Layers in Aperture 3

Can anyone please confirm that Aperature 3 does not support layers? I downloaded the trial and searched through lots of documentation and forum posts, but I would like to make sure before I decide against purchasing Aperature. I am new to DSLR photography, and I would like to purchase software that will allow some creativity.
If layers are not supported, can someone recommend reasonably priced photo editing software that does support layers? I am afraid PS Elements is too geared toward the average point-and-shoot user. Photoshop CS4 is way too expensive. Maybe something by Corel or Photoshop Lightroom 2?
Any help would be appreciated. It's painful to spend a few hundred dollars only to find out the software isn't what you expected. Thanks!

I appreciate the feedback from everyone. Very good points, and I am not writing anything off at this point. Since I am new to this, it really helps. In fact, as wessew suggests, maybe I'm not even sure of what I want.
One reason for wanting to work with layers was to experiment with HDR. From what I have read, once processing an a few bracketed shots together, I can pull the original RAW files as layers into a photo editor along with my new HDR version and eliminate ghosting or zero in on a part of one layer that I like.
But HDR is certainly not my primary goal. It's just one aspect I want to explore. I certainly don't equate creativity to layers and nothing else, even though my message may have sounded that way. The editing tools and interface of Aperture really appeal to me for most of my common tasks. I just didn't want to spend $200 and find out that I can't experiment with a common technique because the software doesn't offer it. I don't really care about the image database side at this point. As Kirby stated, it's the raw photograph development I'm looking for. I also realize that PS is more than I want.
I guess it's a happy medium I'm looking for. I will definitely keep playing with A3. Appreciate all of the help.
Message was edited by: evilkow
Message was edited by: evilkow

Similar Messages

PSE can not create layers from Aperture reference

I'm still working out how to use Aperture (just got it) and I can't figure this one out. No matter how I try and export an image to Photoshop (tried using PSD & TIFF standard and 16 bit) , PSE will NOT allow me to create duplicate a layer from teh background layer. I need to do some touch-ups on the image and need to duplicate the layer to do the work. PSE doesn't give it to me as an option.
If I try and select everything, do a copy and a paste, the image gets pasted over the background layer as a selected object and not a new layer as it normally does.
Any ideas of what's going on and how to send a version of an image from Aperture to PSE that will allow me to edit it fully?
Thanks.
Matt

Hi Matt;
By "PSE" do you mean Photoshop Elements?
Also, if you are working with a 16-bit picture (a converted RAW image, I am assuming), what you can do with it is very limited in Photoshop. Reduce it to 8-bit and try to see if that fixes it.

Does Aperture 2 support layered .psd images from photoshop

I was wondering if anyone can answer this question for me. I will be using photoshop to edit wedding photos. I will be doing alot of layers in photoshop for my wedding photos. is it possible to save the final edited photos that contains layers into Aperture so I can utilizes the photo management that aperture provides and post on a website through .mac service? If not, can you suggest a photo management software for my final edited photos in photoshop that will allow me to post the photos out on the Web through .mac?
Lexx
Message was edited by: Lexx01

In short, Aperture does allow saving layers.
You must open in external editor (PS) make your adjustments and any layers, save (not save as), make sure that you click maximize compatibility. Your layered file will return to Aperture. If you need to massage one of the layers again, just open in external editor again.
Hope this helps.
CD

How do you manage multiple Instances of an adjustment

I'm trying very hard to learn Aperture but, one thing that I can't seem to figure out is how to manage multiple instances of the same adjustment. As an example, I create a new exposure adjustment to brush in exposure on the subjects teeth and then a second exposure adjustment to bush in an exposure on a tree in the background and a third instance to brush in exposure to some other element in the photograph - how do I know which exposure brick adjusts which element in the photo. I guess I could use the overlay to identify the element associated with each adjustment brick but that seem kind of heavy handed. Is there a better way to associate each instance of an adjustment brick with the elements in the photograph it impacts?

Frank has answered your question. I have a follow-up question:
mjinco wrote:
As an example, I create a new exposure adjustment to brush in exposure on the subjects teeth and then a second exposure adjustment to bush in an exposure on a tree in the background and a third instance to brush in exposure to some other element in the photograph - how do I know which exposure brick adjusts which element in the photo.
Are you able to apply multiple Exposure Bricks? I have never been able to do that.
The workflow you describe seems to derive from Photoshop (with it's named layers). Aperture is by design more focused on the end result than the process. I tend to use as few multiple Bricks as possible. I do vary the strength of the Brush when brushing in different parts of the Image within the same Brick.

