Masters in Aperture Library Using Referenced Files

I use a MBP with an SSD to hold my Aperture 3 library.
I use a G-RAID to store my images and use Referenced Files.
All was good until yesterday, I deleted my Thumbnails to recreate them and remove the orphans.
After restarting Aperture and the processing time to recreate the Thumbnails (AP.Minis, Ap.Thumbnails, and AP.Tinies) I noticed my AP library was huge.
After inspecting the contents, there is now 65Gb worth of Masters, why would these be there since I use Referenced files and why would they have just now shown up after rebuilding my Thumbnails?

Remember:
-- A RAW file cannot be edited. It can only be written in a camera (or scanner, etc.) To be seen, it must be read through a RAW developer. The RAW developer (or converter, if you prefer) can apply changes to the bitstream (called "adjustments" in Aperture) but those changes always live in a separate file, called a "version" in Aperture. EVERY master image file in Aperture has at least one version file. The two are combined, in real time, every time you see a file. Thus questions about the Aperture library becoming corrupted are a bit moot - if you lose your library you will lose your edits. The only way to "save" edits to a RAW file is either adjust it in Aperture (or Lightroom) and let the program combine the two, or convert the file to an industry standard format, like TIFF or JPEG.
-- Aperture uses a "non-destructive" workflow. This means that it never really edits ANY file - not even a JPEG. This avoids the problem of recompressing JPEGS each time they are opened and close. So even JPEGS remain unaltered with your "edits" or "adjustments" being stored in one or more versions.
The only time you need to "save" a file in Aperture is when you need a new file in a specific format to give to someone. Until then, Aperture happily keeps track of your original images (managed or referenced) and the corresponding "edits" which it stores in a version linked to the original image file.
There are many reasons to prefer managed over referenced or vice versa, but fears of database integrity should not be one of them. You are making a lot of work for yourself - put the Aperture Vault on your server and/or use Time Machine. "Exporting" is a terrible way to try to make backups - it will take forever and you will end up with files scattered all over the place, defeating the purpose for which you bought Aperture in the first place.
Hope this helps.
DiploStrat

Similar Messages

  • Masters in Library vs Referenced files

    As I play around more with Aperture today I have another question this time regarding files. What are the pro's/con's of importing masters into the library vs referencing files in the library. I am leaning towards importing masters into Aperture rather than reference because 1)makes it easier to manage photos; 2)easier to backup photo's.
    Those that have used Aperture for sometime what method do you use - masters in the library or reference? What are the reasons?
    If I have my/a library stored on the external drive what issues will I have if the external drive is not connected to the Macbook?

    all you really need to know ...
    http://www.bagelturf.com/aparticles/ref/index.html
    i also highly suggest that you get this book:
    http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Pro-Training-Aperture-1-5/dp/0321496620
    it is a tutorial, not a manual ... that is where the value is ...
    i personally use a managed library ... why, i like the clean neatness of the package ... and sticking them in a package does not worry me at all ... i have several vaults that i keep around ...
    with referenced to work on a external you need to make sure that your external is connected ... browse thru this forum and notice how many issues with ref'd images not reconnecting ... to me managed is easier ... but to others, not so much ...

  • Aperture, Droboshare, and referenced files

    Hi, I just bought Aperture 3.0.2 as an upgrade from using iPhoto. My iPhoto setup is such that I have all my files stored on a Drobo and connected to my network via a Droboshare. I am attempting to have my Aperture Library file stored on my macbook, while creating reference files of the same photos on the Drobo.
    Now, I have no problems accessing the photo using iPhoto, but when I tried to import the same photos as referenced files in Aperture and leaving the files stored on the Drobo, it initially finds the files in the Import tool, creates thumbnails, and then proceeds to display blurry thumbnails of the pictures.
    When I double-click into the picture, it shows the image enlarged and blurry. If I select Show File in Finder, it proceeds to tell me the file cannot be found and has possibly moved, even though the file remains in the Drobo unmoved. Outside of Aperture, I can still access the file and iPhoto still has no problems seeing the image.
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    Thanks,
    Tim

    hmm, well i did try using referenced files directly off my machine and that seemed to work. Thing is, iPhoto is working fine with the Drobo via the Droboshare, as is my iTunes, which I also store on the Drobo as well, so I assume the problem must be Aperture which doesn't seem to like the Drobo?
    After importing a referenced file from Drobo into Aperture, I did notice a peculiarity: when I click Show in Finder in Aperture, it says the file cannot be found, and it displays the following path:
    /Volumes/DroboShare/0db090320629/LUN0/Drobo/0db090320629/LUN0/Drobo/flowers.jpg
    so I copied the following path into the Finder's Go To Folder:
    /Volumes/DroboShare/0db090320629/LUN0/Drobo/0db090320629/LUN0/Drobo
    and the Finder says the folder can't be found.
    However, I noticed the path is repeating itself after the first Drobo, so then I tried copying the following path into the Finder's Go To Folder:
    /Volumes/DroboShare/0db090320629/LUN0/Drobo
    and this works and Finder can find the folder where the image is stored. This leads me to believe there is a bug in the way Aperture is creating the referenced image path?
    Shortly after I originally posted, Apple released 3.0.3. I was really hoping this would fix the error, but I can confirm I still have the same problem after upgrading to 3.0.3.
    I'm just curious if anyone else out there is successfully using a workflow which incorporates a network attached storage for their referenced files?
    Regards,
    Tim

  • I have one folder with several projects all of which Aperure can not find the original.  I do not use referenced files.  I can't make any adjustments like cropping etc. What can I do to print any of these photos?

