How do you handle multiple formats (JPG & RAW) in Aperture (Help)

[sassenach74]

Hi guys, I wonder if some of you here might help me solve my dilemma.
I have recently switched to using Aperture (v3) and I'm not entirely sure of the best way to organise my files.
I am fairly happy with my folder structure as it stands (pic attached), but the trouble I am having is when certain files need editing outside of Aperture, i.e photos that need stitching together to make a panoramic, use of Photomatix, or any other editing that Aperture cannot achieve. When I edit outside of Aperture (or via a plugin) the resulting file is a tiff/jpg, and this is where I get confused. I really only want one copy of each pic in Aperture.

I shoot in RAW pretty much all the time, but occasionally I have JPGs from other cameras, such as my iPhone. Those files aren't a problem as I only have one copy anyway. I'm thinking ahead to when it comes to syncing my library over to my iPhone/iPad, I will end up with edited and non edited copies of those photos on the device. For simplicity I want to sync my entire library, or atleast not have to mess around with making extra folders to sync with only the edited versions in.

I guess what I'm really asking is, how do you guys handle multiple formats of a photo in your Aperture library, and how do you go about syncing that library to iPhone/iPad.

Any help with clearing up my confusion would be very much appreciated.
I probably haven't explained myself very well, not sure how to put it into words.

P.S If it matters any, I have only recently put all my pics into Aperture, and all (apart from JPGs) need editing, so I'm not worried about having to start over, as it were.

Neil.

 

[emorydunn]

When you choose to edit a photo in another application Aperture makes a second file and stacks it with the original. It's a way to make sure you have a backup copy of the original. You could always delete the originals but personally I just close the stacks so it looks like one image.

As for syncing, I believe it only sync the top photo from each stack, but I haven't really looked carefully to see.

 

[sassenach74]

Really grateful to you emorydunn, for taking the time to reply. Very useful information, thanks, I'll try it all out. Just pleased I can finally get on and (re) edit all my photos. When it's pointed out, it seems pretty obvious, but I just could not get my head around it.
Again thank you.

Neil.

 

[emorydunn]

No problem. Moving from one system to another is always bound to create a few headaches.

Oh, and it looks like iTunes syncs everything in the stack over to the iPhone, so a photo you edit in Photoshop will appear next to its unedited version. There might be a setting hidden deep in some obscure place that will change that though.

 

[sassenach74]

Oh that's a real bummer about iTunes syncing all photos in a stack, I guess I'll have to re-think my strategy.
I wonder if there is anyone else who could possibly chime in with how they handle their photos.

Many thanks,

Neil.

 

[sassenach74]

Well great news for me, I have just done some quick tests using my iPhone, and in fact iTunes will only sync over the topmost photo in a stack, so this is exactly how I was hoping it would be. Maybe this info will be of some use to others around here too.

Neil.

 

[Fujiko7]

Incidentally, automatically stacking versions is a function that you have to switch on in Preferences. (Not directly relevant to the question, but it was mentioned above.)

 

[emorydunn]

Really? iTunes only sync the topmost photo for you? I wonder why it isn't doing that for me. Oh well, I'll have to try and figure it out.

Never mind, I figured out why. It is stacking just the topmost photo but I have three photos that are all almost identical and I didn't look very carefully.

 

[sassenach74]

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Incidentally, automatically stacking versions is a function that you have to switch on in Preferences. (Not directly relevant to the question, but it was mentioned above.)

Hey thanks for pointing that out. I didn't notice that option before, that will prove quit useful.

Neil.