No DoF with text CS6

I'm trying to create this effect and it seems no matter what I do, nothing is working.
I have 3 text layers, all 3 have the 3D enabled and are spaced out in Z space. Draft 3D is turned off. I'm using a 35mm one-node camera, Depth of Field turned on and an aperture value of 97. Preview is in all full quality resolution. No matter where I move the camera or the focus distance or the text, everything remains in focus.
Can anyone offer any insight into what I might be doing wrong?

Not without a screenshot... DOF enabled? 3D layers? Aperture set? Other effects or layer styles applied to your 3D layers? All can have an effect. Show us your composition.

External editor file format

I would like to edit photos within Photoshop CS6 from time to time, the originals are all DNG format.
In the export dialog box within prefernces I have two queries:
1. Which file format is best to maintain quality of the photo?
2. What should teh DPI be set to?
Thnak you!
Petre H

Petre,
you are asking about the export pane in the Aperture Preferences panel, right?
What you select there, should depend on the resolution and quality of images you want to export.
All export format are lossless, pick TIFF (8 bit) if you have jepegs with good quality or TIFF (16 bit) if you have high resolution raw images, but this will result in very large files.
If you use Photoshop for graphics composition and want to returen layers to Aperture, use the PSD formats.
The dpi will not really change the quality of the exported image, but will be used when printing the image to compute the dimensions of the image on the paper. Higher dpi will result in a smaller image on the paper, since more pixels will be needed to print one inch of the image.
Regards
Léonie

Which option do you use? PSD or TIFF for external edits?

I'd like to hear why you use PSD or TIFF for external edits. Why do you choose one over the other? Do you wish you had a choice, as in an option, when you click on Edit in External Editor?

I did a little reading on this and this is what I have found so far:
Deke McClelland in Adobe Photoshop CS2 one-on-one states:
"TIFF is a wonderful format to use when handing off CMYK files because it enjoys wide support and prints without incident."
He also states "Photoshop also lets you save layers to the TIFF and PDF formats, but where multilayer compositions are concerned, the native PSD Format enjoys wider support among other imaging applications (including, older versions of Photoshop itself)."
Classroom In A Book states:
"TIFF is used to exchange files between applications and computer platforms. TIFF is a flexible format supported by virtually all pain, image-editing, and page-layout applications. Also, virtually all destop scanners can produce TIFF images.
"PSE is the default file format. Because of the tight integration between Adobe products, other Adobe applications such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe GoLive can directly import PSD files and preserve many Photoshop features.
Apple Aperture 1.5 by Mike Cuenca:
"PSD: The Photoshop proprietary format is widely used by digital imaging professionals because it supports the storage of alpha channels and layers. Aperture will preserve this extra data byt will not display the layers or channels. PSD files are not compressed, and although they are intended for use within Photoshop, they are becoming more widely accepted outside Photoshop."
"TIFF: The TIFF format is the recommended format for high quality storage of master images. It has a loss-less compression method that can be applied, but more often the images are stored uncompressed. The TIFF format is also the most widely used format for images destined to be printed on a printing press."
Maybe some of this will help
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Using Photoshop With Aperture-Flattens Layers

I am running into some slight issues when using Aperture 3 and Photoshop CS6.
I have used Aperture 3 for quite some time. As part of my workflow, I use Nik Software plug-ins for quite some time. In order to fully understand the issue, it would be best to understand a bit about my workflow.
After I go out and shoot the images, I download the images onto my internal drive so that the images are managed within the library.
I then proceed to rate the images. When the library is imported all the photos get one star.
I then go in and star photos that deserve a two star rating.
With these photos I take all the two stared photos and use the NIk Define plug-in to decrease the noise of the images. After this process this outputs TIFF files that are placed into my library.
I then make all these new TIFF files that have the noise lessened to three stars.
Previous to my new workflow, I would go from here utilizing the NIk plug-ins and then further rating the images.
New Workflow:
From here I enabled Adobe Photoshop CS6 is an external editor.
I would export the images I would want to work on in Photomatix Pro to my desktop. After using Photomatix, I would open up the file in Photoshop without importing into Aperture.
After all my work is done in Photoshop, I would reimport the photo back into Aperture 3.
While the file was in Aperture 3, I would reopen it in Photoshop.
The file would show as my layers being applied but not shown. I think it was a flattened image file.
What I would like to do:
Be able to reopen with Photoshop photos in my Aperture library but continue preserving the layers from Photoshop.
Would I need to save the files as PSD files in order for this to work? Any thoughts?
Anyhow for device would be appreciated.

