Is there a way to import images that have been edited and assign them to the original?

Question

I am transitioning to mac and aperture. Is there a way to import images that have been edited and assign them to the original? I have 10,000 originals and about 2,000 edited images. The originals are named img_XXXX and anything modified img_XXXX_modified. I would like to be able to import the originals and then import the edited versions and assign them to the original masters. Instead of starting from here and going forward with 12,000 masters, some of which are actual originals and others not. Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

Ah, the vestiges of a destructive workflow! Once you "get" Aperture, (specifically Masters and Versions) you are going to love it, as all of this work goes away - the relationship that you seek to retain is automatic in Aperture; it is simply done differently.
The short answer to your question is EVERY image file that is Imported into Aperture will create a new Master and one Version. Assuming that your images are PSD/TIFF/JPEG that you created in something like Photoshop, then each one that your import will be a new Master. You have many options:
-- Stick the originals in one Project(s) and the edited versions in another Project(s).
-- Stick them all in the same Project(s) and "Stack" them.
But here is the real question: Why are you doing all of this work and what are you trying to accomplish? Seems you are trying to preserve old things that don't need preserving in a non-destructive workflow.
So, what is most valuable to you?
-- The original, out of camera files? (That is, the fear/need to revert.)
-- The edited versions? (That is the hours of work that it took you to get there.)
If the former, import the originals and ignore the edited versions. (Either simply leave them out on disk or import them into their own Projects which you ignore.) Use Aperture to recreate the work you had done previously. This will always give you the ability to revert to the original Master and create as many Versions as you want. This is the best idea if your edits are relatively simple crops and exposure adjustments,
If the latter, then import the edited versions and do as above with the originals. This makes more sense if your work uses lots of layers and, perhaps lots of clone tool type corrections.
Of course, you can do a bit of both.
Others may have better suggestions, but you will find it easy to answer your own question when you understand an image based, as opposed to a file based, non-destructive workflow.
Good luck!