to external editor and point to Aperture - double clicking on a photo (or selecting it and clicking edit ) will sent the photo to the external editor for editing - saving in the external editor will return the photo to iPhoto
I also believe that Aperture can be set to reference the iPhoto library but am not sure how that would work for letting iPhoto know that a photo had been edited - it seems like it might be a problem
Several advanced users here use both - more probably to come
Good Luck
LN
LN

Aperture, Photoshop, and Apple's possible direction for Image Editing

All,
After using Aperture now for several days, and reading many different forum topics, in particular this one which speaks of desired enhancements to Aperture:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=253594&tstart=0
there is one thing that really sticks out on my mind. While all of us photographers have slightly different specifics to our workflow, in general they are very similar. And with respect to Aperture, there is one huge area where most of us seem to be hitting the brick wall: image adjustments, and by extension, image file management. Let me explain what I mean.
I think it is a fair generalization to say that the vast majority of serious digital photographers are using Photoshop (or some other image editing app, but I'm just going to refer to Photoshop for convenience) for post-processing of some kind. In using Aperture, and figuring out how to fit it into workflow, we've got this situation of how to move from organization and image library management to the full gamut of image adjusting functionality (photoshop) and back again to library management. The need to use photoshop then exposes the issue of how files are stored on the filesystem, etc. Stay with me here...
I have found myself thinking, and it is pretty clearly demonstrated in the forum topic mentioned above where folks are making suggestions for improvements to Aperture, that there's this barrel people are over in knowing whether Photoshop and Aperture should live in the workflow together, or whether Aperture should (or is intended to) replace Photoshop in the workflow. This got me to thinking about the fundamental question -- what is the intent, i.e. the vision for Aperture? Is it meant to replace Photoshop, or restated, is Aperture meant to be the app in which all image adjustments are to be made, OR is Aperture meant to just ease workflow, and is it intended not to be the primary app for image adjustments, but rather integrate with the primary image adjustment app?
The reason I bring this up is that the answer to this question makes all the difference in what enhancement requests and what people should expect from Aperture now, and in future versions. If Aperture is the primary place for image adjustment, then its obvious that there are some very significant additions that need to take place to Aperture, and likewise, the issue of putting images on the filesystem becomes much less important. However, if Aperture is a workflow-easer, then such image adjustment improvements are minimally important if at all, and filesystem / Photoshop / PSD file integration becomes paramount.
I know what Aperture does, what features it provides, etc. But I can't help but realize that its not really that clear (or I just don't understand yet) what the full scope of Aperture now and in the future is intended to be, and the forum topics are pretty decent documentation of the fact that the user base at this point is fairly cloudy on that too.
I can't help thinking that in the midst of the Apple pro line of tools, where we have tools that edit: video, audio, DVD creation, text effects, and now digital photography workflow, that there's one glaring hole: static image editing, i.e. a direct Photoshop competitor. I went through the Aperture video demos before Aperture shipped, and watched these photo pros talk incessantly about how "now there's an app that addresses how I work -- Aperture". That's great, but Apple has to know the role that Photoshop plays in present photography workflow -- for those pros too. So I'm sitting here thinking to myself, why would Apple roll out such a product with some clear workflow hurdles to common Photoshop usage.
Ok, here's the punchline: does anyone else here have a sneaking suspicion that Apple is not to far off from releasing their own image editing application that's a direct Photoshop competitor? I mean come on, Final Cut Pro, Motion, Sountrack, and by extension of the CEO to Pixar, Renderman. How can you not have a static image adjustment application entering the scene at some point?
I'm curious what others think. I'm just trying to make sense of how to fit the neat stuff I see in Aperture into a workflow that doesn't play very nicely with Aperture at some points (because I'm using Photoshop).
Brad
Powerbook G4-1.33GHz-17" / Powermac G4-1.4GHz Mac OS X (10.4.2) PB: 1GB RAM, Radeon 9600-64MB / PM: 1.25GB RAM, Radeon 9000Pro-128MB

