Aperture Getting Started
K Apple Computer, Inc. © 2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Aperture software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate.
1 Contents Chapter 1 9 9 13 An Overview of Aperture Using Aperture in Your Workflow Elements Used in Aperture Chapter 2 21 21 23 28 Setting Up an Aperture System Setting Up a Basic System Setting Up Your System with Two Displays Using Additional Hard Disk Storage and FireWire Drives Chapter 3 29 29 30 41 44 47 Learning About the Aperture Interface Basics of Working in Aperture The Aperture Main Window Additional Parts of the Aperture Interface Configuring Your Workspace Working Efficiently Chapte
Chapter 6 69 69 70 73 75 76 76 78 80 80 Working with Images in the Browser An Overview of the Browser Viewing Images in the Browser Navigating Through and Selecting Images Rearranging Images in the Browser Rotating Images Displaying Specific Metadata with Your Images Creating Versions of an Image Copying Images and Moving Images to Different Locations Working with Referenced Images Chapter 7 83 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 91 Displaying Images in the Viewer An Overview of the Viewer Adjusting the Background
Chapter 10 113 113 114 115 117 119 120 Rating Images An Overview of the Rating System Rating Images Sorting Images by Rating Comparing and Rating Images Keyboard Shortcuts for Rating Images Keyboard Shortcuts for Displaying Images with Specific Ratings Chapter 11 121 121 122 129 134 136 138 Applying Keywords to Images An Overview of Keywords Applying Keywords Using the Keywords HUD Applying Keywords Using Keyword Controls and Keyword Presets Applying Keywords Using the Lift & Stamp HUD Viewing Keywords
Chapter 15 159 159 160 161 161 Creating Slideshow Presentations An Overview of Slideshows Creating a Slideshow Using Presets Controlling a Slideshow Changing a Slideshow’s Images Chapter 16 163 163 164 165 166 167 169 170 Using the Light Table An Overview of the Light Table Creating a Light Table Album and Adding Images to It Adding Images to the Light Table Moving and Resizing Images in the Light Table Aligning and Arranging Images in the Light Table Adjusting the Light Table View Printing a Light
Chapter 20 193 193 194 195 198 198 198 199 199 200 200 Creating Books An Overview of the Book Creation Process Creating a Book Album Controls in the Book Layout Editor Placing Images in a Book Adding Pages to a Book Removing Pages from a Book Resizing and Aligning Images on a Page Adding Text to Pages Changing the Theme Ordering a Printed Book Chapter 21 201 201 203 204 205 206 206 207 Backing Up Your Images An Overview of Backing Up Your Files Controls in the Vaults Panel Creating a Vault Updating Vau
1 An Overview of Aperture 1 Aperture is a powerful and easy-to-use digital image management system that can track thousands of digital images and provides professional-quality tools for working with your photos. Aperture is a nondestructive image processing and database application that lets you efficiently acquire digital images, perform photo edits, adjust and retouch images, publish images on the web or in print, export images, and back up your images for safekeeping.
Aperture Workflow Acquire Images Import from card/camera Import from iPhoto Import from hard disk or media Import folders (maintaining structure) Drag from Finder Create Projects Before or during import Photo Edit Sort Group • Rate • Apply keywords • Compare • Stack • Using Query HUD • Using Smart Albums Apply Adjustments • Exposure • Levels • White balance Distribute Export Print Create slideshow Back Up • Set up vault • Back up to vault 10 Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture Publish webpag
Elements in Aperture That Correspond to Workflow Import images using the Import panel. Apply adjustments using the Adjustments Inspector. Create projects in the Projects panel. Photo edit using the Viewer... As you photo edit, you can view information about an image using the Metadata Inspector. ...and the Browser. Use the Vaults panel for backing up your images. Step 1: Set up your Aperture system For this beginning stage, you set up your Aperture system by connecting the hardware you need.
Step 3: Photo edit For this stage, you’ll sort through your images and choose which images you want to work with and further adjust. You can add keywords, captions, or other text to your images to help you sort and organize them, as well as apply ratings and stack related images together. You can also group images to further organize them. You can find images using the Query HUD (heads-up display), a floating panel with search options.
Elements Used in Aperture In Aperture, you use projects, albums, and folders to organize your images as you work. Other important elements are the Library, used to manage your files, and the vault for storing backup copies of your Library. Â Digital master files: The original image files imported from your camera, memory card, computer, or external storage media. The digital master files are never changed, so that the original image is preserved and can be used again.
What Are Versions? Once you have digital master files on your hard disk, you can review and make adjustments to your images. For example, you can change the exposure, contrast, or saturation, or add information to an image, such as the photographer’s name, event, and location. To work with images, Aperture creates a “version” of each master file that includes your adjustments and embedded information, and leaves the master file unchanged.
What Are Projects? You organize your digital master files and versions using projects. A project is a container file consisting of up to 10,000 master files and as many versions as you like. You can create as many projects as you wish up to the limitations of your disk space. For example, you can create a new project for each of your shoots. Or if you do several shoots of the same subject, you may want to create a project that encompasses all of the shoots.
You can also create albums within projects to help you organize your images into relevant groups. For example, images in your Antarctica project can be divided into three albums: Antarctica Selects, On Land, and Underwater. Three albums created within one project Note: You can also place versions from other projects in an album that resides within a project. There are two main types of albums, each suited to a particular function: Â Album: A type of folder containing image versions.
What Are Folders? In Aperture, folders are used to help organize projects and albums. For example, you can import images into projects and then organize the projects into folders based on the year, such as 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. And if you shoot multiple projects for the same client, you can create a folder that contains separate projects for that client. These folders organize images based on what year they were shot. Note: Folders only contain albums, projects, and other folders.
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.
To help you identify referenced images, Aperture marks referenced images with a badge overlay that you can display or hide. When a referenced image’s master file is missing or offline, its badge changes to show that the image is not accessible. For example, if you disconnect a hard disk that holds master files for many referenced images, Aperture automatically marks the referenced images in the Browser and Viewer as offline.
2 Setting Up an Aperture System 2 You can use Aperture with just your computer and display, or you can set up a system with two displays for extra screen space to view and adjust images. This chapter provides instructions for connecting a digital camera or card reader to your computer and setting up a dual-display system. Setting Up a Basic System The following are basic instructions for connecting a digital camera or card reader to your computer.
A basic Aperture system consists of the following equipment:  A computer and display  A digital camera or card reader (a FireWire card reader is strongly recommended because it’s faster)  A cable to connect your camera or card reader to your computer (typically a USB 2.0 cable or a 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire cable that came with your camera or card reader) For information about setting up a computer and display, see the documentation that came with the computer and display.
Setting Up Your System with Two Displays Using two displays gives you additional screen space to view and adjust images, play slideshows, and present your full-color, full-size images. Connecting a Second Display to Your Computer You can connect two displays to the graphics card on your computer and use both displays at the same time.
Note: You may also need to purchase an adapter to connect the display cable to the graphics card on your computer. ADC to DVI adapter Macintosh computers come with two possible display ports: Apple Display Connector (ADC) ports to connect ADC displays, and Digital Visual Interface (DVI) ports to connect digital displays that have DVI connectors (such as a flat-panel Apple Cinema Display).
The following illustration shows one possible scenario for connecting two displays to a computer. Power Mac G5 Apple Cinema Display £ ADC to DVI adapter ADC display port Power outlet £ DVI display port d USB ports H FireWire 400 port AC plug Power adapter DC plug Power outlet AC plug Power adapter Second Apple Cinema Display DC plug H FireWire connector (not used) 3 Turn on the displays (if necessary) and start up your computer. You’ll now want to adjust your displays for proper viewing.
Configuring Mac OS X for Multiple Displays If your computer is connected to two displays, you can set them up to show a continuous desktop that extends across both screens. This is known as extended desktop mode. Because Aperture controls the second display, you must keep your computer in this mode for the application to operate properly. If you work in mirroring mode, where the same contents appear on both displays, Aperture may not work properly.
3 Drag one of the blue rectangles, representing one of the displays, to match the position of the display on your desk. The red outline indicates the screen of the display you are moving. The display screens temporarily refresh to accommodate the new arrangement. 4 Drag the white rectangle to move the menu bar to the display on the left. Drag the menu bar to the display on the left. The display screens temporarily refresh to accommodate the new arrangement.
Using Additional Hard Disk Storage and FireWire Drives The disk that contains your computer’s operating system is called the startup disk. In addition to the operating system, the startup disk also stores your applications (such as Aperture), application preferences, system settings, documents, and image files. The more hard disk space you have, the more images Aperture can store. Because you’ll be shooting and storing many images, you should have at least one high-capacity hard disk.
3 Learning About the Aperture Interface 3 Aperture provides an outstanding interface designed to allow professional photographers to efficiently import, manage, edit, and distribute images. This chapter provides basic information about the Aperture main window and tells you how to customize your workspace layout to work more efficiently. Basics of Working in Aperture You may want to open Aperture so you can view the main window and familiarize yourself with its elements as you read.
To choose an option when you first open Aperture: 1 Click the button next to the option you want. 2 Click Continue. The Aperture Main Window This is the main window that you’ll routinely use in Aperture. Viewer Toolbar Projects panel Adjustments Inspector Metadata Inspector Browser Control bar Note: The inspectors are not shown when you first open Aperture. To show or hide the Inspectors panel, press I. You can also double-click an image to open the Inspectors panel.
