EAM Loc: Milwaukee W

Here's the situation
I have 2 1 TB flash drive with 70K photos.
I use Aperture to edit.
WHAT is the step by step process to:
1. Upload and subscribe to Lightroom
2. Transfer my images to Lightroom
In doing so, do I lose all my edits? (I had heard that happens)
In what format (RAW? jpg?) do the photos transfer to Lightroom?
What does the organization/library look like?
Do I lose all my albums titles?
Are they transferred by date?
Do I have options on how I want the photos to be transferred? i.e. in order by date

ANY simple step-by-step process would be so appreciated.
Thank you!

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

With respect to library/organization, I suspect Lightroom (or any other cataloging program) has only the EXIF data around which to organize. If you have other criteria for organizing, such as subject, location, etc, LR will not know them. I am not an LR expert, so others might disagree.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

1. You go to the adobe website and subscribe to the PHotoshop CC plan - $120/yr or $10 monthly. Creative cloud offers a one month trial so the first year you get 13 months for the price of 12.

2. http://landing.adobe.com/en/na/products/creative-cloud/54511-aperture-switcher.html
https://photoapps.expert/tips/2015/2/27/lightroom-photo-importing-through-aperture-eyes#.V7xsvvkrLmE
http://lightroomkillertips.com/10-things-aperture-users-need-to-know-about-lightroom/

Your images can remain where the are on your drive - Lightroom will identify them and add them to the catalog. Nothing actually "goes into" Lightroom.

You might want to consider the following workflow once you have gotten LR to recognize all of your images and edits.

Shoot raw.
Use LR to import your raw files, into the folder of your choice.
Use LR to cull, rate and select images for editing
Edit to the fullest extent possible in LR.
Use the Edit In command (right click on image) to open PHotoshop so you can put your finishing touches on the image. It will be a 16 bit PSD file in ProPhoto colorspace.
When you return to LR, the image will be updated on the strip on the bottom reflecting all the changes made while in PS.
When you are ready to send a copy of the image to your printer, lab, email, social media, photo competition, etc etc etc - it will likely be a jpeg, sRGB color space, 80% quality, and sized (length and width in pixels) - as required by the destination. Use a preset (which you can save for future use) to Export the image - once the image reaches it's destination, you have no further use for the jpeg, so you can delete it. If you need a jpeg again, it usually takes a second or two to create a new one. This reduces clutter, versioning, space requirements, etc on your drive. Never edit a jpeg - it will not look as good as editing the psd version.

KennyMac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

1. Adobe is pushing their "CREATIVE CLOUD" package for photography which contains Lightroom & PhotoShop for $9.99/month. The programs are downloaded like any other and reside on your computer. Not sure what versions of LR are still available outside of "CC", check Amazon. Suggest you go to Adobe.com for more info.

2. You do not actually xfer images to LR, you will be creating a catalog (database) telling LR where images reside. You can structure the catalog (library) any way you like to fit your usage. I suggest you spend time getting a good understanding of LR organization/catalogs before to do anything ! There is tons of free info, plus many good Ebooks & videos that yoou can buy.
Ken

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Copy your photos to a directory on your HD, wherever you want. Open Lightroom, in Library, click on Import. Are your files currently RAW or JPG formats? Highlight your HD folder on the left pane, select all images and have LR Copy as DNG if in RAW format (DNG is Adobe's open source RAW format) or Copy if in JPG format.

No changes will be made to your previously edited images during the import process. With 70k photos, go have a cups something, it'll take a while.

cmoroney Loc: Pasadena, California

I suggest using the "Aperture Exporter" software available from the App Store. I am using this to migrate my extensive Aperture collection into Lightroom and it's working like a charm.

Launch Aperture Exporter and it will ask you what Aperture Library (I have many!) you want to export
Launch Aperture with the specific library
AE will export into the directory location you give it, creating a separate subfolder for each project/event in your Aperture Library. You have the options of creating a jpeg for every RAW image (modified or not), or only the ones that have been edited.
Once the export is finished, launch LR and import (I select "copy" to have the projects organized into a different structure within LR but if you like the AE folder structure you can simply choose "link") each project folder individually.
All of your keywords are automatically preserved.