So Apple adds curves adjustments,
we'll need noise reduction, greater sharpening
capability, etc., etc., and then when we have all
those features, surely we'll need masking and select
capability to perform those adjustments selectively,
etc. Where does it end?
Actually that could be a good cut-off point - add a few more/better 'global' adjustments but leave all mask, selection and layer based tasks to external editors. Personally, I used to swear by curves, but haven't really touched them in PS for a year since shooting more RAW and learning how to use the shadow/highlight adjustment properly. Sometimes for overall colour for JPEGs, but that bit can be done just as well in levels.
My workflow isn't particularly typical, but here goes.
Type of photography - stitched panoramas as a professional, plus general snapshots/nature/landscape as hobby. Single user with no network storage.
Currently I use a very organised folder structure in the Finder, along with aliases in DragThing docks for easy access to final stitched files, all with their own unique ID. RAW conversions are done in ACR/PSCS2, or Bibble if I'm in a hurry on the laptop. About 40% of the panos are shot in RAW, 40% are bracketed JPEG and the remaining 20% are 'single' JPEG. The panoramas go through quite a lot of post-processing in PS using a whole series of actions and AppleScripts.
I'm expecting my workflow to look something like this:
1) Download directly into Aperture, possibly with added help from Automator/Applescript when it comes to proper date-based names.
2) Divide download into a new album for each panorama.
2a) If it is a people pano there will be quite a lot of duplicate shots for each panohead position - make a stack for each position and choose picks - this bit will speed things up enormously by itself. Reorder stacks to fit correct order of images going around the scene.
3) Export to TIFF (sometimes JPEG) and stitch using PTMac (sometimes Realviz Stitcher). Oh, and any people who think Aperture is limited, buggy and bad value should go and look at Stitcher - it costs the same, has a far more limited feature set, is on version 5 and by comparison makes Aperture look bug-free.
4) Bring stitched panorama into Photoshop to adjust seams through layers if needed, flatten, final tone adjustments (usually using shadow/highlight), possibly some colour tweaks, sharpen. For bracketed shots I will blend together the three exposures at this point using a custom action - this kind of thing is unlikely ever to make it to Aperture.
5) Bring final print-ready file into Aperture for cataloguing/backup.
5a) If file is too big for Aperture, make a smaller version for cataloguing and store original file in Finder. This gives me a good file for 90% of purposes, with the huge file available with a bit more work.
Too big? I've found that Aperture gets sluggish with files over 18-20,000 pixels wide, and chokes totally somewhere between 25,000 and 32,000 pixels wide - 'image format unsupported'.
To summarise - organise and convert in Aperture, stitch in specialist software, do PS-specific stuff then bring final image back in to join the source images.
Ian

This image cannot be rendered for editing because Aperture does not support

Editing Error: This image cannot be rendered for editing because Aperture does not support the image format.
I have been having this issue when trying to open photos in CS4. It only seems to be affecting images from the last year or so, although I'm using the same cameras (Canon 7D, 5D, and S90) as before. My library is large, going back to year 2000, and all the older images seem to work fine, but most all of the recent files display this error when trying to open them is CS4. I've tried the methods described in other threads and on the support website, namely starting aperture while holding option and command, pulling up the options to rebuild the library in various ways. I've done all three options, the last two twice, with no change. This is very frustrating to not be able to use the program in the way I had planned... Any ideas? I'm wondering if my library is simply too large- although I'm not sure if breaking the library into smaller chunks is the best way to go. I prefer having all my photos together. I have found that iMovie fails to operate properly when events get too large. Is this a similar problem?

