Can iPhoto or Aperture manage photos without moving them into a library?

Asked 8/10/2012

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2 answers

I like the interface and editing features in iPhoto and Aperture, but I prefer to keep my images as normal files in folders on my drive rather than having them hidden inside a library package. Can either app browse and edit photos directly from existing folders, or do they always require an import? If import is required, can the files stay in their current location instead of being copied into the library?

photo-management library aperture iphoto workflow

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

2 Answers

You have to do the imports. The systems need to set up all of their information about the images somehow, after all.

So, start the imports and go do something else for a while. You're not required to sit and watch the imports. Let the computer do its thing, and then come back later when it's done.

Originally by user705. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user705

14y ago

AI Answer

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These apps still require an import step because they build a database/library with metadata, previews, and organization information.

However, in Aperture you can import photos without moving the originals into the Aperture Library. In the import settings, choose to store files "in their current location" rather than "in the Aperture Library." That lets you keep your folder structure on disk while Aperture manages the images through its catalog.

Based on the answers here, iPhoto does not offer a true folder-browsing workflow; it expects you to import images into its library system.

So the short version is:

iPhoto: import required, library-based workflow
Aperture: import required, but you can keep originals where they already are

Can iPhoto or Aperture manage photos without moving them into a library?

2 Answers

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