Aperture and Lightroom - at the same time?

Yes and no. There will be problems if there is interference between the apps, e. g. when you move files in Lightroom, you will have to reconnect the files in Aperture.

Also, be aware that either apps knows nothing about changes you make to images in the other -- unless you export these images and re-import them in the other app.

If you want to evaluate Aperture or at least use it for a specific project, I recommend that you export all of the RAW files (I assume you're shooting RAW here) in Lightroom and import them to Aperture. Don't necessarily use references files, try how Aperture can work when you're using it by itself.

Do the edits, use all the features and create the book.

Once you're done, you can at least export the edited images as jpgs or tiffs and re-import them in Lightroom.

What I tend to do is use Aperture first and if there are a few things in Aperture which I can't do, then I finish what I can, make a full res jpeg version of it and take it into Lightroom.

Could be long winded but there is no duplication or problems working with both Apps. Noise reduction is one area I find myself taking my work into Lightroom from Aperture for example.

You should be able to do exactly what you're talking about (importing RAW files into Aperture) by simply referencing their folders/locations without copying the original files.

edk said:

thanks. but assuming I dont move files, or make edits - then there shouldn't be an issue just pointing aperture to the photo folder, and using the reference mode?

Click to expand...

I still wouldn't recommend it.
Again, none of the edits you make in either application will be visible in the other. That's because Aperture and Lightroom create small files that contain all the changes you want to make to an image and then apply them afresh when you load said image. The original files (which are typically RAW files) are not touched. The files that contain the edits are contained in the respective libraries (= databases).

If you want to try Aperture, try it in its natural environment. Later on, when you prefer one app for one thing and the other thing for another, I would use the app you prefer for data storage/sorting (e. g. Aperture). When you want to do some edits to specific files you find are easier in, say, Lightroom, export the image to Lightroom, do your stuff in Lightroom and export back.

Most people seem to be convinced that the majority of the work is contained in the (RAW) files. It's not. It's the changes and tweaks you've made to them, the tagging, them being added to books, web pages and albums. This data is invariably contained in the respective library and it's impossible to transfer most of these settings from one app to another.

The short answer is yes, you can have LR and Aperture point to the same referenced raw files without any technical problems. OreoCookie's reservations are the most significant: trying to use both apps for organizing or keywording will be fussy and redundant. If you want to stick with Lightroom, then perhaps you should just use Aperture for bookmaking. Do you really need the faces feature? At any rate, the worst that can happen is that you'll create an organizational morass; you won't be at any risk of corrupting your apps or files.

If that's the case, the solution is simple:
(1) Prepare all the photos in Lightroom to your liking.
(2) Export them in an image format of your choosing (.jpg/.tif).
(3) Import them in Aperture. Don't use referenced files, just use all the default settings. If you use managed files, Aperture copies the exported files into its Library.
(4) Create your book/do whatever.