Again, thanks for the input. As for the first suggestion, when I import without renaming they all work, but as of late, all appear to work no problem. It seems like it was a block of time from roughly October 2009 through November 2010 where most all the files imported during this date demonstrate the problem. As for the second suggestion, I've tried both 8 and 16 bit TIFF and PSD file types selected in the editor preferences, with no luck.
My next move has been to relocate the offending files out of their current location to another location (they are referenced, not managed). In doing this, I encountered what seems to be a file access or privelege error message, although about 20% of the files were moved, and in doing so, it seems to have solved the problem for those. But I don't have a good way of isolating the involved images outside of Aperture, and I don't want to move them with Finder anyways since that would ruin the referencing.
This bug is getting so complicated I'm ready to throw my hands in the air and just go back to Lightroom. Aperture has so much potential, especially in regards to integration with ipods, iPads, other Macs, etc. but in the 4 months I've been using it, I have spent WAY more time addressing buggy issues like this one than the amount of time supposedly saved using Aperture instead of Lightroom.

Image editing selection tools in Aperture 2?

Are there any image editing selection tools in Aperture 2 (Magic Wand, selection box etc.)? If not, you can't make any corrections without effecting the whole picture. I guess that would just send you back to Photoshop or Elements for image editing, and then you might as well stay in the Adobe world.

This isn't what Aperture is designed for. The features you are asking about are not really photographic in nature - they are image manipulations that go beyond what Aperture is designed to do.
Think of Aperture more as a catalog that allows photographers to make the vast majority of adjustments they need to make to single images (contrast, exposure, white balance, dust spots, minor clone/patching, etc.). It also provides strong keywording and search capabilities.
Folks who need to do advanced image manipulations/compositing etc. will have to do it in PhotoShop, but they will lose the "library" functions found in Aperture. Lightroom is the same way - you have to export your pic's to PhotoShop to do serious editing/layers, etc.

I am using Aperture 3 now and I love it. But I would like to purchase or download perhaps some freeware, easy to use photo imaging/editing software with more filters, perhaps layering etc. My Apple mentor suggests Pixelmator or Gimp ?

I am using Aperture 3 now and I love it. But I would like to purchase or download perhaps some freeware, easy to use photo imaging/editing software with more filters, perhaps layering etc. I don't want something with a very steep learning curve, getting to old for that. My Apple mentor suggests Pixelmator or Gimp ? Are there some others out there? When I was still in the Windows world, I used Photoshop Elements but that is now in my past. Any ideas?

Pixelmator or Gimp are both nice tools for advanced image processing and compositing. I.e. Gimp can do pretty much the same as Phtoshop. You might also have a look at digikam http://www.digikam.org/drupal/download/binary
Digikam is not just an advanced image processing and compositing program, it is also content management system like Aperture or iPhoto.
I also find GraphicConverter a nice tool, but it is not free.
If you want your image editing tools to integrate well with Aperture, I would look first at the available plug-ins, start with the plug-ins offered in the Aperture pull-down menu
Aperture -> Aperture Plug-ins...

How to handle images stored /outside/ Aperture

I am coming from a PC environment where my images were stored all over my hard drive in various folders and subfolders. I am part-way through organizing all of this in Aperture but I OFTEN find myself exporting images to folders on my desktop in order to upload them to FTP or edit them in Photoshop conveniently and as I move to working in something like an Adobe Suite that allows me to edit and link images I do see myself keeping images outside of Aperture.
Can anyone help me out with how to manage this a little more practically (say by only keeping images on the desktop but not in the Documents Folder) and/or should I be trying to discipline myself down to keeping everything in Aperture? I find it relatively confusing to do it this way but am very interested in getting some advice on this.
Thanks,
Jon

