Aperture 3 - File management

gad-westy

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Graham
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I feel that this may be a very simple question but I'm new to aperture and I haven't worked out an answer yet so please humour me.

When I import raw files from my camera directly into aperture I tend to put them into a 'holding' project until I have done a little editing and decided which project I'd like them to end up in. During the import the Raw files automatically end up in a folder on my hard drive with the same name.

All good so far but here's where I get stuck.

Say I have imported 20 images, I may only wish to keep 5 of them so I delete the other 15 from the aperture project. The other 5 I want to move to another project so I can just drag them within aperture to project I wish them to live in. Now as I understand it, the raw files will all still be in the original folder on my hard disk, including the ones I deleted from my aperture project.

How do I ensure that when I drag an image around in aperture, it also moves the file's actual folder location on the hard disk? It's important to me as I want to be able to delete all the raw files in the original import folder knowing that I'm not deleting images that I wish to keep.

Hope that all makes sense.
 
I wasn't aware that the photos were not deleted from my MBP when I command-delete them within Aperture? Will have to check that tonight.
 
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I've just read this on another forum, hope this helps. It also explains why my HDD space has been chewed up more than I had expected.

I looks like if you select file->Delete Master File and All Versions or file->Delete Version then select Aperture->Empty Aperture Trash (with Move Referenced File to Trash selected) it will delete the original file.
 
I wasn't aware that the photos were not deleted from my MBP when I command-delete them within Aperture. Will have to check that tonight.

Well, it may be a setting specific to my set up but it certainly doesn't seem to delete the original raw file on my mac.

This became apparent at the weekend when I tried some water splash shots and fired off nearly 500 shots and wondered where all my hard disk had gone.
 
I've just read this on another forum, hope this helps. It also explains why my HDD space has been chewed up more than I had expected.

Hadn't seen this when I replied. Will take a look tonight. Thank you very much.
 
I wonder if there is also a setting so that it will move the original raw file when I move projects...
 
Still stumped on the file dragging if anyone can help. Sussed the deletion now thanks to Sneeks.
 
Think it may be better to look at your workflow than continue with what you are doing.

You can create folders that you can drag projects into without damaging anything.

This would seemingly be the answer to your problem, and would make more sense, let me try and explain.

You can create a folder called 2011

Within that folder you can have a folder called for example "Water Drops"

You can then drag projects to the correct folder and allow you to see your work on a shoot by shoot level, which then allows you to see your work progressing or how you changed a setup etc. and in terms of photography it would make much more sense to me.
 
Think it may be better to look at your workflow than continue with what you are doing.

You can create folders that you can drag projects into without damaging anything.

This would seemingly be the answer to your problem, and would make more sense, let me try and explain.

You can create a folder called 2011

Within that folder you can have a folder called for example "Water Drops"

You can then drag projects to the correct folder and allow you to see your work on a shoot by shoot level, which then allows you to see your work progressing or how you changed a setup etc. and in terms of photography it would make much more sense to me.

Thanks Ding. That does make some sense. I will have another play around tonight. I'm keen to get my workflow/organisation right before I end up with 10's of thousands of images where I don't want them.
 
I think Carl (ding76uk) has really pointed to the solution. I too have just started to use Aperture (well at $45 why not :) ) so only have a very small structure , but it is as Carl says

Year Folder
Month Folder
Event Folder
Event Projects

5480511402_1cb8f8cb79.jpg
 
Good advice, it's perhaps time for me to arrange my collection of photos into a more structured way.
 
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