    I have one folder with several projects all of which Aperure can not find the original.  I do not use referenced files.  I can't make any adjustments like cropping etc. What can I do to adjust or print any of these photos?  IO have no ther projects with this problem.  My Aperture Library is automatically saved to two external drives.
    Dick Koos

    I have one folder with several projects all of which Aperure can not find the original.
    Have you checked inside your Aperture library, if the original files are still there?
    Try to find out, when the images in those projects have been originally imported, then open the Aperture library by ctrl-clicking it and using the command "Show package contents" from the pop-up menu. In the window that will open, select the folder "Masters" and browse the contents. You need to find the subfolder with the year you imported the images, then the folders with the month and the day.
    Are your original files still there?
    If yes, copy them to a folder on your desktop for safe-keeping, and then try, if repairing the permissions and the other Furst Aid tools will help Aperture to connect to these missing files again - see this link:  Repairing and Rebuilding Your Aperture Library: Aperture 3 User Manual
    If the First Aid Tools don't help, then check, if Aperture has moved the missing images to a "recovered folder". If not, reimport the images, you saved to your Desktop and use the Lift&Stamp tool to transfer any adjustment and captions to your reimported images.

  • Backing up library and referenced files

    I download my images to an external F800 hard drive and organize them in folders labeled with the dates in which the download took place.
    I manage them in aperture as referenced files.
    I just got a second external hard drive for back up purposes. What is the best way to back up my library and referenced files?. My external hard drive allows daisy-chaining.
    Sorry if this is too simple a question, but before doing something wrong I rather ask.
    thanks for the patience and will to reply,
    best
    Mauricio

    Backup the Aperture Library to your new drive using Aperture's Vault feature. Backup the folders of Masters by Finder-copying the folders to the new drive immediately after the folders are created. That should be a nice clean workflow.
    Don't forget some type of off site backup to deal with the possibility of fire or theft.
    -Allen Wicks

  • New to Aperture - Library vs Reference files

    I'm coming to Aperture from Picasa, which replicated and managed my folder structure as it appeared on my hard-disc, which was nice.
    Am I better off importing images into my Aperture Library, or managing the folder structure how I want and just having Aperture work with the reference files?
    I'm not a pro-photographer, just a pretty basic user, so will not have loads of large raw image files. What's the benefit of using the Library over using Reference files? I've tried Google-ing but everything I've found just addresses folder/project management within Aperture.
    If I use the reference option, can Aperture manage my photos on my hard-drive in the same way Picasa could (ie if I moved a photo from one folder to another in Picasa, it also moved on my drive)
    Thanks

    Hi TxH,
    Welcome to the user-supported Aperture discussion group.
    I'm coming to Aperture from Picasa, which replicated and managed my folder structure as it appeared on my hard-disc, which was nice.
    If you use Aperture for even a little while, you'll realize that the structure of your photos in your hard drive is not as important as how you organize them in Aperture, especially when you start making albums, which merely contain a pointer to the image in your library. You can have a picture in many albums, but your library (and therefore hard drive) only contains it once.
    Am I better off importing images into my Aperture Library, or managing the folder structure how I want and just having Aperture work with the reference files?
    That's a matter of opinion. Some people are very opinionated that using referenced files is the only way to go, some are opinionated the other way. Sometimes there really is a better solution for you depending on what you are doing.
    What's the benefit of using the Library over using Reference files? I
    You will find loads of conversation if you search this discussion group for "managed" and "referenced".
    You will always have a library. Your managed pictures will live in the library and you won't have direct access to them through Finder (and you should not want direct access to them for the most part). Your referenced pictures live wherever you tell Aperture to take them from, but the bookkeeping parts of the Aperture library/database are still stored in the Aperture library package.
    Benefits of managed include: you don't worry about where the files are; Aperture backs them up if you use its vaults; they are always with you.
    Benefits of referenced include: you know exactly where the files are; your Aperture library is significantly smaller than if all your photos were in the library; you can find them with Finder if that's important to you (and a lot of people think it's important to them but then realize they only think that because they're really not using Aperture to its full potential).
    If I use the reference option, can Aperture manage my photos on my hard-drive in the same way Picasa could (ie if I moved a photo from one folder to another in Picasa, it also moved on my drive)
    Yes. I've never used Picasa, but Aperture allows you to "relocate" your photos in order to manage their external directory structure. You can also choose to "relocate" a managed master to make it referenced.
    nathan