Jon,
I used to have everything sorted with the top folder being 'Project 1', 'Project 2', 'Project 3', etc. with either all files in that folder, or sub-folders for each file type. This was pretty good, but eventually got out of hand once I had a couple hundred projects with all types of files in each folder and needed to find a specific file (say an Illustrator file I needed to work on).
Now, I use the following structure for Adobe CS5 projects:
Top level folder = 'Design Files'
Second level folders = 'Photoshop Files', 'Illustrator Files', 'InDesign Files', 'Acrobat Files'
Third level folders (inside each of the second level folders as needed) = 'Project 1', 'Project 2', 'Project 3', etc.
This gives me all my PSD files inside one master 'Photoshop Files' folder divided by Project folders. If - for example - Project 1 has PSD files, AI files, IND files and PDF files, then there is a Project 1 folder under each of the second level folders for each program. This allows me easy access to either all files for a program by going to that folder, or I can run a dynamic search (smart folder) for a project and see all relevant folders for that project in the search results.
The main reason I have it this way now is that I usually remember the file type (as mentioned above for an Illustrator file). I typically remember that I did an illustration, but can't remember the file name of the illustration or the project it went in for sure. My current structure shortens my search time considerably.
Note - I can also use Bridge CS5 very easily for the Adobe CS5 files since it shows thumbnails of the actual file and I can visually search very fast that way.
At home - with Aperture - I only hold the original images (pictures) that I started to work with. I don't keep any PSD, TIFF, PDF, PNG, etc. in the library. This is simply because Bridge is much better at showing those files with transparency if it exists, and Aperture stays a straight-forward image (picture) database for me.
If I send an image to a plug-in or to Photoshop from inside Aperture, I do it for a specific purpose and then I complete the process and export it to one of the dedicated folders in Finder (typically to my Photoshop Files folder). If I really need to keep the layer work in a PSD file, then I will use the 'Save As' command from inside Photoshop to save out to a folder and then just trash the file Aperture sent to Photoshop. Although I have not had any real issues with Aperture holding PSD files in the past, I simply trust Adobe to handle their own files without relying on Apple's program to do it for me.
As far as miscellaneous files (screenshots, scans, web icons), I really don't do many of those. I have a few scans which are not part of any project and just keep those in a two level folder (Art / Scans). For web icons, I would probably suggest going with the program you used for a folder (Photoshop Files?). Not sure what program or file type you are using for those (GIF, PNG - I don't work with web design so not real familiar with current practices for icon design for the web).
For JPEG files, I use a second level 'JPEG files' folder for any JPEG's that are used in my design projects in a 'Project 1', 'Project 2', etc. folder (same as the other file types mentioned above). Although, I typically use PSD files as source files and then save out JPEG's on a case-by-case basis (similar to using Aperture as the source and exporting as needed).
Since most of my design files are for InDesign projects, I complete the project by embedding all links in the document after having printed to PDF (and proof-reading prior to embedding). This protects against lost links if I need to work with the master file again for some reason. I can always place a new image or file in the document as needed and since I have a PDF of the file to send to collegues, the extra file size in the InDesign file after embedding is not a big deal.
So, in summary; I use a top level folder (based on category; e.g., Design Files) and then organize by file type parent folders with dedicated project folders under those as needed. Works for the way I think.
I hope that was somewhat clear.
Message was edited by: CorkyO2 to change "top level file" to "top level folder" in summary.

Aperture 1.5: External editor not bringing image back into Aperture?

Hi,
I am running Aperture 1.5 and have Noise Ninja installed as my external editor. I can successfully send an image from my Aperture library to NN and edit it there, but when I save the image, it is not brought back into Aperture. Further, if I try to send another image from Aperture to NN while NN is open, a new TIFF version is created in Aperture, but nothing opens up in NN.
I've been using Aperture and NN for about a year, and it has always acted like this, so I've basically given up on trying to use the External Editing feature in Aperture, but after some research it seemed like this shouldn't be as difficult as it has been for me.
Has anyone else had a problem like this and been able to resolve it? And does it matter that my files are referenced, and not stored in the Aperture library?
Thanks all
Burt

Burt,
Did you ever find a solution? I'm having the same problem with Photoshop files not saving back into Aperture. I haven't been able to figure it out.

Plugins not showing up in Images - Edit With... menu

I've installed several Aperture 2 plugins (I currently and using Aperture 2.1). Every user guide states I can find the plugins in the following menu: Images -> Edit With...
The only plugin I ever see in the is Dodge and Burn.
Like I said, I run completely through the installer for the plugins. It asks for permission, says its installing packages, writing files, writing scripts etc. When I right click on Aperture and select "Show Package Contents", I see no traces of my installed plugins in the "Plugins" folder.
Anyone know how I can resolve this issue?

