Apple Aperture 1.5 (New Features) - Manual (Page 2)

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Working with the Aperture 1.5 Library
Aperture 1.5 has a new, open Library structure that lets you store photos wherever you
choose. You can now copy image files into the Aperture Library in order to work with
them, or you can choose to have Aperture simply link to image files in their current
locations. You can also have Aperture link to your iPhoto Library, without copying the
image files into the Aperture Library. Aperture can work with photos stored on any
number of hard disk drives and other storage media. You can catalog and search for image
files that are stored on multiple volumes, including offline hard disks, CDs, and DVDs.
What Are Managed Images and Referenced Images?
Aperture lets you choose how you organize your photos on disk. You can store your
photos in the Aperture Library, or you can import images by simply linking to the
image files in their current locations, without placing them in the Library.
Images whose digital master files are stored in the Aperture Library are called managed
images . These master files are stored in the Library exactly as they were in previous
versions of Aperture. Aperture manages master files stored in the Library, keeping
them always accessible, and provides benefits such as one-click backup of digital
master files to vaults.
Imported images whose digital master files haven’t been placed in the Library are
called
referenced images . Using referenced images in your Aperture system can provide
a number of substantial benefits to your photography workflow. You can incorporate
your existing portfolio of images into Aperture without changing the current location
of the files. Importing images by reference does not result in a duplication of your
image files in the Aperture Library, thus saving hard disk space. You can also connect
and disconnect hard disks holding your referenced images’ master files as you need
them, allowing you to keep master files for less-used images offline, or make specific
types of images available for editing or adjustments as needed. Using referenced
images in your Aperture system provides a means of building a flexible image
management system customized to your work style.
You specify that an image will be a managed image or a referenced image when you
import it. When importing images, you can:
 Specify that master files be stored in the Aperture Library.
 Import images as referenced images, so that their master files remain in their
current locations.
 Move or copy image files to a new location. For example, you might decide that a
certain group of referenced image files, such as wedding photos, will always be
placed in one hard disk location, while other groups, such as sports photos, will
reside in a different hard disk location.