Aperture to Lightroom?

[ibogost]

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Despite all my wrangling with Aperture, and despite the fact that I still like it best, I'm nearly at wits end with the software. It devours all my system resources even on a dual-core Intel, and lately it's just been crashing my whole machine. It doesn't seem like I should have to reboot and start a special Aperture-only session just to do post.

 

So, here's my question before I break the shrinkwrap on Lightroom. Is it possible to export my RAW files (both DNG and Canon RAW) WITH the adjustments I've made, so that I could have them all set up in Lightroom? I don't want to burn them out to TIFFs if I can help it, for a lot of reasons.

 

Oh great gods of digital photography, why can't file format standards work?

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[fjmcsu]

Ian,

I use both systems as I started with Lightroom then added Aperture later(a gift).It is also a way for me to have some redundency or back-up should one system fail.I agree that Apertures memory requirements are much more then that required for Lightroom particularly when it comes to using the adjustments panel.Amazingly on a PowerPC Quad core G5 with 8.5 GB RAM it was still amazingly gimpy.With the price of RAM falling I bought more RAM(at half the original cost & now there are no slow downs). Regarding transfer to Lightroom :I import first through Aperture, add metadata etc.Then I have an automator app/workflow pick-up the images into Lightroom & all the data & metadata is retained.I thus have the luxury of using both systems when needed & hand it of to PCSC3 for final editing(sharpening, etc)

[ibogost]

This sounds similar to what I'm trying to do. How does the automator workflow work?

[fjmcsu]

The automator works well.I have it configured to get the image files from the particular project in Aperture which then transfers it to a folder(I call it the Aperture_Lightroom Hot Folder) on the desktop, then the workflow finds the folder sends the images to Lightroom which imports them. It isn't totally automated as I still need to tell Lighroom where to put the files, but all in all it works well since the metadata is already in the files & I don't have to add such(keywords, etc),so i am satisfied.I tried to go from Lightroom to Aperture but only non-RAW files(tif, JPEG) kept the keyword metadata & I am not sure why .

[BrutalImage]

Simple question: Aperture or Lightroom for the Mac?

 

IPhoto has performed admirably but is groaning under the weight of a rapidly growing 17,500+ image library.

 

I am looking to upgrade and am torn between Aperture and LR. Some people say Aperture is "free form" and easier to use.... LR is more "rigid" in the way its set out and has to be used.... Adobe has a better RAW converter in its software.... and LR is faster & suffers fewer spinning beachballs.

 

Constructive comment would be appreciated

 

(Main equipment: Leica M8, Intel IMac 24" 2.3Hz 3gig RAM, Mac Book Pro 2.3gHz 3gig RAM)

[BrutalImage]

Francisco, out of curiosity which application do you prefer? Use most?

[Guest stnami]

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Both work fine and arrive at the same destination. If you use PhotoShop for almost all your images then LR is the logical choice. Otherwise it becomes a personal comfort thing, there are other things around around as wel, most have trial for a month or so. I ended with LR, PhotoShop and Raw Developer,,,,,,,

[carstenw]

Isn't there a setting to store the changes in a sidecar file? That ought to be pickupable by Lightroom, if you open up the bundle.

[fjmcsu]

Francisco, out of curiosity which application do you prefer? Use most?[/irst QUOTE]

 

Dudley,

At first I used Lightroom (LR)since i had it first. I think the import process is easy & keyword labeling is much easier in LR.I imported by reference since I had an external drive already configured wirth my images.Once i started on Aperture (AP) I really liked the folder /project set-up (similar to what i used in Cumulus)& also ended up copying all my data to a separate HD, this way i have some redundency.Once the memory issues were worked out(here LR shines), I have begun to use AP more particularly with the advent of Eoin's color profiles, which I use strictly now but still am able to vary by changing the profiles in PlistPro.

I like the B & W conversion in LR & use it for that also.I guess the beauty is I have options depending on the image & look(reminds me of the Kodak looks for the 14n/nx).

Hope this helps!

[photolady]

Could you please list the steps you use in Automator. I have been trying and with no success.Thanks photolady

[spylaw4]

Edith, it all depends on exactly what workflow you are trying to get Automator to do. Most everyone has a slightly different way of doing things. Automator is very flexible and it really seems to me to be a bit of trial and error until you get it to do what you need.

 

E.g.:

1. I import files to the Mac using Image Capture, which then launches Exif Renamer to name my files by date/time of capture.

2. I then have an Automator workflow that separates the RAW and jpeg thumb files into different folders

3. I do a preliminary review of the jpeg thumbs in Preview and delete unsatisfactory ones.

4. I then have another workflow that compares the original RAW file with the now smaller jpeg file and removes the RAWs of the deleted jpegs. For that you will need a 3rd party automator action which is available on the Apple Automator site.

5. Then I import RAWs into LR with whatever pre-set is appropriate - this could be also be Automatored but I haven't got round to that yet, likewise a post-import file clean-up workflow.

 

All this will only work with my own folder names but I'm willing to list the general steps by PM if you want.