leonieDF wrote:
Aperture does not handle layers, as far as I know. If you import an image with layers, as tiff or as psd, the layers will be preserved, but not displayed with transparency, since Aperture does only handle RGB. If you export the original (master), your layers will be preserved, but if you adjust the image in Aperture and export the edited version, then the resulting file will no longer have layers, all will be flattened.
If you Aperture only use as a database and not as editor, your approach should work, but if you want to use Aperture's editing tools and export versions, then the layers will be gone.
Sorry to revive this old thread, but I have a follow up question on exact subject...
I have run into the same issue and understand your explanation. I have confirmed that I can import a layered master to Aperture, its layers are preserved and if I export it later the layers are still there.
What I am really surprised about is that if I edit in Photoshop from Aperture, the file opens up in Photoshop, but the layers are not there. Is this right or avoidable?
Thanks

Aperture, photoshop layers and Alpha channels - notes

In examining Aperture 2.0 to see if I could use it instead of Adobe bridge in my workflow (which makes intense use of Photoshop) I found that Aperture (and, apparently, OS X) cannot properly display a preview for a .psd file with either layers or an alpha channel. In some cases, the preview image is simply an error message, in others the alpha channel is displayed as black. These problems make Aperture a non-starter for me.
Searching this forum for information, solutions, and/or workarounds, I found some references, but nothing of high value. (Sorry, posters.) Started my own investigation, and discovered some things that might lead to a reasonable workaround. My notes are here:
http://homepage.mac.com/bbarlow641/webinfonotebook/
too long, I think, to put into a forum post. Sorry to link out to somewhere else, but if you're interested, it's worth a click. (Or the linked page may not have "high value" either. But it helped me to think through the problem.)
Ben

bbarlow641 wrote:
Saving the file as a layered TIFF file would preserve the layers - that might be a good idea since Aperture doesn't recognize psb files. But any "saving as" step - as a psb or as a TIFF - creates a second (large) file, so I don't think it's an ideal solution.
I don't know if that helps in your workflow, but the way I handle this is:
• import the raw file into Aperture
• open in external editor (i.e. PhotoShop; external editor format: tiff)
• edit in PhotoShop
• when saving I am asked if I want to save it as layered tiff (provided the preferences are set accordingly: File Handling / Ask before saving layered tiff files);
• here two things are to be considered:
_ the file extension used by PS is "tif", so it has to be changed to "tiff"
_ on my MacBook Pro the Save As-dialog opens showing the correct file location (i.e., the correct subfolder inside the Aperture library), on my Mac Pro the initial location is somewhere else (remembered from the last saving procedure); I have to work around this by first command-clicking in the image window's title bar to open the edited file's location in the Finder, so that I can then drag it onto the Save As-dialog. This is actually slightly annoying, but I did not find out the reason so far.
• Aperture automatically refreshes the saved file.
This way I end up with just this one extra file. The whole procedure would be a bit simpler using referenced files instead of storing them in the library.
My settings in PS do have the "Maximize Compatibility" option set (in the notebooked example, it's set to "ask", normally it's set to "always"). I'm using CS2. Maybe this setting works in CS3 to create the composite? I've heard several people here say that same thing, but it definitely doesn't do it for me...
For me this works, and as far as I remember also worked in CS2; do you see a difference in file size between files saved both ways? How does Preview.app display the file saved with "Maximize Compatibility"?
Since my first post, I've been trying to figure out how to add a PS action that would run an Applescript to tell GraphicConverter to open and close a file, creating a preview. But it seems that while an Applescript can trigger a Postscript action, the reverse (having a Postscript action trigger an Applescript) is not possible.
Might something like a hot folder with an automator scripts attached to it be a possible workaround?
Message was edited by: Bernhard Barkow

Aperture and Photoshop Layers

I did a test by importing some layered Photoshop files into Aperture. These were saved as PSD files using "maximum capability" yet when I "Export" or use "External Editor" from Aperture back to Photoshop, the files are flattened. I have heard that the layers should be retained so I must be overlooking something. I had low hopes for the export, but I thought using "external editor" would keep the layers, but it did not. Advice is appreciated.

No problem. The first test I exported as a PSD.
I just went back and tested again and I got it to work although I'm not sure what I did that fixed it. The one thing I did differently was to save as a layered tiff in PS rather than a PSD. I thought it would be safer to keep it as a PSD, but ??
I am testing this because I'm working on a large project and I want to keep everything filed in my Aperture managed library. I tried this a while back and when everything became flattened it set my work back many hours so I cannot let it happen again. I will probably try this one more time just to be sure.

Layers from Photoshop are black in Aperture

I export a pic to PSE, make some changes, select certain things, cut out some stuff, etc. I end up with a few layers. Then I save back into aperture as a psd file. The selected area put on another layer is now black.
I've tried reopening the files in PSE and there is only one layer. I must have a setting wrong when saving. Any ideas on how to properly save a .psd file so that the layers are preserved in Aperture?
I know how to do it as a work around, saving to desktop, importing to Aperture. Hoping I don't have to do that.
Suggestions appreciated.

