Just getting started, where are my Pics?

Question

I'm new to aperture and this is my first post.
O.K.
When I import images into aperture from a cf card I can't find the files in my finder or spotlight. So I check my preferences to see where they are going and it says to my aperture library that I have previously selected in my photo folder.
Am I importing wrong or is there another way to access these files without opening Aperture. My concern is that if I want to attach these files in an email or a website that auto scales the image, I can't access them unless they are exported from Aperture.
thanks, and take it easy if this is a no brainer and i'm missing something
sponester

Answer 1

I'm new to aperture and this is my first post.
O.K.
When I import images into aperture from a cf card I
can't find the files in my finder or spotlight. So I
check my preferences to see where they are going and
it says to my aperture library that I have previously
selected in my photo folder.
Am I importing wrong or is there another way to
access these files without opening Aperture. My
concern is that if I want to attach these files in an
email or a website that auto scales the image, I
can't access them unless they are exported from
Aperture.
Yes - the key is that they are in a special directory called a Package, which is your Aperture library.
Inside your "Pictures" folder is a file called Aperture Library.aplibrary. If you right click on this file in Finder (again, really a directory) you can choose "Show Package Contents".
Once that window opens, you'll see another directory with a few different things in it including a file that has the same name as the Project you imported into. This too is a Package - right click on that and "show package contents".
You get another window and in there is a directory that starts with "import" which is where all your imported images are stored. Each image is in it's own directory, this is because later as you start making Versions Aperture can keep the version related files and other metadata along with the original image without things getting too messy.
You can keep a link to that import directory in your Finder sidebar.
That's how you can reach your original files without Aperture. However it's really easy just to export versions from Aperture on demand - it has a specific "Send image to email" command and you can export a group of images quickly at whatever size you think is best to any directory to use with other things.