I just reread your OP. The plugins should be stored in: Root (not User) >> Library >> Application Support >> Aperture >> Plugins >> Edit (or just plugins w/o the edit folder)
Are they there?
I just installed that plugin you linked to, and it worked fine. Have you restarted, repaired permissions etc? Remember that the Aperture application HAS to be in the applications folder, not in a sub-folder and not renamed to function properly.
dls

Has anyone had trouble manipulating Nikon D750 raw image (NEF) in Aperture version 3.6 on Yosemite?

Has anyone had trouble manipulating Nikon D750 raw image (NEF) in Aperture (version 3.6 500021000000000.3, Digital Camera RAW 6.0 - Build 761.5, Digital Camera RAW support 6000 - Build 136.1)
I used to be able to manipuplate Nikon Raw (NEF) images from a Nikon D70 and D3200 using Aperture, until the 70 died and the 3200 was stolen about 18 months ago. Recently I did two things: (1) I upgraded OS X to Yosemite and (2) purchased a Nikon D750. I have successfully imported NEF files from the camera to Aperture, but the images do not render/ cannot be opened/ manipulated. Instead, I see a black thumbnail for each imported image with a cassette recorder play icon in the center of each image.
I can view the NEF image in Finder preview mode, either directly when viewing the images on the camera SD card or after exporting the previously imported NEF image from Aperture to my desktop or user folder. Previously imported NEF image seem unaffected.
thanks.
D.

The current Apple OSX 10.10 Yosemite and the current Aperture version 3.6 do not have support yet for importing Nikon d750 nef/raw files. It usually takes Apple six to eight weeks to release a new digital camera raw update file for new Nikon dslr models. Once that digital camera raw update file is finally released, update your current version of Aperture and that will allow you to import your d750 raw files. In the meantime, you have many workarounds. In my opinion, the easiest is to save images in duplicate nef/raw and jpeg image files to your SD cards.
And for now, just import the jpegs to Aperture 3.6 from your d750. Process your jpegs in Aperture - and hope your clients are happy with the jpegs and can wait for later nef/raw image processing. Be sure to save and do not erase your original SD cards that include the nef/raw and jpeg files - then when Aperture finally releases a new digital camera raw file update that includes the d750 - just insert your original camera SD cards into the computer platform and import the old d750 nef/raw files and edit/process them.
There are many other ways to proceed in the interim as well. You can always import your d750 nef/raw images into Lightroom (if it has been updated to convert the d750 nef files) and process them there. But for the time being, if you can afford to save and hold onto your original SD cards and wait for the inevitable Aperture digital camera raw update, this is a very easy and simple way to proceed.

Dragging Images Out Of Aperture 3 Halves Resolution?

When I drag my images out of Aperture 3 into Photoshop or onto my desktop, it halves the resolution and drops the dpi to 72. If I put the image back in Aperture and repeat the process, the resolution halves again. Any idea as to why?

, but when you're doing a lot of editing, it's easier and faster [I find] just to drag it out into photoshop.
You could set up Aperture to use Photoshop as external Editor:
Just set the external Editor to "Photoshop" in Preferences > Export > External Editor.
Then you just need to right-click the images in Aperture and select "Edit with Photoshop" from teh contextual menu.
And the edited image will be recognized by Aperture as a version of the Image in Aperture.

