Aperture's Vault

[kzdyb]

Does anyone have any insight on the vault in Aperture?

I currently use the "bucket system", Image ingester, Bridge and Iview. I like the new version of Aperture so much that I want figure out a new DAM workflow to either include it or use it solely.

If I used Aperture to run my whole workflow what would the downsides be???

I am getting more confused about all of this stuff and need to try to understand the most important points of any workflow. I appreciate any clarification I can get on all this....

Kevin

[Mike Guilbault]

There's a tutorial on the Apterture sight: http://www.apple.com/aperture/resources/tutorial/ that explains the Vault in pretty good detail.  This only works if you use Aperture to totally manage your images.  If you use 'referenced' images, as in images stored in folders on your HD, then the Vault won't work.  But you can archive them just as you would with any folder of images.

I'm going to be spending a couple hours with Aperture tomorrow with someone who is using it so I hope to find out more then.  But now that Aperture can reference images as well as importing them, there should be no problem.

[Domip]

I'm going to be spending a couple hours with Aperture tomorrow with someone who is using it so I hope to find out more then.  But now that Aperture can reference images as well as importing them, there should be no problem.

I'll hope you'll share with us what your experience with Aperture was..
I count on it !

I'm so enthousiastic about Aperture that I'm about switching to Apple, but first I've to be sure about Aperture's qualities. Will it replace Bridge/iView ? Is my work done in iView importable in Aperture ? Can Aperture import my (pc) NTFS harddisk ? So many questions and no possibility to test; no 30-days version and having no Mac to test on !

Thanks,
Dominique

[Mike Guilbault]

Well.. I'm back from the afternoon with Aperture and all I can say is WOW!  It was running on a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0 w/6GB and ran very well.  One of the things my friend mentioned was to get a good video card.  He upgraded his G5 with the x800 XT.  Every now and then the 'Loading Image' appeared, but we just kept on working.

From what I could see, it'll replace everything I've got now except PhotoShop - and only for serious retouching and layered 'stuff' - which can still be done and tracked in Aperture.  After seeing the Managed Workflow in action, it was quite impressive, but now you have the option of Referenced Images to keep them where you want.  The Vault is very slick and easy to use.  Although I was hesitant about using Aperture because it didn't have a Referenced Image workflow, now that it has it, I may just stick with the Managed anyway.  It will definately replace Bridge and iView for me (although I haven't used iView, but I was about to purchase it before Aperture 1.5 came out.)  Regarding importing from your PC, I really don't know.  You'll have to get an answer from someone more techie than me.

[kzdyb]

I also have a G5 with dual 2.0 (non intel) 4g RAM and in order to install Aperture I had to buy a new video card. I bought the X800 Xt because my Gforce 5200 would not work. The software does run quite well with the new card.

My dillema is that I have 10,000 pictures that are arranged in "buckets" and archived on DVD's. I like the fact that I have this organized in a way that I could change software and I would not miss a beat. I can also recreate my whole collection of pictures very easily. I am not a proffessional photographer it is only a hobby for me...but a serious hobby.

Three years ago I outgrew iPhoto and it was a nightmare recreating all of my "original" pics. The file structure in iPhoto is terrible. I learned that there were many that were altered by the software and they would remain forever altered. I like the feeling of being able to have an "original" file. SO...what do I do with the 10,000 files? Import them into Aperture and let Aperture manage them or do I let Aperture treat them as referenced files. Aperature does have a non-destructive file structure and I do like many features about the software. Does Peter have a new book coming out?? His DAM book did help me get my workflow organized but I was never thrilled with Iview. (Even less thrilled when I learned Microsoft bought them)

Thoughts???

[rhjflynn]

Well.. I'm back from the afternoon with Aperture and all I can say is WOW!  It was running on a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.0 w/6GB and ran very well.  One of the things my friend mentioned was to get a good video card.  He upgraded his G5 with the x800 XT.  Every now and then the 'Loading Image' appeared, but we just kept on working.
[etc]

Mike, did you manage to test it with your own DNGs?   If so, I assume that you were satisfied that they imported correctly?  I've got Aperture arriving perhaps tomorrow and this is my only concern.   I've got DNGs made from my 20D .cr2 files, some of which have been edited in ACR, all of which have had metadata embedded into them by iView.   If they won't even open in Aperture it'll be pretty frustrating.   I'm looking forward to the promised new version of Annoture to help with the transfer of metadata.