  • Trying to rebuild aperture library using Masters

    I have been having a problem with my photos for months now. Some have disapered and some have just gone crorupt. Made an appointment at the genuis bar and they told me i need to rebuild the library using the masters file on my back up drive. I attempted to do this and all it does is keeps on crashing. Does anyone have any tips as it is now doing my head in

    then go in to my external hard drive and find the masters folder.
    Is that a Time Machine backup or a copy of your Aperture library? Or a folder with the original master files?
    If it is a Time Machine backup, did you restore the "Masters" folder from your backup or drag it over? A TimeMachine backup needs to be restored.
    I have managed to import some photos into a newly created library but would like to get all my photos back.
    I have then left it to move the Photos but nothing seems to happen and when you right click on the aperture icon on the desk top it says appliction not responing and has an option to force to quit.
    This looks like something in the Masters folder cannot be processed.
    If you have enough space on you internal drive, create two new Aperture libraries - one for testing and one as the final version.
    Open the test version in iPhoto, if you have iPhoto, and the final version in Aperture, so you can have bth libraries open at the same time.
    Import only small sets of images at once, 100 images or so.
    First import the 100 images into the test library in iphoto, and if that succeeds without hanging, import them into your Aperture library.
    Continue to test this way. If iPhoto starts to hang, try to identify the image or video that cannot be processed, and remove it.

  • Using referenced files in Aperture and changing names of Master files

    My Aperture library (masters) are stored on an external hard drive. The label for each image is simply the one that the camera supplied on the SD card. After importing the images into Aperture, I give them a more meaningful version name. Is there a way I can now add those version names to the masters stored on the external hard drive? (I would eliminate the numbers provided by the camera) Please give specific steps if this is possible. Thank you so very much!

    You can change the name of the Master as it is imported into Aperture, have a look at the manual regarding Import Options:
    http://documentation.apple.com/en/aperture/usermanual/index.html#chapter=4%26sec tion=6%26hash=apple_ref:doc:uid:Aperture-UserManual-91292IMP-SW8
    For masters already added to your library you can rename them to match the version names, have a look at the manual regarding Renaming Master Image Files:
    http://documentation.apple.com/en/aperture/usermanual/index.html#chapter=5%26sec tion=15%26tasks=true

  • Why is my Aperture 3 libarary so big even when using referenced files?

    I noticed a large decrease in HDD space in my finder window since installing Aperture 3 demo.
    I checked the Aperture package contents and low and behold- 26GBs of thumbnails for far fewer "items" then I have photos. My entire 28,000 image iphoto library is only 135GBs.
    Why does Aperture take up so much space for referenced files? LR does not do this.
    I really want to like this program but it's making it hard.
    Gene

    Remember that AP can also be creating preview files for each of your master images and depending on the size and quality setting that you have set for these in your preferences your AP file will vary in size accordingly.
    To check on these settings go to your preferences in the pul down menu/Aperture.
    Tony

  • How to use "referenced files" in MY case?

    I have a MacBook pro, which I bring with me between home and studio.
    Until now, I've been storing my shots on an external HD. This means that I cannot see my photos when I'm home.
    I've been looking into the "referenced files"-thing.
    I would like to be able to see a preview of all my shots also when I only have my MacBook and not the external drive. When I shoot, I would like to store NEW shots on my MacBook at first (to edit, tag etc.) but then put them on my external drive for storage.
    I haven't been able to figure out how to do this. Can anyone please explain or link me to a place where I can read about it?
    Thanks in advance

    I haven't done this yet, but soon I'll need to coordinate a laptop and a desktop machine. So don't take my word for anything!
    It sounds as though you have Aperture set up so that the laptop machine's library is on the external drive -- not just the images that make up the heart of the library. Is that right? The alternative would be to tell Aperture its library is on the laptop, but have the library reference master images on the external drive. Previews -- if you have Aperture set to create and/or maintain previews in any or all projects -- are in the library, which is on the computer whether or not you have the drive containing the masters with you.
    (Am I going wrong yet??)
    But I'm still not clear, when master images are referenced, where Aperture stores versions, adjustments, metadata; in the library or with the referenced images?
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  • Issues With Reconnecting Library to Referenced Files

    I'm hoping somebody may be able to shed some light on very strange behavior I'm currently experiencing with Aperture. Before I continue let me say ahead of time that I've already run a Repair Permissions, Repair Database and a complete Rebuild Database on the Library. That said here is what's happening.
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    William is right - use the provided tools.
    . Never once could it not find the images once I took it and showed the exact path to where  the images were newly located. So what happens if that drive ever fails completely and I have to replace it with a totally new backup?
    There must be something wrong with your external drive, if reconnect is not working. I had never, ever trouble to reconnect the originals after copying or cloning a drive, when I restored a mac from my backup.
    Check the filesystem on your field drive, if the file system is MacOS Extended (Journaled).

  • Purpose of creating a vault when using referenced files

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    Food for thought!
    Doug

  • How do I switch from Aperture Library to Regular Files in Folders?

    I want to get out of the Aperture Library thing so I have better options of backup and usability.
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