Are Lightroom and Aperture Compatible on an iMac?

Rob-F

Rob-F

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Are Lightroom and Aperture compatible?

What would happen if I added Lightroom to my iMac, which already has Aperture? Are they compatible in terms of access to files, file housekeeping, etc.? If so, then would Lightroom add anything to what I can already do with Aperture?
 
The two are entirely separate programs and will act independently of one another. Nothing will be shared between the two.

As for what's better, everybody will have their own opinion.

Jim B.
 
By "compatible" do you mean "would my new install of Lightroom automatically see my Aperture library and could I just switch back and forth with all edits, metadata and organization preserved"?

No, not at all. Export your photos (the "masters" in Aperture terminology) to a folder and import them into Lightroom. (Or, if you want your Aperture edits to stick, but be permanent, export the modified photo, which I believe Aperture calls a "version".)

Adobe offers a free demo to download. You'll learn far more far faster by doing than you would by asking questions.
 
Brian Puccio said:
Export your photos (the "masters" in Aperture terminology) to a folder and import them into Lightroom. (Or, if you want your Aperture edits to stick, but be permanent, export the modified photo, which I believe Aperture calls a "version".)
Click to expand...

OK, in fact that is what I do when I need to process an Aperture file in PSE. I just put a jpeg version on the desktop and then drag it to PSE.

Which would make more sense: to use Aperture or Lightroom as the "master" program into which new photos are downloaded? I fact, would Lightroom actually do anything I can't do with Aperture?

Thanks!
 
Rob-F said:
OK, in fact that is what I do when I need to process an Aperture file in PSE. I just put a jpeg version on the desktop and then drag it to PSE.

Which would make more sense: to use Aperture or Lightroom as the "master" program into which new photos are downloaded? I fact, would Lightroom actually do anything I can't do with Aperture?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm trying to understand your workflow with Aperture and PSE (Photoshop Elements?) when you, I assume, export a jpeg to the desktop and then open it with PSE. Is this correct? If so may I make a couple suggestions.

In Aperture, you should open Aperture's preferences and select the Export Preferences. You should then choose PSE as your external photo editor. By doing this you open the file directly from Aperture to PSE. When you're finished editing the file in PSE and select save the saved image is then automatically brought back into Aperture's Library.

Your next question I believe deals with managing your image library. Before I continue I have to make another assumption about how you're currently using Aperture.

By default Aperture "automatically" handles your library and calls this a "managed" library. Its a self contained file with all your untouched originals with all of your versions and metadata. The other way Aperture can handle your images is what's called Referenced.

By referenced is you have to manage where you put the images when you offload them from your camera. You build the file structure and folders where you put them and then tell Aperture where they are (Referenced). Aperture then manages what changes you make .

I believe this is similar to how Lightroom does it.

Now, I'm just making my own assumption, but if you wanted to use both Lightroom and Aperture with your existing images you would have to setup your Aperture library as "Referenced" meaning your images are filed externally to Aperture. (They would be in the folders you've created.)

Then I think you could point Lightroom to these folders to also access them.

Both Aperture and Lightroom are non destructive so your originals will not be effected to changes.

For those here more experienced than me, please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
 
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