Using AE gives me the option of completely reorganizing my Aperture Library into a different folder structure within LR. I organize by place, with "yyyy/yyyy-mm-dd" subfolders automatically created by LR. Using the LR export doesn't give you any of this flexibility.

If you chose to "copy" your images into LR during the import process, you can then delete the AE created folder after the import is complete. But, if you chose "link" DO NOT DO THIS!! LR is a database software and it does not actually import the pictures: it merely populates a database with links to your pictures. This is very different from Aperture, but I much prefer the LR philosophy as that gives me the freedom to organize my catalogue exactly how I want it.

Good luck!

Catherine

EAM Loc: Milwaukee W

Thank you and others for your explanations. The app is news to me and makes sense.

I have a new 2 TB hard drive. Do I move all photos from the two 1 TB to the new one?
Would that become the Lightroom library/ repository?

I have a MacBook Pro. Does that " hold" the LR directions? I don't understand where everything is located or being directed to.

I need a Prilosec before I start this process.

I still need more of a breakdown outlining each specific step. Is there a recipe out there that's simple to understand?

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

The Lightroom Catalog, or database, holds records of all your edits, changes, etc you make while in the Lightroom program. This will reside on a folder on your HD someplace. Lightroom will periodically, on exit, prompt you to make a backup to a targeted directory, which could be on your external drive or wherever your backups are.

You can keep your photos wherever you want. personally I would keep them on the MacBook's HD and use some iOS backup software to make, well, backups.

Get Scott Kelby's Photoshop book, it makes it very clear and easy to understand.

Roger Lee

I'll repeat and add to other replies. Lightroom doesn't store files it only files them according to edits and location which is why I don't use the program anymore. My files are constantly upgraded and moved and telling lightroom where all this is, is disheartening. From what little I know, Lightroom depends on file location, change it and you're in trouble.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Amazon was offering it for about $95 for a year.

FrumCA

Do you have LR now? If not, you may want to try out the free trial so you understand it a little better. The transfer process is pretty simple once you do. Gene51's workflow explanation would be a good one to experiment with. And rgrenaderphoto's advice about backing up is essential!!

IowaGuy Loc: Iowa

Wow! A cookbook for all of LR?

First, get LR installed. Then make a library called Test. Copy a small set of images to a folder called - say "TestImages" and then import this set of images into LR trying all the various methods (ADD, COPY,MOVE, etc.). Make sure you understand where the images will end up. Also learn how to rename images and use keywords -- (especially keywords).

Then and only then, move your library over as RAW images. You may (probably will) lose your edits, but if you have RAW data you will be able to move forward with your images to a degree not imagined with Aperture unless you only want snapshots.

Again, first learn the product! Video courses (Kelby One? , Lynda.com, Laura, Anthony Morganti, Abode itself), books (especially Jeff Schewe's book "The Digital Negative"), and anyone in your area that others look to as the go to person for LR.

EAM Loc: Milwaukee W

AN UHH responder wrote

Roger Lee Joined: Mar 27, 2014 Posts: 105

"I'll repeat and add to other replies. Lightroom doesn't store files it only files them according to edits and location which is why I don't use the program anymore. My files are constantly upgraded and moved and telling lightroom where all this is, is disheartening. From what little I know, Lightroom depends on file location, change it and you're in trouble."

What does he mean that the files are "Moved"? It sounds like when I change the kitchen around and my husband can't find where I 've moved things to. Is this LR behavior arbitrary? I have 70K photos and fear I'd have to relabel all or begin to organize from photo 1 and on.
The whole process seems daunting. Wish there were a GENIUS desk somewhere to make an appt with!

I think the trial test images process sounds smart.

Roger Lee

Just keep your files in the same place and you should be fine. I don't so there lies my issue.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

Change it from within Lightroom and you have no problem. Just don't move photos in any other manner.
Bud