Projects Panel You use the Projects panel to organize your imported images using projects, folders, and albums. You can create webpages (photo galleries and online journals) and specially formatted books for printing. You can also create Smart Albums that automatically find and store images based on search criteria you specify (for more information, see Chapter 13, “Grouping Images with Smart Albums,” on page 151).
Browser and Viewer You use the Browser to display images in projects and albums. When you select an image in the Browser, a detailed view of the image appears in the Viewer. You can quickly select other images by pressing the arrow keys. The Viewer displays a detailed view of selected images. The Browser displays images in a selected project or album. The white outline indicates the selected image. You can move, copy, and sort your images in the Browser.
Control Bar The control bar at the bottom of the Aperture main window has buttons that allow you to quickly rotate, rate, and navigate through images. There are also buttons to control how images are displayed and to apply keywords to your images. The control bar is shown by default, but you can hide it at any time. To hide the control bar: m Choose Window > Hide Control Bar (or press D). To show the control bar: m Choose Window > Show Control Bar (or press D).
Rotate Buttons Rotate Left button Rotate Right button  Rotate Left: Click this button to rotate the selected image to the left.  Rotate Right: Click this button to rotate the selected image to the right. Rating Buttons Increase Rating button Reject button Select button Decrease Rating button  Reject: Gives the selected image a Reject rating.  Decrease Rating: Decreases the rating of the selected image.  Increase Rating: Increases the rating of the selected image.
Keyword Controls Add Keyword field Keyword Preset Group pop-up menu Individual keyword buttons  Individual keyword buttons: Click a keyword button to apply a preset keyword to a selected image or group of images. Shift-click the button to remove a keyword.  Keyword Preset Group pop-up menu: Choose a preset group of keywords to display or edit an existing group.  Add Keyword field: Enter a new keyword, then press Return. Aperture creates a new keyword and applies it to the selected image.
Import and Project Buttons New Smart Album button New Book Album button New Light Table Album button Import Panel button New Project button New Album button New Web Gallery Album button  Import Panel: Click this button to reveal the Import panel. When you select either the camera, a memory card, or a mounted drive, the Import dialog appears. For more information, see “Import Panel” on page 41.  New Project: Click this to create a new project.
Version Buttons Duplicate Version button New Version From Master button  Duplicate Version: Click this to create a version, or duplicate, of a selected image.  New Version From Master: Click this to create a new version from a selected image’s digital master file. Stacking Buttons Stack button Stack Pick button For details about working with stacks, see Chapter 9, “Stacking Images and Making Picks,” on page 105.  Stack: Click this to group the selected items in a stack.
 Red Eye: Use this to correct red-eye, occurring when the subject’s retinas reflect light from your camera’s flash.  Lift: Use this to copy a set of adjustments, including cropping and straightening, and metadata from a selected image.  Stamp: Use this to stamp, or apply, a copied set of adjustments or metadata to one or several images. Loupe and Keywords HUD Buttons Loupe button Keywords HUD button  Loupe: Opens the Loupe tool, which zooms in on your image.
To show the Adjustments Inspector, do one of the following: m Double-click an image (or press I) to open the Inspectors panel. m Choose Window > Show Adjustments (or press Control-A). Press I to hide the Inspectors panel again. Adjustments Inspector Click the disclosure triangle for an adjustment to see its controls.
Metadata Inspector The Metadata Inspector can display an image’s caption text, keywords, version number, filename, and file size. You can also view EXIF (Exchangeable Image File) and IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) data associated with your image, as well as image keywords and other information.
Additional Parts of the Aperture Interface As you work in Aperture, you will use other panels, such as the Import and Vaults panels, as well as specialized panels called inspectors and HUDs. There is also a Full Screen mode that provides a full-screen view of your images and a Light Table feature that allows you to arrange images. Import Panel The Import panel displays a list of connected card readers and external hard disk drives, as well as local hard disks and mounted servers.
Vaults Panel The Vaults panel is where you set the location of your vaults, which are designated storage areas for backup copies of your Library. Typically, an external hard disk drive, such as an external FireWire drive, serves as a vault. To show the Vaults panel: m Click the Vaults Panel button. To hide the Vaults panel, click the Vaults Panel button again. Vault Status button Vaults panel Click the Vaults Panel button to show or hide the Vaults panel.
To show the Query HUD: m Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F). Query HUD Full Screen Mode The Full Screen mode available in Aperture allows you to view your images on a simple black background, with no other interface elements shown, such as the Browser or Projects panel. For more information, see Chapter 8, “Viewing Images in Full Screen Mode,” on page 93. Full Screen mode provides a full-screen view of images on a simple black background.
Light Table The Light Table provides an open, freeform workspace where you can arrange images. When you create or select a Light Table album, the Light Table appears in place of the Viewer. Use the Light Table to review and compare images, create mockups of webpages, compare color values in a selection of images before making adjustments, or do anything else that involves viewing and comparing your images. For detailed information, see Chapter 16, “Using the Light Table,” on page 163.
Customizing the Toolbar You can customize the toolbar based on your workflow and preferences, selecting which buttons to include, their arrangement, and whether or not to display a button’s name along with its icon. Note: The adjustment tools appear as a set in a particular order and cannot be individually rearranged. To customize the toolbar: 1 Do one of the following: Â Choose View > Customize Toolbar. Â Control-click the toolbar, then choose Customize Toolbar from the shortcut menu.
Choosing Your Workspace Layout Aperture provides three workspace layouts for working with your images. Â Basic layout: Used to review images, perform initial rating passes, and create and work with stacks of images. This workspace shows the Projects panel on the left for selecting projects that you want to work with. The images in a selected project appear in the Browser in grid view, where you can quickly select and review them. Images selected in the Browser appear in the Viewer above.
Working Efficiently To perform many tasks in Aperture, you can use keyboard shortcuts. The keyboard shortcuts let you perform actions on your computer using the keyboard instead of by pointing and clicking. For example, to create a new folder, you press Command-Shift-N; this means you hold down the Command key and the Shift key, and then press N. For a list of keyboard shortcuts, see Quick Reference in the Aperture Help menu or refer to the printed Aperture Quick Reference card.
4 Working with Projects 4 Projects are one of the main building blocks used to manage your images in Aperture. This chapter covers how to create projects, as well as open them, save them as favorites, and delete them. Controls in the Projects Panel There are several controls in the Projects panel that you’ll use when working with projects.
Creating and Naming Projects You can create projects at any time, although typically you create them when you import images. When you import images and no project is selected, a new project is created to contain those images. For more information, see Chapter 5, “Importing Images,” on page 55. However, you can create a new empty project at any time. To create a new project: 1 Choose File > New Project (or press Command-N). A new, untitled project appears in the Projects panel.
To open a project: m Select the project in the Projects panel. Select a project to view its images in the Browser. All images in the project appear in the Browser. To open additional projects in the Browser: m Command-click a project in the Projects panel. The newly opened project appears in the Browser with its own tab, in front of any other open projects. To open another project in its own pane: m Option-click a project in the Projects panel.
To close a project: 1 Click the project’s tab to bring it to the front. 2 Do one of the following: Â Choose File > Close Tab (or press Command-W). Â Click the tab’s close button. Close button in a tab Creating and Showing Favorite Projects If you have certain projects that you work on most often or at the same time, you can make them favorites to quickly view them all at the same time.
Deleting Images from Projects and Albums Aperture allows you to delete versions separately from their digital master files. You can also delete a master file and all its versions in a project. If you delete a version in an album (not a project), its master file and related versions are not deleted. To delete a master file and all its versions from a project: 1 Select the image, then choose File > Delete Master Image and All Versions. A dialog appears asking if you want to continue.
Deleting Items from the Projects Panel You can also delete items from the Projects panel. When you delete an item from the Projects panel, the contents of the item are deleted with it. Note: If you delete a project or a project within a folder, the digital master files contained in the project are also deleted. To delete projects and folders: 1 Select the item, then do one of the following: Â To delete a project: Choose File > Delete Project (or press Command-Delete).
5 5 Importing Images Aperture provides tools and workflow options that make it easy to import your images. This chapter discusses how you can import images into Aperture from a variety of sources. An Overview of Importing When you import from a camera or card reader, Aperture places the images in a project. If you don’t select an existing project, a new one is created automatically. As Aperture imports images, it generates a version file and an image thumbnail corresponding to each digital master file.
When you import images, you can choose whether to have the digital master files stored in the Aperture Library or store them on your hard disk outside of the Library where they can be accessed as referenced images. As you import images, you can have Aperture automatically name and record information about them. Aperture can assign filenames using custom naming conventions, as well as record metadata such as captions, keywords, dates, copyright and credit information, and IPTC information.
Importing from Your Digital Camera or Card Reader You can import all images from a camera or card reader into Aperture, or you can import selected images only. You can import your images into a new project or an existing project. To import all the images from a camera or card reader into Aperture: 1 Connect your camera or card reader to your computer. The Import panel and Import dialog appear, showing the images on the camera or card.