You need to check if you have Alpha channels in your PSD files, probably as a result of a saved mask. These do not display in Aperture. I think this is explained somewhere in the manual. If you don't need the alpha channels you have added delete them, and you should be OK.

Can I perform masking & layers for HDR image in Aperture 2 _RAW images

Hello
I own Aperture 2.
Can I do post processing such as masking & layers like one do to to create HDR image.
If so...
I generally take in RAW format. In Photoshop or Photomatix the HDR post processing is done in JPG. [I do not own Photoshop or Photomatix]. Do I have to save it as JPG or take my photos in JPG to get the above done in Aperture 2?
Will Aperture 2 handle JPG to create HDR image?
Regards

yo,
i only very recently paid for photomatix (pmx) and started to use it....... i like it
eish, paid $129 from their website.......... see it (essentials?) is 29$ from app store
"real" hdr multiple exposures are possible with pmx as well as single image "tone mapped" files
aperture 2 or 3 do not offer hdr post processing, i think, photoshop *** compared to pmx (more tweaking possible)
if you use pmx one can use raw or jpg files, i do not think it makes a difference to the outcome
i use it as a stand alone app, BUT i think it could be used as a plug in... why bother?
one can save pmx files as tiff or jpg
you decide
let me know
ps- do not destroy the original files!, it's easy enough to re-convert them to hdr/anything again later
pps- you can download pmx as a try out for free, but they post a watermark on the final result, it's worth the experiment, at least you know what you are dealing with.... (available from their website), but it looks like the app store option is cool!... check out both

Photoshop layers do not display in Aperture

Hi folks.
I searched the forum for something on this but didn't find anything.
I just opened a JPG in my external editor (PS CS2), made some adjustments, saved and closed. In Aperture, the image (and thumbnail) do not represent the PS image.
I have a layered PS file - top layer is a subject cut out from the b/g layer, which I have blurred/desaturated and is the bottom layer.
The file is RGB/8-bit and both layers visible. In Aperture, I see the subject, but in the thumbnail, the b/g is white; in the main image, the b/g is black. The actual b/g does not display.
Any suggestions why/how to correct without flattening the image in PS?
Thanks
Tony.
iMac2GHz1.5GB RAM*20; PowerBook1.5GHz2GB RAM; iPod 10GB Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Thanks for the efforts - much appreciated.
The only 'Ask' option I have in CS2 preferences is for layered TIF files. From memory, I don't believe I get asked anything by PS when I exit, other than to save.
The only other thing worth mentioning is that in Aperture prefs, I have External Editor File Format set to PSD - presumably TIF doesn't enter into the equasion and so I'm never prompted per the earlier-mentioned PS setting.
I changed the APerture setting to TIFF and re-opened my problematic image in PS. I made a subtle change just to force a save, and again - was not prompted for anything other than to save. Back in APerture, I see no change.
The file itself has 3 layers - Background (orig color image); layer 2 is a B&W version of the bg...one part of the image was masked to preserve its original (bg) color; the third layer is an Old Photo filter effect, again with part of the image masked to preserve the original color. The mask itself was saved as a channel. I'll be happy to send you the PSD if you like - email me at tonygoulding-at-mac.com.
Thanks
Tony.

Does Aperture have layers, such as Photoshop. I have to make one photo out of two photo's.

Does Aperture have layers like in Photoshop? I have to make 1 photo out of two. This is an assignment for the Fotovakschool.

As Alan pointed out Aperture does not do layers. While the plugin he pointed to seems interesting (had never seen it before) it is on the pricey side for what it does.
You could use either GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program which is free or else Pixelmator from the Mac App Store for $30, as Apertures external editor. In either case you'll get a app that will do more for you then just layers.
regards

Aperture not saving layered tiffs?

G'Day
I have been trying to import my layered PS tiffs or PSD's back into aperture, sometimes it seems to save the layers and sometimes it doesn't. Am I doing something wrong.
I do use Nikon Capture NX as part of my work flow Aperture>NX> photoshop, then import my finished tiff back into Aperture. I would prefer to save them as PSD's but Apreture never seems to save the PS layers, sometimes it will with tiff's and sometimes it won't.
Any suggestions?
thanks shane

Aperture can work with layered TIFF and PSD files, but there are limitations.
IF you make any changes to the layered TIFF/PSD file from within Aperture, it will flatten the file. You should only make changes to these files outside of Aperture, via "open using external editor."

Layers in Aperture 3

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