Edit in Aperture fails to allow

Just bought new Sony A7 mark2, using SD memory cards for 1st time. Delkin card reader or Sony camera will import to Aperture... Problem when I click on any image to edit or view, screen goes Black & I get: "Unsupported Image Format" from Aperture & Lightroom won't even import & also gives a message of unsupported format?
I'm lost at what to do don't get whats up?
Never had this problem Using Raw with CF memory cards or from my Canon cameras...
Using OSX 10.9.5, Aperture 3.5.1, Lightroom 5.7

Then I am afraid the RAW format of your camera is not yet supported - the RAW support is camera specific.
also went thru 'Sony Help' & downloaded: Image Data Converter Ver.4, supposedly to help RAW performance
But that will not add RAW support to the native Mac applications. You can probably use it to convert the RAW files to a supported format like TIFF or DNG to use with Aperture. Either convert your RAW files or shoot RAW&JPEG until the RAW support will be released by Apple and use the JPEG as original Master file for the time being. You can switch to the RAW original file later.

Flex image editing control

I am looking for a flex control which allows photo or image
editing. It should be very light, and I need to embed it in my flex
app. Anybody knows any good one? Thanks in advance, Sean

This isn't what Aperture is designed for. The features you are asking about are not really photographic in nature - they are image manipulations that go beyond what Aperture is designed to do.
Think of Aperture more as a catalog that allows photographers to make the vast majority of adjustments they need to make to single images (contrast, exposure, white balance, dust spots, minor clone/patching, etc.). It also provides strong keywording and search capabilities.
Folks who need to do advanced image manipulations/compositing etc. will have to do it in PhotoShop, but they will lose the "library" functions found in Aperture. Lightroom is the same way - you have to export your pic's to PhotoShop to do serious editing/layers, etc.

How can I restore a single image from an aperture time machine backup, do I have to restore the entire library? that does not make sense

I hope there has been found a more efficiant solution for this, how can I restore a single image from an aperture time machine backup, I really hope I don't have to restore the entire library? that does not make sense
any suggestions?

Did you try browsing your backups in the Finder ? That is, do not go and "Enter Time Machine". Instead, navigate to your Time Machine backup via Finder and then manually go to the time period (by folder name) you are looking for ... when you find your Aperture library you can then "Show Package Contents" and find the Master you are looking for.

Images edited in Photoshop not showing up correctly in Lightroom after saving

Hi,
I recvently got Adobe cloud and upgraded from Lightroom 3 to 4. Since the upgrade I have been having issues with Lightroom not correctly displaying images edited in Photoshop. Instead of the photoshop image it creates a new jpeg and displays that in the library. the PSD does not get loaded into the library.
I am taking a jpeg from my library and shoosing the edit in Photoshop function. I am selecting edit a copy, but have tried it with original and with edit a copy with lightroom adjustments as well with the same results.
In Photoshop I am duplicating the base layer, upscaling the image, running some filters, adding dsome adjustment layers.
I save the image in Photoshop format back to the original folder where the initial jpeg was in the Lightroom library. I save it with maximize compatibility on.
When I go back to Lightroom, the catalog displays two files, the initial jpeg and an identical copy to it, NOT the new photoshop file with alterations. If I go to the folder the images are housed in in Finder using the show in Finder command both images link to the same original jpeg. The photoshop edited file is there in the folder but does not show up in Lightroom unless I drag and drop it.
I have turned off all filters and made sure the sort is sorting by name. The image does not automatically show up in Lightroom after editing. Any suggestions?
Thanks for any help!
PS. I did search the topic and there are threads from 2007 and lightroom 2 but their solution was to start from scratch essentially and I have a carefully tagged, starred, and labeled catalog of 30,000+ images and really don't want to do that

Images that are edited in Photoshop will be displayed automatically in Lr only when the image-file saved in Photoshop is the same as the one opened from Lr.
You say you open a JPG from Lr, then edit it in PS by - among other things - adding some layers. Layers are not supported in the JPG-format so you have to either save it as a psd or as a jpg-copy.
In either case this is not the same image file as the one opened in Lr, so it will have to be imported into Lr to show up. If you would flatten your image after editing in PS and then do a <save> to your JPG - not a <save as> - it will show up in Lr.
PS: the only exception is when you open a Raw image from Lr in PS and you save it in PS in the file format specified in Lr for external editing. The saved file will automatically show in LR.
Message was edited by: web-weaver; PS added

Image Editing in Aperture?

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