Best Backup: Time Machine or Aperture?

[WoodrowCall]

I just moved my library, about 11,000 photos total with some RAW but mostly jpgs, over from iPhoto to Aperture. What I'd like to know from some of you is what is the best way for backing up my photos? Should I just use Time Machine, or back up through Aperture? I'm looking at getting a 2TB external to do the backing up, or should I just back them up to DVD? I'd appreciate any help/input. Thanks!

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

Just my approach, but I have dual backups (redundancy). Relative to the value of my image library, hard drive space is cheap.

I backup my machine using Time Machine, which includes the Aperture library. I also do a manual backup of the Aperture library to yet another, separate, hard drive.

 

[Designer Dale]

I do something like that, too. Time Machine for the whole system, which includes Aperture, and another 250gb drive that holds an Aperture Vault.

Dale

 

[QuarterSwede]

I'd think of off site backup as well if you're dealing with that many priceless pictures.

 

[WoodrowCall]

I'd think of off site backup as well if you're dealing with that many priceless pictures.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll probably go with double assurance and use Time Machine and Aperture back-up. With the offsite backup, what do you use? I have a Pro account on flickr, which is great for uploading, but if I ever lost my files I haven't found an efficient way to retrieve them. Does anyone back up to dvd? I know I'm paranoid, but I'd hate to have my external drive crash and lose my library.

 

[Mr. Frog]

I use TimeMachine for all my local HD on my iMac and I subscribed to CrashPlan Pro for my RAW photos (around 56GB for now).
CrashPlan works a bit like TimeMachine, version-backup type, so it's nice.
55$ a year I think, it's not a lot for data safety.
So, in that way, if someone steals my computer and my TimeMachine backup disk, or if my place burn down, I won't lose all my data.

 

[mahood]

I use TimeMachine for all my local HD on my iMac and I subscribed to CrashPlan Pro for my RAW photos (around 56GB for now).
CrashPlan works a bit like TimeMachine, version-backup type, so it's nice.
55$ a year I think, it's not a lot for data safety.
So, in that way, if someone steals my computer and my TimeMachine backup disk, or if my place burn down, I won't lose all my data.

I used Crashplan too, and it's worth knowing that you can use it for free if you have a friend run it also - you can back up to each other's computer over the net, and it's all encrypted so he can't access your files (and vice versa).

You only need to pay if you want to use their servers to store your data, or the 'pro' version of the app.

But an off-site backup of some sort is essential.

Mark

 

[WoodrowCall]

I like the idea of Crashplan, but how does it work, just uploading? For instance, if I upload my Library, and then change my library (delete pics, edit them, etc.) do I have to re-upload? That sounds like a bit of a pain, expecially if I have multiple versions of the same pic (b&w, HDR). Any input on them is appreciated.

I used Crashplan too, and it's worth knowing that you can use it for free if you have a friend run it also - you can back up to each other's computer over the net, and it's all encrypted so he can't access your files (and vice versa).

You only need to pay if you want to use their servers to store your data, or the 'pro' version of the app.

But an off-site backup of some sort is essential.

Mark

 

[mahood]

I like the idea of Crashplan, but how does it work, just uploading? For instance, if I upload my Library, and then change my library (delete pics, edit them, etc.) do I have to re-upload? That sounds like a bit of a pain, expecially if I have multiple versions of the same pic (b&w, HDR). Any input on them is appreciated.

It's pretty smart- it does only upload the parts of files that change. I am not sure how Aperture works, but if it's anything like LightRoom, it just writes a separate file with the changes you make, so it won't re-upload the same image 5 times.

For example, I have 5 images, and I edit one - even if it writes to that file, Crashplan will only upload that one. If you have a binary 'library' file, that can get pretty big, but it'll only upload the changes, to limit the amount of data.

It is free, so I'd say give it a try!

 

[WoodrowCall]

It's pretty smart- it does only upload the parts of files that change. I am not sure how Aperture works, but if it's anything like LightRoom, it just writes a separate file with the changes you make, so it won't re-upload the same image 5 times.

For example, I have 5 images, and I edit one - even if it writes to that file, Crashplan will only upload that one. If you have a binary 'library' file, that can get pretty big, but it'll only upload the changes, to limit the amount of data.

It is free, so I'd say give it a try!

Thanks for the suggestion, I think I'm going to!