2 Do one of the following: Â If you want to import into a new, empty project: Choose File > New Project (or press Command-N) to create a new project. Note: You can also click the Library icon in the Projects panel, if necessary, to select it. When you select the Library (not a project), a new, untitled project is automatically created when images are imported. Make sure the Import arrow is pointing to the Library to import the images into a new project.
4 Choose a naming convention from the Version Name pop-up menu to specify how you want the images named. For example, choose Master Filename from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your files stored using the current master filenames from your camera or card. Choose a name format from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your images stored using a specified name. If you choose a custom name format, enter the name you want in the Name Text field.
3 Select the images you want to import by Shift-clicking to select a range of adjacent images, Command-clicking to select nonadjacent images, or dragging a selection rectangle around the images you want. The current number of images selected for import is displayed on the Import button in the lower-right corner of the dialog. Import button showing the number of images selected for import To reset the image selection so that no images are selected, click in the background beside a thumbnail.
7 When you are satisfied with your image selection, click the Import arrow or the Import button in the lower-right corner of the dialog. The import process begins and an indicator appears next to the project’s name, showing the progress of the import. When images are imported, a dialog appears. 8 Click Eject Card, Erase and Eject Card, or Done. As the images appear in the Browser, you can begin working with them. Images may temporarily appear as gray boxes until the loading is complete.
3 In the file browser, navigate to the folder containing the image files you want to import. Select the folder of images you want to import. When you have selected the folder containing the image files you want to import, image thumbnails appear in the Import dialog. 4 In the Projects panel, do one of the following: Â Select Library to create a new, untitled project or choose File > New Project (or press Command-N). (The Import arrow points at the Library.
7 Choose a naming convention from the Version Name pop-up menu to specify how you want the images named. For example, choose Master Filename from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your files stored using the current master filenames from your camera or card. Choose a name format from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your images stored using a specified name. If you choose a custom name format, enter the name you want in the Name Text field.
Importing Folders of Images from the Finder If you’ve spent time organizing your images into a meaningful hierarchy on your computer and you want to keep that organization, you can import a folder of images as a project or drag it directly into the Projects panel. When you import a folder of images or drag it into the Projects panel, the folder becomes a project and any subfolders become albums within the project.
5 Choose a naming convention from the Version Name pop-up menu to specify how you want the images named. For example, choose Master Filename from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your files stored using the current master filenames from your camera or card. Choose a name format from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your images stored using a specified name. If you choose a custom name format, enter the name you want in the Name Text field.
To import your iPhoto Library: 1 Choose File > Import > iPhoto Library. 2 Select the iPhoto Library folder using the file browser in the Import dialog. 3 Choose a location for the imported images by doing one of the following: Â To store imported master image files in the Aperture Library: Choose In the Aperture Library from the Store Files pop-up menu.
Transferring Projects from Another Aperture System If you work with several computers, or work on a project with other people, you may find it necessary to transfer projects from one Aperture system to another. Transferring projects is a simple import process. To transfer a project from one computer to another: 1 Select the project you want to transfer, then choose File > Export Project (or press Command-Shift-E). 2 Enter a name and choose a location for the exported project.
Making an Immediate Backup After you import images into Aperture, you can make an immediate backup to ensure that your digital master files exist in more than one place. You do this by having Aperture create a new vault or update an existing vault. For more information, see “Updating Vaults” on page 205. It’s a good idea to back up your images as often as possible.
6 6 Working with Images in the Browser After a shoot, you may need to sort through hundreds or thousands of images in a project. The Browser provides efficient ways to deal with a large number of images. This chapter provides details about the Browser and how to use it to view, select, rearrange, rotate, and display images. An Overview of the Browser When you select a project or album in the Projects panel, thumbnails of its images appear in the Browser.
 Search field: Enter text to search for images associated with that text, such as a version name or keywords.  Shuttle control: Drag this to shuttle continuously through images in the Browser. You can also use the J, K, and L keys.  Scroll bar: Use this to navigate through all images in a project.  Thumbnail Resize slider: Use this to increase or decrease the size of thumbnails displayed in grid view.
Working with Images in Grid View Grid view is the Browser’s default view. Grid view provides a grid of thumbnails as a top-level view of your project. If your project has many images, you may want to adjust the size of the thumbnails to a size convenient for selecting and working with them. You can also use the Shuttle control or scroll bar to scroll through the images. To switch to grid view, do one of the following: m Choose View > Grid (or press Control-G). m Click the Grid View button in the Browser.
To choose what type of information is displayed in list view: 1 Choose View > View Options (or press Command-J). The View Options window appears. 2 In the List View Columns section, choose a display option from the Set 1 pop-up menu. Columns in the Browser immediately change to display the information you selected. One of the main advantages of list view is that you can quickly sort images based on a category of information.
Adjusting the Background of the Browser You may want to lighten or darken the background of the Browser to better view your thumbnails. You can darken the background from shades of gray all the way to black, or lighten it from gray to white. Note: A darker background interferes less with the colors in your image, and is good for performing color adjustments on your images. To change the background of the Browser: 1 Choose Aperture > Preferences.
To select a single image: m Click the image. To select a range of images, do one of the following: m Click the first image in a range, then Shift-click the last image. m Press the arrow keys to select the first image, then press Shift and the Left or Right Arrow key to select the last image in the range. m Select an image in a stack, then choose Edit > Grow Selection (or press Command-E) to select all images in the stack.
Rearranging Images in the Browser As you work with images in the Browser, you can move and rearrange images into any order or grouping you want. For example, you might want to keep all related images of a wedding event, such as the cake cutting, in close proximity to allow you to easily adjust them. You can drag images to new locations in the Browser. You can drag single images or selections of multiple images.
Rotating Images When images are imported into a project, some may appear in an incorrect orientation, requiring you to rotate them right side up. The control bar provides rotate buttons for rotating selected images, and the toolbar contains rotate tools. You can rotate images individually or select a group and rotate them all at once. You can also conveniently select images and quickly rotate them using keyboard shortcuts.
You use the View Options window to customize the display of information shown with images in the Browser. The Browser’s metadata display settings appear here. In the Grid View section, you select the Set buttons and choose the information you want displayed. You can also choose where the information should appear from the Placement pop-up menus. To set the display of metadata shown with images in the Browser: 1 Choose View > View Options (or press Command-J). 2 Select the Grid View checkbox.
Creating Versions of an Image Occasionally, you may want to make copies of an image. For example, you might copy an image and apply different exposure settings or other adjustments, or change it for a specific use, such as for placement in a webpage or print book. When you copy an image, Aperture makes a new version of the image. When you create a new image version, you have a choice of copying the original master file or the currently selected version with any changes you’ve made.
To open a stack to see all the versions: m Click the Stack button on the stack. A dark gray border surrounds the images in a version stack. Click the Stack button on an image to show all versions in the stack. When a stack is open, you can select any of its image versions to display that version in the Viewer. Understanding Image Versions Whenever you work on an image, you are working with an image version, never the master file. Each time you copy an image, you create a new version.
Copying Images and Moving Images to Different Locations You can drag images into different projects and albums. The following kinds of files can be dragged directly into a project or album:  GIF  JPEG  JPEG2000  PNG  PSD  RAW files from a variety of supported digital cameras  TIFF Note: For a list of supported digital cameras, go to http://www.apple.com/aperture. To copy a master file into another project: m Option-drag the image in the Browser into a different project in the Projects panel.
Identifying Referenced Images After you import referenced images, you can identify them in the Browser by turning on referenced image badge overlays. Referenced images appear with badges that show whether their master files are currently available (online) or not found (offline). These badge overlays indicate the images are referenced images. This badge overlay indicates the image is an offline referenced image. To turn on referenced image badge overlays: 1 Choose Aperture > Preferences.
To see a list of referenced images in a selection: 1 In the Browser, select the group of images you want. 2 Choose File > Manage Referenced Files. 3 Choose File > Show Referenced Files. Identifies the hard disk location of the referenced master files. Displays the specific image and metadata to help you identify the image. Shows the names of hard disks where referenced master files are located. Identifies how many master files for referenced images are on the hard disk, and how many are not found.
7 Displaying Images in the Viewer 7 You can view an image in incredible detail or view several images at a time in the Viewer. This chapter provides details about the Viewer and how you can use it to view images in great detail when you are comparing images, making adjustments, and viewing images on multiple displays. An Overview of the Viewer When you select images in the Browser, the Viewer immediately displays a detailed view of your selection.
When rating or adjusting images, you can set the Viewer to compare two images at once. You can select an image to compare against and then display other similar or related images next to it for inspection. You might use the Aperture comparison feature to select images from a series or compare versions of adjusted images to see which is the best. You can use the Viewer to compare two images. You can also set Viewer options that determine the amount of information that appears with each image.
Choosing the Number of Images Displayed in the Viewer You can specify whether the Viewer displays one image, three images, or multiple images at a time. If your system uses multiple displays, you can configure your primary and secondary displays to show single images, three images, or multiple images simultaneously. To display a single image, do one of the following: m Choose View > Main Viewer > Primary (or press Option-R). m Choose Primary from the Viewer Mode pop-up menu in the control bar.
Comparing Images You can select an image against which to compare other images in your project or Library. The selected image remains on the screen as you select and display other images to compare against it. The comparison feature is useful for making final selections of the best images in a series, or comparing two versions of an image for correct exposure or highlights. When comparing images, you can apply ratings and keywords, and make adjustments to selected images.