Richard

[peterkrogh]

kzdyb, (if that *is* your real name..)
I'd stick with the organizational structure you have for at least a while.  Wait until you make sure you like Aperture before you have it take over management of everything.  You'd hate to do that and then decide several months later that you need to port everyhting out to another application because there's something that does not suit you about Aperture.
Peter

[kzdyb]

Peter,
Thank you, that is good advise. Should I import my 10,000 images as refrenced files or are you suggesting to only experiment with a few files at a time? Do you have plans for a new book with the ever changing software choices? Do you have any thoughts on Aperture?? I really like the feel of the Aperture software and have been trying to find the downside, if any of using it to manage my entire workflow.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Mike Guilbault]

Richard...

No, I'm afraid I didn't test any DNG's.  I've not committed to DNG yet, mainly because I'm still in the air about which software I'll end up using.  Aperture is in the lead so far, but I haven't made a final decision yet.  There's so much I like about Aperture, just the way I can sort, rate and select images for one, but the workflow is still a little foreign to me and I havent' got my head wrapped around it yet with Masters, Versions, exporting etc.   I'm trying to figure this about before I spend the money.  I"m having the same problem with iView, which is why I'm considering Aperture.  As I see it at the moment, I'm not using DNG, and Aperture won't force me to use it either.  Whether that's a good, or bad thing is still to be determined.

By all mean... please share your views once you have had a go at it.

Cheers,

[peterkrogh]

Kevin,
I'd bring the entire library in as referenced files.

Not sure what will be in the next book.  Waiting to see a little more how the technical landscape shakes out.

Aperture looks good, but still lock all the adjustment work into that one application.  If they supported DNG output, I would very happily recommend it as an open-architecture solution.  As it is, you will need to maintain a working copy of Aperture forever in order to reproduce your images according to the adjustments you make in the software.  Either that, or you have to export an entire duplicate archive in rendered form, like TIFF or JPEG.

Contrast this with ACR/DNG.  By saving adjusted files as DNG, you can access the adjusted images with any software that can access the DNG preview (simple and openly documented stuff, for a software programmer - a number of applications can do this already, like iView, idImager, Portfolio, etc).  This gives you an easy exit from the software should you decide to switch sometime in the future. ( I would suggest that switching software is pretty much inevitable, eventually.)
Peter

[Mike Guilbault]

That's a very good point Peter.  Although, by the time new software is required and with all the advances being made in RAW processing, I would probably re-adjust my original RAW with the 'new & improved' software anyway.  Kinda like when LR Beta 4 came out with the vibrance option.  I instantly wanted to go back and try it on all my images!!  - I resisted the temptation though.

[AngelMorales]

Kevin,
I'd bring the entire library in as referenced files.

Not sure what will be in the next book.  Waiting to see a little more how the technical landscape shakes out.

Aperture looks good, but still lock all the adjustment work into that one application.  If they supported DNG output, I would very happily recommend it as an open-architecture solution.  As it is, you will need to maintain a working copy of Aperture forever in order to reproduce your images according to the adjustments you make in the software.  Either that, or you have to export an entire duplicate archive in rendered form, like TIFF or JPEG.

Contrast this with ACR/DNG.  By saving adjusted files as DNG, you can access the adjusted images with any software that can access the DNG preview (simple and openly documented stuff, for a software programmer - a number of applications can do this already, like iView, idImager, Portfolio, etc).  This gives you an easy exit from the software should you decide to switch sometime in the future. ( I would suggest that switching software is pretty much inevitable, eventually.)
Peter

Peter,
I was wondering if when working with DNG's, you are working on them in a non-destructive format or way? In other words, are you in actuality creating a layer in the file that is saved and the original is not touched or embedded with the alterations of the file done by the software?
-Angel

[peterkrogh]

DNGs are non-destructive. all changes are stored as instructions (kind of like an adjustment layer).

Make sue to save as RAW rather than Linear and all the original RAW data will be there.
Peter