[bpaskin]

Hi All,

Since switching to Mac a few weeks ago I am in a search for some photo managing software with workflow. The two current competitors are Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom. I have over 200,000 photos, so it is also important for me how the photos are organized and cataloged.

I have download the trial version for both. And both application allow for the importing of folders from disk. However, I do not want to make new copies of the images, just to catalog them. With Lightroom it was not a problem as there was a checkbox to copy them or leave them where they are. In Aperture, I could not find such a feature. If there is no such feature in Aperture, then the easy winner will be Lightroom. Is there such a feature in Aperture?

Both applications are feature rich. There are some features I prefer in Aperture and some in Lightroom. They have different approaches to workflow and I am not sure which one I prefer currently. Aperture is more flexible when it comes to workflow. Lightroom has some nifty features and is a little more usable, in my opinion, then Aperture.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks, Brian

[bpaskin]

I did figure out how to import without creating a new catalog in Aperture. It is on the import popup when choosing the folders.

I have been playing around with the two of them for the last day or so and I more impressed with Lightroom than Aperture, though it was close. Aperture was more CPU intensive, even on simple tasks, and did not do as good as a job on items like removing dust particles from photos.

Both very good on importing, once I figured out how to do it properly in Aperture, and organization. I prefer the layout in Lightroom and found it easier to follow than Aperture. This is probably due to having used Photoshop for years. Some tasks in Aperture I had to stop and look around for what I wanted to do. It is a little learning curve, but probably not that big of one.

In the end I am going to be spending my money on Lightroom. Aperture is a fine product and is $100 less. Maybe I will revisit Aperture in future releases, but for now I am sticking with Lightroom.

Brian

[aeRo.nz]

Hi, I am currently debating Apeture vs Lightroom. The reason im leaning towards apeture is because of the fact that timemachine can automatically back up my libraries with my timecapsule.

My concerns are;

I shoot raw, if I import that file how does the system work for making different versions etc
If I use photoshop how does apeture library deal with that? Is it integrated like lightroom?
And what is the jpeg export of these programs like?

Thanks in advance
Travis