Viewing Images with the Loupe You can use the Loupe to examine parts of an image. You position the small ring of the Loupe over the portion of the image you want to see, and the large ring shows a magnified view. It’s useful for making quick checks for dust specks, flaws, fingerprints, or other issues. You can use the Loupe on any image or thumbnail in the Aperture Library. The Loupe shows a magnified view of whatever is beneath it.
To increase the Loupe magnification: m Press Command–Shift–equal sign (=). Press these keys repeatedly to increase magnification more. To decrease the Loupe magnification: m Press Command-Shift-hyphen (-). Press these keys repeatedly to decrease magnification more. Viewing Images at Full Resolution Most digital cameras let you save images in different formats and image sizes. Aperture displays your images to fit the Viewer size, providing a reduced view.
To pan the full-resolution image in the Viewer, do one of the following: m Drag the red rectangle that appears on the image. Drag the red rectangle to change your view of the image. m Hold down the Space bar and drag the image. Viewing Images on Multiple Displays Using the additional screen space of a second display affords an excellent platform for viewing and adjusting images, playing slideshows, and presenting your full-color, fullsize images to clients.
To display the currently selected image in the secondary Viewer, do one of the following: m Choose View > Secondary Viewer > Alternate (or press Option-A). m Choose Alternate from the Viewer Mode pop-up menu in the control bar. Choose Alternate from the Viewer Mode pop-up menu to display the selected image in the secondary Viewer. To display the same images in both the primary and secondary Viewers, do one of the following: m Choose View > Secondary Viewer > Mirror (or press Option-M).
Displaying Metadata Associated with Images To help identify your images as you work with them, you can set Aperture to display the metadata associated with images. You can display keywords, ratings, EXIF information, IPTC information, and more. You can specify whether the information appears below the image or across the bottom of the image. You can also specify up to two sets of predefined information displays.
To set the display of metadata shown with images in the Viewer: 1 Choose View > View Options (or press Command-J). The View Options window lets you choose how you want to view images. 2 In the View Options window, do the following: a Select the Viewer checkbox to activate Viewer overlays. b Choose the information you want displayed with your images from the Set 1 or Set 2 pop-up menu. c Choose where you want the information to appear from the Placement pop-up menu for the set. 3 Click Done.
8 Viewing Images in Full Screen Mode 8 High resolution, no distractions, and access to the tools and HUDs make Full Screen mode an ideal environment for working with your images. This chapter details how to use Full Screen mode as an alternate work environment when you want to view images only, with as little of the Aperture interface shown as possible. An Overview of Full Screen Mode Full Screen mode projects your images onto a simple black background and can be used with one or two displays.
Full Screen mode includes a toolbar and filmstrip to help you view, organize, and adjust your images. Toolbar available in Full Screen mode The displayed image fills the screen. Filmstrip available in Full Screen mode  Toolbar: Contains version and stacking buttons, as well as the full set of image adjustment tools. Note: By default, the toolbar is hidden; to display it at the top of the screen, move your pointer to the top of your primary screen.
Entering and Exiting Full Screen Mode You can quickly switch between Full Screen mode and your workspace view. To enter Full Screen mode: m Click the Full Screen button in the control bar (or press F). Full Screen button in the control bar The Aperture main window disappears and your images appear in Full Screen mode. To exit Full Screen mode, do one of the following: m Click the Exit Full Screen button in the filmstrip (or press F). Exit Full Screen button in the filmstrip m Press Escape.
Filmstrip Controls The following controls in the filmstrip are used to view images when in Full Screen mode. Â Shuttle control: Click either side of this slider to rapidly scroll through your filmstrip images. The closer to the double arrows you click, the more rapidly the filmstrip moves through its images. You can also use the J, K, and L keys to shuttle through your images. Â Scroll bar: Use this to navigate through your images.
Rotate and Navigation Buttons Next Image Rotate Left Rotate Right     Previous Image Rotate Left: Click this button to rotate the selected image counterclockwise. Rotate Right: Click this button to rotate the selected image clockwise. Previous Image: Click this button to display the previous image. Next Image: Click this button to display the next image. Rating Buttons Select Reject Decrease Rating     Increase Rating Reject: Click this button to give the selected image a Reject rating.
Display Controls Viewer Mode pop-up menu Primary Only button Zoom Viewer button Exit Full Screen button  Viewer Mode pop-up menu: Use this to choose how to view images on your display or displays and how to position images on each display. You can also control the filmstrip with this pop-up menu (see “Showing and Hiding the Filmstrip” on page 99). Note: The display settings in Full Screen mode and the display settings in the control bar in the Aperture main window are not shared.
Showing and Hiding the Filmstrip You can move the filmstrip to any location on your primary display. But there are times, especially when viewing an image at full resolution, that you cannot get the filmstrip off your image. The filmstrip includes controls that let you define when the filmstrip appears. You can also specify how the filmstrip fits on the screen in relation to the image or images you are viewing. There are several ways you can configure the filmstrip.
Controls in the Full Screen Mode Toolbar You can use the toolbar’s buttons and tools to create image versions, work with stacks, and make a variety of adjustments to your images. Version Buttons Duplicate Version button New Version From Master button  Duplicate Version: Click this to create a new version of the selected image.  New Version From Master: Click this to create a version from the original master file. A duplicate of the master file is created.
Adjustment Tools Rotate Left tool Straighten tool Red Eye tool Lift tool Stamp tool Selection tool Rotate Right tool          Crop tool Spot & Patch tool Selection tool: Use this to select images. Rotate Left tool: Use this tool to rotate an image counterclockwise. Rotate Right tool: Use this tool to rotate an image clockwise. Straighten tool: Use this to manually rotate an image so that it’s straight in relation to a virtual horizon.
Using HUDs in Full Screen Mode Full Screen mode’s filmstrip and toolbar contain the most common Aperture controls and tools. However, you can use any of the Aperture HUDs (heads-up displays) in Full Screen mode. Open a HUD when you want to add keywords or use adjustment tools that are not in the Full Screen mode toolbar, or when it’s convenient to use controls in a movable panel. As you work in Full Screen mode, you’ll discover when you prefer using the toolbar and when you prefer using a HUD.
Adjustments HUD Use the Adjustments HUD to remove flaws like red-eye, noise, and dust in your images; adjust exposure, levels, and white balance in your images; and straighten and crop your images. To open the Adjustments HUD: m Press H. Use the Adjustments HUD in Full Screen mode to remove flaws and make adjustments to your images. For more information, see Chapter 14, “An Overview of Image Adjustments,” on page 155.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Full Screen Mode Here are several useful keyboard shortcuts you can use in Full Screen mode: Keyboard shortcut Function Go to next image Go to previous image Shuttle filmstrip left J Stop shuttling left or right K Shuttle filmstrip right L Show Adjustments HUD H shift E O C X 104 H Show Keywords HUD Show Red Eye HUD Show Lift & Stamp HUD Show Crop HUD Show Spot & Patch HUD Chapter 8 Viewing Images in Full Screen Mode
9 9 Stacking Images and Making Picks Photographers frequently shoot a series of related photos with the aim of selecting one image for use. Aperture makes it easy to choose the best image out of a series. This chapter covers the stack feature and how you can use it to select a pick image from a group of related photos, the remainder of which you do not intend to use. An Overview of Stacks A stack is a set of similar or related images from which one image will be selected for use.
By default, a stack is shown expanded, with all images displayed. If you don’t want to see all the images in a stack, you can close the stack. For more information, see “Opening and Closing Stacks” on page 108. Note: You can work with stacks in the Browser in grid view or list view. Because it’s easier to work with stacks when you can see thumbnails of your images, this chapter describes working with stacks in grid view.
To stack images automatically: 1 Choose Stacks > Auto-Stack (or press Command-Option-A). 2 In the Auto-Stack Images HUD, drag the slider to specify the maximum length of time for a series of shots. Move the slider to indicate the maximum time span for a series of shots. As you drag the slider, the images in the Browser automatically stack themselves according to the length of time specified.
Working with Stacks After creating stacks, you can change the pick image and rearrange the order of the images in the stack however you wish. Opening and Closing Stacks You can close a stack and open it again whenever you wish. You may want to do this to free up space in the Browser. You can also close stacks to quickly reduce the number of images you must sort through when selecting images for a final photo edit. When a stack is closed, only the stack’s pick image appears in the Browser.
Arranging Images in a Stack It can sometimes be difficult to decide which image in the stack should be the pick. In many cases, images are so similar that more than one of them merit the pick position. For this reason, you may want to have alternate images available when presenting images to clients. The image next to the pick is the “alternate.” You can change the order of images within a stack to help you choose the pick and an alternate.
Splitting Stacks You can split a stack into multiple stacks to refine the organization of your images. All images remain stacked, but they are now part of new stacks. The image selected as the splitting point becomes the pick for the new stack. To split a stack: 1 In an expanded stack, select the image that you want as the first image in a new stack. Select the image you want as the first image in the new stack. 2 Choose Stacks > Split Stack (or press Option-K).
