Mike Rawcs Posted July 11, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have both Aperture and Lightroom (LR) and for a long time used, and preferred, LR (I think it's just a case of what you are used to). Eventually I decided to try Aperture again and found that I liked the interface more and decided to use it full-time. My only gripe about Aperture is that it does not support Flash web journals and I find myself importing files into LR just to export them as web journal pages. I also like the fill light adjustment very much. I can't see Apple adding Flash galleries to Aperture and a part of me thinks that if I am using image development software I may be better using it from a source whose business is software development (Adobe) rather that a company whose primary business is hardware (Apple). The problem arises when I import photographs into both LR and Aperture and compare the result: before any adjustment, Aperture looks much sharper on my 24" iMac. Has anyone else noticed this? Is Aperture adding initial adjustments to the Raw file on import? Perhaps Apple is softening the file when it detects that it is being opened in LR? That last comment was a joke - honest. Any thoughts most welcome. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 11, 2011 Posted July 11, 2011 Hi Mike Rawcs, Take a look here Why do my files look sharper in Aperture than in Lightroom?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Walt Calahan Posted July 11, 2011 Share #2 Posted July 11, 2011 What is your "Photo Preview Quality" setting in Aperture? It might be giving you a higher quality of preview then how Lightroom is rendering your images? Just a thought, but no guarantee this is the reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 11, 2011 Share #3 Posted July 11, 2011 What are your default sharpening settings on LR and Aperture? I bet they are not similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rawcs Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted July 11, 2011 Aperture shows "Photo preview - half size. Photo preview quality - 8 ,Medium. LR shows (under file handling) Jpeg preview - half size (embed original raw file is not ticked). As far as I know, these are default settings. Thanks for your help, Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rawcs Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted July 11, 2011 The Aperture "Viewer" option shows a much larger view than LR. If I close right and left sidebars and filmstrip in LR the photo size is approximately the same. When viewed in this manner they look very similar. In the LR version the grass in the photo looks marginally more "grass-like" - marginally. So I'll spend some more time with LR. Thanks Walt, Jaapv, Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 11, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 11, 2011 If you're using LR3, with proper settings, you should have no complaints regarding apparent sharpness. The real test is in the print, and the increase in resolution from my LR2 to LR3 conversions is readily noticeable. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rawcs Posted July 12, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted July 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) As you say Jeff, the final result is what's important. In re-aquainting myself with LR I clicked on Slideshow and experienced the wow moment of seeing my photographs very large and free of the clutter of the normal LR interface. I remembered how I used to use slideshow to select photos for a final star rating (not what it was made for I'm-sure, but it works for me). LR looks very cluttered compared to Aperture but the LR Flash web pages (I particularly like Paper White, which probably explains why I wish LR would allow a brighter, cleaner look) are very good. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Bell Posted July 21, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 21, 2011 Interesting post. I have noticed the same thing. Images from Aperture pop more off the screen. LR3 looks softer (not in a bad way). I like the workflow of Aperture better, but the controls tend to be heavy handed. Aperture tends to paint with a broad brush, while LR3 has more find control. I love the fill light feature too and dialing down clarity to diffuse the light (also good for high ISO pics with noise) If you hold shift+command+F the image will go full screen in LR3... there should really be a button to do this, like Aperture. I like both programs, but I find myself leaning towards LR3 due to the tool sets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rawcs Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted July 21, 2011 Christopher, thanks for the Full Screen shortcut: I do have Scot Kelby's LR2 book but have not read it for a while. I'm using LR every day now and am enjoying the experience. I'd not thought of dialing DOWN the Clarity slider to diffuse the light; just dialling UP to increase clarity! Good tip and thanks again. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted July 27, 2011 Share #10 Posted July 27, 2011 I just figured out why my photos where not all that sharp in LR3. I wasn't checking the sharpness box when exporting that has options for export for screen or print. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rawcs Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted August 2, 2011 Imported some files into LR last night; adjusted etc.etc. then I imported the same images into Aperture - just to keep it up-to-date. I have to say that, after using LR for about a week, the Aperture interface looked good: very good. I'm sticking with Aperture. Thanks everyone for your input. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rawcs Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted August 2, 2011 Also, although I like LRs Flash web journal Paper White, it takes an AGE ...... to display when viewed via the Internet plus it does not allow text blocks as does the Aperture HTML. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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