I’ve been using Apple’s Aperture software to manage my image library for almost a year now. My original workflow involved importing and keywording images in Aperture followed by editing and adjusting selected images with Photoshop Elements (using Aperture’s “roundtrip” feature). With the Aperture 2.0 update, however, I find that I am able to accomplish most of my basic edits/adjustments within Aperture itself. My basic workflow looks something like this:
- Import all images from media card(s) into an Aperture project
- Use the quick preview option to scan images and select rejects
- Rank 3,4, and 5 star images
- Place duplicates and similar images into stacks
- Add metadata (keywords, copyright, caption, etc.) to select images
- Make necessary adjustments to white balance, exposure, etc.
- Edit images as necessary (crop, remove dust spots, etc.)
- Export watermarked versions for web
- Export full size jpg versions for uploading to stock sites
- Back up database
Of course, Aperture has much more to offer and I’ll discuss additional features in future posts.
Technorati Tags: Aperture, DAM, digital workflow