Keyboard Shortcuts for Working with Stacks Aperture provides the following keyboard shortcuts for efficiently working with stacks: Keyboard shortcut option page up option page down shift Function Go to previous stack Go to next stack Open/Close stack K Open all stacks option ' option ; Close all stacks Create stack K shift option K Unstack Split stack K Set stack pick Promote stack item [ Demote stack item ] shift option K Extract item Chapter 9 Stacking Images and Making Picks 1
10 10 Rating Images Rating images is a quick and easy way to narrow down the number of images you intend to work with. It can also help you locate your best images later. This chapter provides information about rating images and using ratings to sort and compare images. An Overview of the Rating System Aperture provides an easy-to-use rating system that allows you to quickly assign image ratings and use them to sort and review images. Rating is a simple process with powerful results.
You can quickly review and rate images one after another with speed and efficiency. You can also select and rate multiple images at once. You can review and rate images in the Viewer, Browser, and Light Table, as well as in Full Screen mode. When you’ve finished rating the images, Aperture allows you to sort the images according to their ratings. Rating Images Aperture provides a set of six possible image ratings indicated by white overlays that appear on the image.
To apply the same rating to multiple images at once: 1 Select the images you want to rate. For more information, see “Navigating Through and Selecting Images” on page 73. 2 Click a rating button, or press the keyboard shortcut for a rating (see “Keyboard Shortcuts for Rating Images” on page 119). The rating you assign is displayed on all the selected images.
To sort images by rating: 1 Open the Query HUD by doing one of the following: Â Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F). Â In the Browser, click the Query HUD button next to the search field. Query HUD button in the Browser 2 Select the Rating checkbox. Make sure this checkbox is selected, then choose an option from the pop-up menu. Set the slider to a rating. 3 Choose an option from the Rating pop-up menu. 4 Drag the Rating slider to specify a rating.
Comparing and Rating Images For those really tough decisions, Aperture allows you to compare and rate a select image against close alternates. This is particularly useful when you are trying to choose an image from a small group of similarly composed images. For example, choosing the best image from a series of head shots can be difficult. Even in head shots captured within a short time span, the facial expressions of the subject can change ever so slightly.
4 Rate your compare image by doing one of the following: Â To assign the Select rating: Press Option-backslash (\). Â To increase the compare image’s rating: Press Option–equal sign (=). Â To decrease the compare image’s rating: Press Option-hyphen (-). Â To assign the Reject rating: Press Option-9. The rating appears as an overlay on the compare image. 5 Rate the alternate image by doing one of the following: Â To assign the Select rating: Press Command-5 or backslash (\).
Keyboard Shortcuts for Rating Images For quick and efficient rating, use the following keyboard shortcuts to apply ratings: Keyboard shortcut = or Function Increase rating = Decrease rating or 9 or 9 1 or 1 2 or 2 3 or 3 4 or 4 5 or 5 Apply Reject Apply one star Apply two stars Apply three stars Apply four stars or Apply five stars shift = Increase the rating of the selected image and cancel the rating assigned to the previously rated image shift - Decrease the rating of the
Keyboard Shortcuts for Displaying Images with Specific Ratings To quickly display images with a certain rating level or better, use the following keyboard shortcuts. Important: It’s possible to accidentally use a keyboard shortcut that performs a search, unexpectedly changing the number of images that appear in the Browser and Viewer. If this occurs, first open the Query HUD to determine if an unintentional search has been made.
11 Applying Keywords to Images 11 Adding keywords to your images helps you organize your images and quickly locate specific images. This chapter provides information about adding keywords to images and using these keywords to help define and organize your images. An Overview of Keywords Keywords are descriptive words about the subject in the image that are added to image versions and saved as metadata.
Applying Keywords Using the Keywords HUD Using the Keywords HUD to add keywords is the most versatile way to apply keywords to images. The Keywords HUD contains a library of predefined keywords that you can browse and search. You can also add your own keywords, as well as remove keywords. The Keywords HUD is automatically updated with any keywords you add. For example, when you enter a new keyword in the Metadata Inspector, that keyword also appears in the Keywords HUD.
 Add Keyword: Click this button to add a keyword to the keyword library of the Keywords HUD.  Add Subordinate Keyword: Click this button to add a subordinate keyword, such as a keyword within a keyword group.  Remove Keyword: Click this button to remove one or more selected keywords.  Keyword list: Displays all keywords in the keywords library of the Keywords HUD. Using the Keywords HUD to Apply Keywords The Keywords HUD lets you quickly apply keywords from its keyword library to one or more images.
To apply multiple keywords using the Keywords HUD: 1 Select an image or group of images in the Browser. For more information, see “Navigating Through and Selecting Images” on page 73. 2 To show the Keywords HUD, do one of the following: Â Choose Window > Show Keywords HUD (or press Shift-H). Â Click the Keywords HUD button in the toolbar. The Keywords HUD appears.
Browsing and Searching for Keywords You can browse and search for specific keywords in the keyword library of the Keywords HUD. To locate a keyword using the Keywords HUD: 1 To show the Keywords HUD, do one of the following: Â Choose Window > Show Keywords HUD (or press Shift-H). Â Click the Keywords HUD button in the toolbar. The Keywords HUD appears. 2 Do one of the following: Â Scroll up and down to review the keywords, and click the disclosure triangles to reveal the keywords in each keyword group.
Adding Keywords to the Keywords HUD You can add new keywords to the keyword library of the Keywords HUD. To add new keywords to the keyword library: 1 To show the Keywords HUD, do one of the following: Â Choose Window > Show Keywords HUD (or press Shift-H). Â Click the Keywords HUD button in the toolbar. The Keywords HUD appears. 2 Click the Add Keyword button. A new, untitled keyword appears in the keyword list. Click this button to add a new keyword.
To add keywords to a keyword group: 1 To show the Keywords HUD, do one of the following: Â Choose Window > Show Keywords HUD (or press Shift-H). Â Click the Keywords HUD button in the toolbar. The Keywords HUD appears. 2 Select the keyword group to which you want to add a keyword. 3 Click the Add Subordinate Keyword button. A new, untitled keyword appears in this list within the keyword group. Click this button to add a keyword within a keyword group. 4 Type a name for the new keyword, then press Return.
Removing Keywords from the Keywords HUD After adding keywords to the keyword library of the Keywords HUD, you may decide not to use certain keywords. If so, you can easily remove them from the keyword library. To remove a keyword or keyword group from the keyword library: 1 In the Keywords HUD, select the keyword or keyword group you want to remove. The selected keyword is highlighted. 2 Click the Remove Keyword button. The selected keyword is removed.
Applying Keywords Using Keyword Controls and Keyword Presets One way to apply keywords is to use the keyword controls located in the control bar. You can add new keywords to images or apply preset keywords that are part of a keyword group. About the Keyword Controls in the Control Bar The keyword controls are located at the right side of the control bar and are typically shown by default.
Adding a New Keyword to Images Using Keyword Controls You can easily add a new keyword (one that’s not part of a keyword preset group) to one or more images. To apply a new keyword using the keyword controls: 1 In the Browser, select an image or group of images. For more information, see “Navigating Through and Selecting Images” on page 73. 2 In the control bar, type a descriptive word in the Add Keyword field, then press Return. Select the image to which you want to apply a new keyword.
To choose a keyword preset group and apply keywords to images: 1 Select an image or group of images in the Browser. For more information, see “Navigating Through and Selecting Images” on page 73. 2 Show the keyword controls in the control bar. For more information, see “About the Keyword Controls in the Control Bar” on page 129. 3 Choose a keyword preset group from the Keyword Preset Group pop-up menu. Choose the keyword group you want to use.
To create a keyword preset group and assign keyword presets to it: 1 Create a new keyword preset group by doing the following: a In the control bar, choose Edit Buttons from the Keyword Preset Group pop-up menu. Choose Edit Buttons to add a new keyword preset group. b In the Edit Button Sets window, click the Add (+) button. Click the Add button to add a keyword preset group. An untitled preset group appears highlighted in the Name column. A new, untitled preset group appears in this list.
2 In the Keywords Library column, select keywords you want to add to the new keyword preset group. To select a group of keywords, do one of the following: Â Hold down the Shift key while pressing the Up or Down Arrow key to select several keywords. Â Shift-click to select adjacent keywords. Â Command-click to select keywords that aren’t adjacent. 3 Drag the selected keywords from the Keywords Library column to the Contents column. 4 Drag the keywords into the order you want.
Applying Keywords Using the Lift & Stamp HUD If you have several images that share many of the same keywords, you can use the Lift and Stamp tools to quickly apply either all or some of the keywords from one image to another image or group of images. Using the Lift and Stamp tools is one of the most efficient ways to quickly apply keywords to a large number of images. The Lift and Stamp tools have a corresponding HUD you can use in the Browser, Viewer, and Light Table, as well as in Full Screen mode.
4 Click the Stamp button in the lower-right corner, then select another image or group of images. The keywords from the first image are applied to the second image or group of images. In many cases, you do not want to copy all keywords from one image and paste them onto another. For this reason, you can select specific keywords that apply to the image you want to stamp them on. To stamp a reduced selection of keywords on an image or group of images: 1 Select the Lift tool (or press O).
6 Select the Stamp tool, then select an image or group of images to which to apply the keywords. Stamp tool in the toolbar The reduced selection of keywords is applied to the selected image or group of images.
