Aperture 2 or iPhoto '08?

[ChrisA]

Since I can't really decide, I came up with the following idea:
Use both programs together. iPhoto will be used for importing all images I shoot with my camera and Aperture will be used for editing and organizing the library. I can always use both, and Time Machine will work for my iPhoto library. The Aperture library won't be that big since it will not contain any images, so I will be able to backup it up daily with Time Machine, using a script to end Aperture and then start it again (I allow a couple of hours for TM to do its job).
That way I keep the best of both worlds!

I don't see the point. If you are going to use iPhoto to keep the image files and Aperture to make adjustments? Why? Aperture is not very god at making adjustments when you compare it with Adobe Elements. Elements is half the price and 100 times more sophisticated about how it can edit images. If you are going to use two proograms choose iPhoto and Adobe Elements.

The ONLy way I'd recommend Aperture to anyone is if they were wiling to drink the whole pot of cool aid, so to speak. Apertures whole point and reson to exist is that is simplifies your workflow. If you don't let it do that it is a wate of time and money.

Here is a good way to decide what to do: Write down the workflow. Then write down another. Look at each and count of the steps see which is easy and does what you need.

I've never even heard once of anyone using a combined iPhoto/Aperture workflow.

 

[petvas]

I don't see the point. If you are going to use iPhoto to keep the image files and Aperture to make adjustments? Why? Aperture is not very god at making adjustments when you compare it with Adobe Elements. Elements is half the price and 100 times more sophisticated about how it can edit images. If you are going to use two proograms choose iPhoto and Adobe Elements.

The ONLy way I'd recommend Aperture to anyone is if they were wiling to drink the whole pot of cool aid, so to speak. Apertures whole point and reson to exist is that is simplifies your workflow. If you don't let it do that it is a wate of time and money.

Here is a good way to decide what to do: Write down the workflow. Then write down another. Look at each and count of the steps see which is easy and does what you need.

I've never even heard once of anyone using a combined iPhoto/Aperture workflow.

The thing is, Photoshop Elements isn't released yet, it will be on April.
Aperture is much better than iPhoto in organizing Photos and touching up. I want to have my library in iPhoto because of the Time Machine integration. That way I have my pictures backed up and the Aperture library isnt that big too.

 

[Michael73]

I've never even heard once of anyone using a combined iPhoto/Aperture workflow.

I don't agree. If you're using Aperture 2 you would certainly notice that there are a glaring lack of output options. It depends on what you're doing. For example if your goal is to upload individual images in a web-ready format then you have to let Aperture hand the photos off back to iPhoto or use Aperture's extensible plug-ins and hope there's one that meets your needs.

 

[petvas]

As I said I am just an amateur that wants to be able to organize my Photos and edit them to look good. I found Aperture 2 to be a better choice than iPhoto and I would use it exclusively, the only thing that annoys me is the lack of Time Machine integration.
I don't believe that Photoshop Elements will offer the kind of Mac integration that I need (Image browser in all iLife and iWork apps, .Mac integration, Time Machine, etc). I don't look for the perfect Image Editing tool, if I were, I would get Photoshop, or elements. Aperture can repair and enhance my photos very fast, the organizing capabilities are great and it is blazing fast.
Using iPhoto to import my photos is just to also have iPhoto in sync...Who knows, maybe the next version of iPhoto will be much better and then I will switch back. If this happens, I won't need to convert my library for iPhoto. It will already be there!
Aperture is so much better than iPhoto in almost every respect and is also very easy to use, even for a hobbyist like me. I can use Aperture with a linked iPhoto library, so I can have the best of both worlds.

 

[carlgo]

I don't see the point. If you are going to use iPhoto to keep the image files and Aperture to make adjustments? Why? Aperture is not very god at making adjustments when you compare it with Adobe Elements. Elements is half the price and 100 times more sophisticated about how it can edit images. If you are going to use two proograms choose iPhoto and Adobe Elements.

The ONLy way I'd recommend Aperture to anyone is if they were wiling to drink the whole pot of cool aid, so to speak. Apertures whole point and reson to exist is that is simplifies your workflow. If you don't let it do that it is a wate of time and money.

Here is a good way to decide what to do: Write down the workflow. Then write down another. Look at each and count of the steps see which is easy and does what you need.

I've never even heard once of anyone using a combined iPhoto/Aperture workflow.

This works for me, too. this is my flow:

1. IPhoto is where my downloads go. I delete the usual bad photos and drag the keeper(s) into subject-matter folders.

This is one way for me to more easily find them again. For example, I might have folders for "Actual hot women who want me", "Virtual women" and "my cat".

2. I drag a selected photo into the Elements icon I put on the popup menu and it opens right up along with all the Elements menus.

3. I then do the sharpening or whatever and then close and save. It goes back to iPhoto and is stored there.

Those that are being exported I drag out to the desk top where they are easy to find to resize and all.

That is the cheapest and quickest way I can think of to get good results.

I have never used Aperture, but maybe you could substitute it for iPhoto and use the same basic flow.

 

[petvas]

Like many on this thread I'm on day 3 of my Aperture 2 trial and really think it's head and shoulders above iPhoto. Admittedly, Aperture is more of an organization/management/workflow tool than serious post-production tool. Most pros have set up Aperture to open PS to do their editing. My goal is to learn PS but not right now due to cost and the time commitment involved.

My new flow will now be: iPhoto '08 <--> Aperture 2 <--> Photoshop Elements 6

Elements 6 offers many of the advantages of it's big brother while doing a lot of the work behind the scenes by creating a UI that's more consumer friendly and less pro oriented.

How are you going to use iPhoto in your workflow?

 

[Mac Addict]

I'm new to all this, and as stated before I just wanted to take my weekend hobby up a notch.

Import photo's into Aperture 2.0 --> Edit --> Export to iPhoto for iLife integration & TM backup.

 

[fridgeymonster3]

I use iPhoto to manage/organize my photo events and I use PS CS3 to do all of my editing...if you have anything like PS I don't see why someone who is not a professional would need aperture 2.