- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 447
- Reaction score
- 12
- Points
- 18
Switched in April, but the one thing I haven't figured out to my satisfaction yet is dealing with my photo collection.
In Windows, I had the photos all organized in a folder system. I would import photos from my camera by dragging and dropping between two Windows Explorer screens. I'd make a subfolder for "processed" versions to preserve the masters. That manual workflow made everything clear. Backup was easy.
I copied that photo folder system from my Windows PC to an external hard drive, then copied it from there to my iMac's hard drive. Then I thought I'd give this iPhoto thing and chance and imported it. After playing with iPhoto for a while I decided to skip using my PhotoShop/Bridge combo under Windows in Parallels and buy Aperture. So I imported my iPhoto library into Aperture, without reading the manual carefully.
Now I'm regretting not planning this a whole lot more carefully. I haven't lost any images, but I think I'm going to have to start over again systematically. Fortunately I haven't done much photography since getting the iMac.
So, a wiser word:
1. Preserve your original Windows image folder system.
2. Read the manuals and forums before importing anything to iPhoto or Aperture. Their automated libraries are marvellous for managing an image collection, but a lot goes on under the hood, and it makes more sense to plan the organization ahead of time. Even then, only import a couple of hundred images before bringing in the whole shebang.
3. Think ahead to backing up too. iPhoto and Aperture keep their photos in humungous single databases, not branching folders. Changing one photo triggers a big backup next time Time Machine fires up. So then one can consider backing up Aperture's Vault feature instead.
You get the idea...
Bottom line, don't rush into switching your photos. There are some awesome references on the web. Wish I'd found them first. I'll be back with my tips, once I get it right.
In Windows, I had the photos all organized in a folder system. I would import photos from my camera by dragging and dropping between two Windows Explorer screens. I'd make a subfolder for "processed" versions to preserve the masters. That manual workflow made everything clear. Backup was easy.
I copied that photo folder system from my Windows PC to an external hard drive, then copied it from there to my iMac's hard drive. Then I thought I'd give this iPhoto thing and chance and imported it. After playing with iPhoto for a while I decided to skip using my PhotoShop/Bridge combo under Windows in Parallels and buy Aperture. So I imported my iPhoto library into Aperture, without reading the manual carefully.
Now I'm regretting not planning this a whole lot more carefully. I haven't lost any images, but I think I'm going to have to start over again systematically. Fortunately I haven't done much photography since getting the iMac.
So, a wiser word:
1. Preserve your original Windows image folder system.
2. Read the manuals and forums before importing anything to iPhoto or Aperture. Their automated libraries are marvellous for managing an image collection, but a lot goes on under the hood, and it makes more sense to plan the organization ahead of time. Even then, only import a couple of hundred images before bringing in the whole shebang.
3. Think ahead to backing up too. iPhoto and Aperture keep their photos in humungous single databases, not branching folders. Changing one photo triggers a big backup next time Time Machine fires up. So then one can consider backing up Aperture's Vault feature instead.
You get the idea...
Bottom line, don't rush into switching your photos. There are some awesome references on the web. Wish I'd found them first. I'll be back with my tips, once I get it right.