To view keywords using Viewer overlays: 1 Choose View > View Options (or press Command-J). 2 In the View Options window, select the Viewer checkbox. 3 Choose Caption & Keywords from the Set 1 pop-up menu. Choose Caption & Keywords from this pop-up menu. Choose where you want the information displayed from this pop-up menu. Make sure the Viewer checkbox is selected. 4 Choose an option from the Placement pop-up menu for where you want the information displayed in relation to the image. 5 Click Done.
6 Press the Y key. The captions and keywords appear in the area you specified. The Viewer information overlay appears, displaying the applied keywords over or below the image. To view keywords in the Keywords column of the Browser: 1 Choose View > View Options (or press Command-J). The View Options window appears. 2 In the List View Columns section, make sure the Set 1 button is selected and that ListExpanded is chosen from the Set 1 pop-up menu, then click Done.
12 Searching for and Displaying Images 12 Aperture allows you to easily search for and gather images in a variety of locations. You can also perform complex searches as well as save your search results. This chapter provides information about searching for images in a specific project or in your entire Library using the Query HUD. An Overview of the Query HUD As you import more and more photos into Aperture, you’ll need a way to search for images and display them.
To open the Query HUD, do one of the following: m Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F). m Click the Query HUD button (with a magnifying glass icon) beside the search field in the Browser. Controls in the Query HUD Match pop-up menu Search field Close button Add Filter pop-up menu Reset button Search criteria Query HUD Action pop-up menu New Smart Album button New Album With Current Images button  Close button: Click this to close the Query HUD.
Searching by Image Name, Caption, or Other Text You can search for images using any text that you’ve associated with an image. For example, you might search for images based on text in an image’s caption or keywords, or in any other text entry. You can also search by multiple text entries. To search for images by text: 1 In the Projects panel, select a project or an album you want to search. 2 Open the Query HUD by doing one of the following: Â Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F).
4 Select the Text checkboxes and enter text in each field to locate the images you want. Select the Text checkboxes and enter text in each text search field you added. 5 Choose “any” from the Match pop-up menu, if it’s not already chosen. The images that match the search criteria are immediately displayed in the Browser. To save your search results, see “Saving Your Search Results” on page 150. Searching by Rating You can use the Query HUD to see all images with a certain rating.
5 Specify the rating level by dragging the slider. 6 Choose “any” from the Match pop-up menu, if it’s not already chosen. The images that match the search criteria are immediately displayed in the Browser. To save your search results, see “Saving Your Search Results” on page 150. Searching by Keyword You can search for and locate images by any of the keywords that you’ve assigned to them. You can select one or more keywords to search for.
You can also search for IPTC keywords using the IPTC search options. These options allow you to specify searches for specific IPTC fields in a variety of ways. For example, you can search for any images that don’t have keywords assigned. For more information, see the Aperture User Manual in the Aperture Help menu. The images that match the search criteria are immediately displayed in the Browser. To save your search results, see “Saving Your Search Results” on page 150.
Images that you import from sources other than cameras and card readers, such as JPEG or TIFF files, may not have EXIF information associated with them. However, they typically have a creation date assigned to the file. You can use this creation date to locate images using the Date search options. To search for images by creation date: 1 In the Projects panel, select a project or an album you want to search. 2 Open the Query HUD by doing one of the following: Â Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F).
Searching by IPTC Information You can search for and locate images using any IPTC information that you’ve assigned. For example, you might locate any images that have IPTC keywords assigned to them. To search for images by IPTC information, you use the IPTC search options. To search for images by IPTC information: 1 In the Projects panel, select a project or an album you want to search. 2 Open the Query HUD by doing one of the following: Â Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F).
Searching by EXIF Information You can search for and locate images using any EXIF information recorded by your camera for your images. For example, you might locate any images that were created with a certain camera or at a specific exposure. To search for images by EXIF information, you use the EXIF search options. To search for images by EXIF information: 1 In the Projects panel, select a project or an album you want to search.
Searching by File Status You can also search for images using their file status. For example, you can search for images that are referenced images, managed images, and online or offline images. To search for images by file status, you use the File Status search options. To search for images by file status: 1 In the Projects panel, select a project or an album you want to search. 2 Show the Query HUD by doing one of the following: Â Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F).
Searching by a Combination of Criteria You can create complex combinations of search criteria in the Query HUD. For example, you could search for images that have a certain keyword, and that were taken on a specific date. To perform a complex search by adding search criteria options to the Query HUD: 1 In the Projects panel, select a project or an album you want to search. 2 Open the Query HUD by doing one of the following: Â Choose Edit > Find (or press Command-F).
Saving Your Search Results When you do a search using the Query HUD, you can choose to save your results in several ways. You can create a new Smart Album that is automatically updated based on any new images you add to a project or the Library that match the search criteria. You can also save the search results themselves into a new album, Light Table album, book album, web gallery album, Smart Web Gallery Album, or web journal album.
13 Grouping Images with Smart Albums 13 When you need to group certain types of images, either temporarily or permanently, you can use a Smart Album to gather the images. This chapter discusses Smart Albums and how you can use them to help dynamically organize your images. An Overview of Smart Albums Smart Albums provide you with a flexible way to organize images. They are easy to set up and can be extremely useful as dynamic collections of images.
You can also create your own Smart Albums. For example, suppose you want to create a Smart Album that includes the best images you took of a particular sports event. You select the project containing shots of the sports event, create a Smart Album, open the Query HUD, and search for images rated Select (five stars). All images with that rating immediately appear in the Smart Album. You can also choose where to search for images—across the entire Library or within a specific project.
4 Click the Query HUD button (with a magnifying glass icon) to the right of the Smart Album to open the Query HUD. 5 In the Query HUD, specify the search criteria you want. For more information about using the Query HUD and specifying search criteria, see Chapter 12, “Searching for and Displaying Images,” on page 139. 6 Click the Query HUD’s close button. Aperture finds the images matching the specified search criteria and displays them in the Browser.
Revising the Contents of a Smart Album You cannot manually select individual images in a Smart Album and delete them, because the images are placed there automatically based on search criteria. Similarly, you cannot simply drag images to a Smart Album to add them. You must change the search criteria to change the contents of the Smart Album. If you decide that certain images should not be in a Smart Album, you can narrow the search criteria to exclude images.
14 An Overview of Image Adjustments 14 In most cases, the adjustment controls provide everything you need to perfect your image. You can make image adjustments using the Adjustments Inspector or the Adjustments HUD. This chapter provides a brief introduction to the Aperture adjustment controls. For in-depth explanations of Aperture adjustments, see Performing Image Adjustments in the Aperture Help menu.
You can make the following adjustments to images in Aperture. Adjustment Function Red Eye Correction Reduces red-eye in the eyes of the subjects in your images. Used in conjunction with the Red Eye tool. Spot & Patch Retouches imperfections in an image, such as sensor dust and dirt. Used in conjunction with the Spot & Patch tool. Straighten Levels the image’s horizon. Used in conjunction with the Straighten tool. Crop Trims the image. Used in conjunction with the Crop tool.
Displaying Additional Adjustment Controls The first time you view either the Adjustments Inspector or the Adjustments HUD, some of the adjustments, such as Exposure, Levels, and White Balance, are visible. You can add other adjustments to the inspector or HUD. To add additional adjustments: m Choose a type of adjustment from the Add Adjustments pop-up menu at the top of either the Adjustments Inspector or Adjustments HUD.
15 Creating Slideshow Presentations 15 Slideshows can do more than showcase your work. You can use slideshows to create atmosphere during a presentation, inspire participation from your audience, and evoke feeling in your viewers. This chapter reviews how to create slideshows and use them to present work to clients, display wedding or other event images, or provide a background of images and music during an event.
Creating a Slideshow Using Presets You can easily set up your slideshow by choosing one of the predefined slideshow settings provided by Aperture. To create and play a slideshow: 1 Select a set of images by doing one of the following: Â Select a project or album in the Projects panel. Â Select individual images or image stacks in the Browser. 2 Choose File > Slideshow (or press Shift-S). The Run Slideshow dialog appears. 3 Choose a type of slideshow presentation from the Slideshow Preset pop-up menu.
Controlling a Slideshow Once you start playing a slideshow, you can use keyboard shortcuts to control the slideshow. To pause the slideshow: m Press the Space bar. To continue playing the slideshow: m Press the Space bar again. To move forward through the slideshow: m Press the Right Arrow key. To move backward through the slideshow: m Press the Left Arrow key. To stop the slideshow: m Press Esc (Escape). The slideshow stops playing, and your Aperture workspace reappears.
16 Using the Light Table 16 You can use the Light Table to arrange and resize images in a freeform manner. This chapter provides information about the Light Table and how you can use it to review images as well as make adjustments to them. An Overview of the Light Table The Light Table in Aperture allows you to work with your images in much the same way you work with slides on a light table. You can place a selection of images in the Light Table for review and drag them to new positions.
In the Light Table, you can easily group related images together to compare them after applying adjustments. You can also use the Light Table to resize images to the approximate sizes you’d like to see for your final output. For example, if you’re involved in planning images for book pages, you might create an interesting series of images in the sizes needed for the book page.
Adding Images to the Light Table Adding images to the Light Table is easy; simply drag an image or a selection of images from the Browser to the Light Table. To add images to the Light Table: m Drag images from the Browser to the Light Table. ...to the Light Table. Simply drag images from the Browser... To remove an image from the Light Table: m Select the image, then click the Put Back button. Click the Put Back button to remove a selected image.
To see only images in the Browser that remain unplaced: m Click the Show Unplaced Images button. Show Unplaced Images button Show All Images button To see the entire contents of the Light Table album in the Browser: m Click the Show All Images button. Moving and Resizing Images in the Light Table You can drag images to different locations in the Light Table, trying out different combinations and orientations.
To reset an image to its previous size, do one of the following: m Choose Edit > Undo Resize (or press Command-Z). m Control-click the image, then choose Reset Selected Size from the shortcut menu. Aligning and Arranging Images in the Light Table You can select a group of images in the Light Table and automatically align them according to their top, bottom, or side edges, or by their centers. You can also have Aperture arrange a selected group with equal space between each image.
To reveal images in the Light Table that are covered by other images: 1 Select the top image in the group. The top image is selected. 2 Click the Uncover button (or press Shift-X). Click the Uncover button to reveal all images under the selected image. 3 Select an uncovered image. The images are regrouped, with the selected image on top.
Adjusting the Light Table View You can adjust the Light Table view to better view and work with images. This is particularly useful when the Light Table is larger than your screen size. You can also increase the area of the Light Table. To zoom in or out of the Light Table, do one of the following: m Drag the Light Table Zoom slider to change the view. Scale to Fit All Items button Drag the Light Table Zoom slider to zoom in or out.
Printing a Light Table Arrangement After arranging your images, you can print out the image arrangement for further review. To print a Light Table arrangement: 1 Select the images in the Light Table that you want to print by dragging a selection rectangle around them. Drag a selection rectangle around the images you want to print. 2 Choose File > Print Light Table (or choose Command-Option-P). 3 In the Print dialog, choose your print options, then click Print.
17 17 Printing Your Images Aperture makes it easy to print high-resolution images, a series of contact sheets, a portion of the Light Table, a web gallery or journal, or an entire photo book. This chapter covers many options you have for printing images. Settings in the Print Dialog Using options in the Print dialog, you can print a single high-resolution print, a series of contact sheets, or your latest travelogue book.
The Print dialog is divided into six areas: Preset Name List This column contains all presets, those that come with Aperture as well as new ones that you create.  Single Images: Displays settings for printing a single image per page.  Contact Sheet: Displays settings for printing a series of images on one or more pages. Copies & Pages  Copies: Displays the number of copies of the image to print.  Pages: Prints the entire selection of images or a reduced set.
Border Options  Width: Drag the slider, or enter a value in the value slider, to reduce the size of the image in order to create a white border around the image.  Show crop marks: Select this checkbox to print a cut line. Preview Area This area shows how the image or images will print on the selected paper size. If there is more than one page, you can use the Previous Image and Next Image buttons to navigate through the pages.
Printing a Contact Sheet or Series of Contact Sheets You can print contact sheets of your images, and Aperture does all the layout work for you. All you have to do is select the number of pages or columns; Aperture adjusts the size of the images based on your Layout Options settings. To print contact sheets: 1 In the Browser, select the images you want to print. 2 Choose File > Print Images (or press Command-P).
Printing a Book You can print a book to check the final format and look of it before having it printed by a professional printer, ordering a print book online, or distributing copies to others. To print a book: 1 Select a book album in the Projects panel. The book appears in the Book Layout Editor. 2 Make sure the book settings are correct, then click the Print button in the Book Layout Editor. For information about the Book Layout Editor, see Chapter 20, “Creating Books,” on page 193.
18 Exporting Images 18 Once you’ve finalized work on your images, you can use Aperture to export your images. You can use these files in another application, send them to a printing service or to your clients, or publish them on the web. This chapter covers how to export your images in various sizes, formats, and file types for different purposes. An Overview of Exporting Your Images Using Aperture, you can export copies of digital master files, as well as versions that you’ve created.
Exporting Copies of Digital Master Files When you export master files, duplicates of the files that were imported from your camera or other source are created; no adjustments, file modifications, or any other changes are exported with the file. To export copies of digital master files: 1 Select an image or images in the Browser. 2 Choose File > Export > Export Masters (or press Command-Shift-S). 3 Navigate to the location where you want the exported files placed. Choose a location for the exported files.
5 Choose a name format for your master files from the Name Format pop-up menu. For more information about selecting and setting up filenaming formats, see the Aperture User Manual in the Aperture Help menu. Aperture shows an example of the selected name format in the dialog. 6 To export the digital master file with an XMP sidecar file that contains the image’s IPTC metadata, select the “Create IPTC4XMP sidecar file” checkbox. 7 When you’re ready to export your files, click Export Masters.
4 Choose an export preset from the Export Preset pop-up menu. 5 Do one of the following: Â Choose “No folder” from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu to specify that the files be stored as separate individual files in the selected folder. Â To specify that Aperture create and store your files in a hierarchy of subfolders with specific folder names, choose a folder preset from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu. 6 Choose a name format for your files from the Name Format pop-up menu.
The Export Presets dialog appears, showing the presets available and the configurable export settings. The right side of the dialog shows the settings for the selected preset. Available presets are shown here. Creating an Export Preset If none of the predefined export presets suit your needs, you can create your own export preset. Creating a new export preset is fairly easy, because you only have to copy an existing preset and then modify it.
Adding a Watermark to Exported Images You can add an image file to your images as a watermark to discourage others from using your images without your permission. Watermarks are especially useful when applied to images posted on the web. To add a watermark image to your exported images: 1 Select the images you want to export. 2 Choose File > Export Versions (or press Command-Shift-E). 3 In the dialog that appears, choose Edit from the Export Preset pop-up menu.
19 Creating Web Journals and Web Galleries 19 In Aperture, you can easily create webpages of your images and post them to your .Mac account. Your clients can then review your work online. This chapter reviews the two types of webpages you can produce in Aperture, and shows you how to create them, modify them, and then post them to the web. An Overview of Web Galleries and Web Journals Using Aperture, you can create two types of webpages—web journals and web galleries.
Creating and Working with Web Galleries Web galleries offer a way to showcase your images on the web. You have a number of options for designing these pages. You can choose the type of information you want to appear with each image, such as name and rating. You can also specify the number of columns and rows you want on each page. Creating a Web Gallery To create a web gallery, you must first create an album that holds your web gallery images.
Web Gallery Controls in the Webpage Editor The following controls are available for revising pages and images in a web gallery album. Metadata View pop-up menu Columns value slider Rows value slider “Fit images within” pop-up menu Height value slider Site Theme button Width value slider This shows how your images will appear on the web gallery page. Gallery Pages panel Detail Images panel Previous Page button Next Page button Export Web Pages button Publish to .
Creating and Working with Web Journals Web journals offer great flexibility, allowing you to manually arrange images and text on webpages. Creating a Web Journal To create a web journal, you must first create an album that holds your webpage’s images. The easiest way to do this is to select images you want to appear in the web journal and create an album. Aperture creates a web journal album that contains the images you selected, and the Webpage Editor appears above the Browser.
Web Journal Controls in the Webpage Editor The following controls are available for pages and images in a web journal album. Metadata View pop-up menu Add Text Box button Columns value slider Site Theme button “Fit images within” pop-up menu Height value slider Width value slider Journal Pages panel This shows how your images will appear on the web gallery page.
Working with Web Journal Pages You can add images, text, and titles to your web journal pages, as well as add and remove pages. To add images to a web journal: 1 Select the page you want to change in the Webpage Editor. 2 Select an image in the Browser, then drag it to the selected page in the Webpage Editor. The image is added to the webpage. To add text to web journal pages: 1 Select the page you want to change in the Webpage Editor. 2 Click the Add Text Box button to add a text box. 3 Enter your text.
Changing the Appearance of Your Webpages Aperture provides a variety of themes, or designs, you can choose for your webpages. The theme determines the basic design of the webpage. To change the webpage theme: 1 At the top of the Webpage Editor, click the Site Theme button. Site Theme button 2 In the Choose Web Theme window, select the theme you want, then click Choose. Your webpages now appear with the new theme. Both types of webpages—web galleries and web journals—display thumbnail images.
To change the number of rows of images on a page in a web gallery: m In the Webpage Editor, do one of the following:  Double-click the number in the Rows value slider, then enter a new number to increase or decrease the displayed number of rows.  Click the left or right arrow in the value slider. Rows value slider Left and right arrows  Drag left or right in the value slider. To change the size of displayed images on the webpages: 1 Choose an option from the “Fit images within” pop-up menu.
Posting Your Webpages to the Web You can easily post your web gallery or web journal to your .Mac account. To publish your web gallery or web journal to your .Mac account: 1 In the Webpage Editor, click Publish to .Mac. 2 In the dialog that appears, specify the following: Â Publish Album As: Enter a name for the web gallery or web journal. Â Thumbnail Image Preset pop-up menu: Choose the quality you want for displayed thumbnail images.
20 20 Creating Books With Aperture, you can easily create books of your images that you can print using a printing service provided by Apple. This chapter provides information about creating a book, including designing the pages, arranging images, and then getting a professional print copy made. An Overview of the Book Creation Process Aperture provides options for creating a print book to suit a variety of needs.
Creating a Book Album There are two main ways to create a book album: Â You can select a group of images and create a book album to hold the images. Â You can create a new, empty book album and then drag images from the Browser into the album. To create a book album from a selection of images: 1 Select the images you want to use in the book, then do one of the following: Â Choose File > New From Selection > Book. Â In the Projects panel, choose New Book From Selection from the Add to Library pop-up menu.
Controls in the Book Layout Editor The Book Layout Editor is where you design the layout of pages in your book and add images and text to pages. The Book Layout Editor is where you design your book. The following controls are available for revising books in the Book Layout Editor.
 Theme: Click this to choose a theme for your book’s pages.  Edit Content: Click this to edit the text on your pages.  Edit Layout: Click this to change the page layout. You can then select text, metadata, and photo boxes on the page and move and resize them as you like.  Pages panel: Click here to see an individual page in the book.  Add Pages pop-up menu: Choose an option from this pop-up menu to add a page or pages to the book.
Scale To Fit button Display Size slider Actual Size button  Scale To Fit: Click this to scale the display of your pages to fit the Viewer size.  Actual Size: Click this to view the selected page at its actual size.  Display Size slider: Drag this slider to increase or decrease the size of the page in the Viewer. Show Single Pages button Large Hardcover button Large Softcover button     Show Full Spreads button Large Hardcover: Click this to specify your book format as a large hardcover book.
Placing Images in a Book You can have Aperture automatically place your images in the book. Aperture creates as many pages as you need using a selected theme and fills them with your images. You can also place images manually into the book, one at a time. To have Aperture automatically place images: m In the Book Layout Editor, choose Autoflow Unplaced Images from the Book Action pop-up menu.
Resizing and Aligning Images on a Page When you add images to a page, either manually or automatically, you can have an image appear at its current size or have Aperture scale the image to fill the image frame. You can also change the alignment of the image in a frame, making it appear centered or aligned on the right or left edge.
Changing the Theme You choose a theme when you create your book album, but you can change the theme at any time. When you choose a theme, the Book Layout Editor provides a professionally designed set of master pages that determine how you mix text and images on the page. For example, you can choose among master pages that create a cover page, text pages, and pages with different combinations of images and text. You’ll find master pages provide a fast and convenient method for quickly laying out a book.
21 Backing Up Your Images 21 To safeguard your photography portfolio, it’s important to establish a reliable backup system and back up regularly. This chapter provides information about backing up the Library to a vault on an external hard disk. It also provides information about deleting vaults to free up disk space and restoring the Library from a vault.
You can set Aperture to back up copies of the Library to a designated storage area called a vault. For safety and redundancy, a vault should be stored on an external hard disk, such as a FireWire drive. Aperture lets you create as many vaults as you deem necessary. For example, you may want to create one vault on an external hard disk for daily backups of your entire system and a second vault on another external hard disk that you keep offsite.
Controls in the Vaults Panel You use the Vaults panel at the bottom of the Projects panel to set the location of your vaults and check on their status. To show the Vaults panel: m Click the Vaults Panel button. There are several controls that you’ll use when you back up and update vaults. Disclosure triangle Vault Status button Vault Action pop-up menu Update All Vaults button Vaults Panel button  Disclosure triangle: Click this to see the hard disk that is assigned to this vault.
 Vault Action pop-up menu: You can use this to add and remove vaults, as well as update a vault.  Disk space available: Aperture keeps track of how much storage space is available on the hard disk used by a vault. Color-coded bars indicate the space used by the vault, unused space, and space used for other, non-Aperture files. The colored bar represents the space used by the vault.
To see the hard disk assigned to a vault: m In the Vaults panel, click the disclosure triangle beside the vault name. Click the disclosure triangle to see which hard disk is assigned to the vault. You can easily see the amount of free space your vault has available next to the vault name. Make sure to assign enough disk space to the vault to ensure a complete backup of the Library and to allow the Library to grow as you import new images over time.
To update the vault on an external hard disk: 1 Connect the hard disk to your computer. 2 Do one of the following: Â Click the Vault Status button beside the vault name. Â Select the vault, then choose Update Vault from the Vault Action pop-up menu. 3 In the dialog that appears, click Update Vault. Important: Make sure to update your offsite vaults regularly to minimize potential losses.
Restoring Your Aperture System If you buy a new computer or use another system at a different location and want access to the Aperture Library, you can install Aperture and then transfer the Library from your vault (on your backup disk) to the other computer. If you experience equipment failure or other unexpected events, such as fire or weather-related damage to your equipment, you can easily restore the entire Library to your new computer.
Appendix Credits Vietnam Photography by William McLeod Copyright 2005 william mercer mcLeod http://www.williammercermcleod.com Antarctica Photography by Norbert Wu Copyright 2005 Norbert Wu http://www.norbertwu.com Amanda Modeling Photography by Matthew Birdsell Copyright 2005 Matthew Birdsell http://www.matthewbirdsell.
4-Up Fast or Slow settings 160 100% view 169 .
black points 156, 172 black Vault Status buttons 203 blank screens 89 bleeds 174 blue channels 156 Book Action pop-up menu 196 book albums creating 36, 194 saving search results as 150 Book Layout Editor 195–197, 200 books adding an index 196 adding or removing pages 196 adding pages 198 aligning and resizing images in 199 hardcover or softcover sizes 197 overview 193 placing images in 198 printing 175 proofing 200 purchasing 197, 200 removing pages 198 saving search results in book albums 150 text on pages
Delete Project command 54 Delete Smart Album command 154 deleting See also removing albums 54 book pages 198 folders 54 images 53, 154, 165, 206 keywords 128, 138 Light Table images 165 projects 54 Smart Album images 154 Smart Albums 154 vault images 206 vaults 206 versions 53 webpages 188 webpage text or images 188 Demote button 100 demoting images 79, 100, 109 Deselect All command 74 designs for books 193 desktop, extended 26 destinations for restoration 207 Detail Image Preset pop-up menu 191 Detail pane
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File) data date information 144 displaying 40, 76 exporting 177 finding images with 147 Exit Full Screen button 98 Export dialog 178 Exported Master Name Format pop-up menu 179 exporting digital master files 178 export presets 180 keywords as IPTC data 121 overview 177 PDF files 175 projects 67 versions 179 watermarks 182 XMP sidecar file 179 Export Name Format pop-up menu 180 Export Preset pop-up menu 180 export presets 180, 181 versions of images 180 Export Presets dialog 181 expo
importing images from 61 offsite storage 205 restoring from 207 space on 204 startup disks 28 vaults on 19, 204 heads-up displays.
J JPEG files 56, 80, 177 digital master files 13 JPEG2000 files 56, 80 K keyboard shortcuts Full Screen mode 104 keys for 47 keywords 130 Loupe tool 88 rating images 118 ratings 119 slideshows 161 stack commands 111 keyword buttons 129 keyword controls 35, 129–130 keyword groups 122 Keyword Preset Group pop-up menu 35, 129, 131 keyword preset groups applying keywords 130–133 creating 132 keywords adding to Keywords HUD 126 applying multiple keywords 124 applying preset groups 130–133 applying with Keywords
master files.
adding to or removing from books 196 aligning and resizing images on 199 navigating through 197 number to print 172 removing from books 198 text boxes 199 Pages panel 196 panning images 88 paper size settings 172 patch adjustments 37, 101, 156 Patch tool 37, 101 pausing slideshows 161 PDF files 175 Photo Box Alignment command 199 photo boxes 196, 199 Photo Filter pop-up menu 196 Photoshop files (PSD) 56, 80, 177 Pick command 108 picks defined 105 marking images as 100 selecting 108 PNG files 13, 56, 80, 177
R rating images assigning ratings 114 buttons for 34 comparing images 117 finding images by ratings 142 keyboard shortcuts 118, 119 overview 113 sorting rated images 115 Rating pop-up menu 142 ratings buttons 34, 97 RAW files 56, 80 digital master files 13 rearranging display positions 26 rearranging images on book pages 196 in Browser 75 in Light Table 166 in slideshows 161 in stacks 109 on webpages 189 Rebuild Book With All Images command 198 recovering from file losses 202 red channels 156 red-eye adjust
selecting keywords to copy 135 Selection tool 37, 101 Select ratings 118 selects 15 Select to Beginning and Select to End commands 74 Send Backward button 196 sensor dust 156 sepia effects 156 series of images 106 Set Compare Item command 86, 117 Set Master Page pop-up menu 196, 198 settings 46 setting up systems 11, 21–28 shadow adjustments 156 shortcut menus 47 shortcuts.
thumbnails arranging in Browser 32 creating while importing 55 in grid view 71 size of 70, 71, 72, 96 in versions 14 viewing images as 69 on webpages 191 TIFF files 13, 56, 80, 177 time time zones 148 toolbar customizing 45 Full Screen mode 94, 99 tools customizing 45 toolbar buttons 35–38 tools HUDs 103 transferring Libraries 207 projects 15, 67 U Uncover button 168 undoing errors 47 unlocking vaults 206 Unstack command 110 unstacking images 110 Update All Vaults button 205 updating vaults 19, 42, 203, 20
webpages adding pages 188 adding text and titles 188 deleting 188 editing appearance 189 linking to .
