Canoe Paddler

I am a holdover user of Aperture despite Apple having abandoned the program. I like the combination of editing tools and essentially a database that can be organized in projects and albums. When Apple pulled the plug I had thousands of photos in my library. I continued to use Aperture with no problems and recently added Luminar to my bag of tricks. Luminar worked seamlessly with Aperture and made photo enhancing an easy task.

Though I know better from prior experience, I bumbled into updating my OS to Apples' latest, Sierra. The upgrenade road was bumpy, but after a day of fooling around with my computer I got Sierra up and running. I launched Aperture and had to hunt for the correct library. When my library showed up I was relieved that it appeared to run normally - that was until I tried to view any of may photos in any view other than thumbnails. None of the other views work making it essentially impossible to do any reasonable editing. It is still possible to use Luminar as a plug in for editing, but the Luminar program has to be running first before you can switch to it using the "Edit with Plug-in" menu item in Aperture.

At this point it appears that I am stuck using Aperture strictly as a database and Luminar for any serious editing. Since my photos are all arranged in the Aperture filing system I don't see any way of preserving the filing system and moving to some other program. I am not an Adobe fan so that leaves Lightroom out. I am told that the Luminar folks plan to add a database feature to Luminar. I am hoping that is not just a rumor.

There probably aren't too many Aperture holdovers on this Forum, but thought I would post this as a heads up to any other users who might be tempted to switch to the Sierra OS.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Yep, once Apple abandoned Aperture it was/is only a matter of time before an OS upgrade would break or cripple Aperture. I switched from Aperture to Lightroom CC within a week of Apple's announcement regarding dropping Aperture. Since Lightroom is a raw converter, parametric Editor, AND a DATABASE, the move was easy from Aperture. Once my Aperture files were moved into Lightroom it was smooth sailing, and still is.

IMHO - Never worth holding onto an old OS - eventually you are forced to move up. Technology moves forward, not backwards, so better to move with it, especially if connected to the internet.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Try transferring your Aperture library to Photos. Photos has improved over time as an editor and Luminar can be used as an extension in Photos.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I just began using Affinity Pro for my MacBook. I am still on the up part of the learning curve but it appears to be a very robust option. I still use Aperture-- and I'm not a fan of Photos.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

My Wife uses Aperture with the latest Sierra update and no issues as yet. I'm also looking for something to replace Aperture for her - she isn't interested in what I use (CS6 and Affinity Photo) as being too complex. I know several others for whom Aperture was perfect and they can't find a suitable replacement.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Give Macphun Luminar a look. You may like it too.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Will do - thanks.

P.Beau Loc: EG.RI

Mac: I am an Aperture user/holdout as well. I shoot in RAW and it lets me have them saved as such, edits keep the original RAW file. Like others I do have Luminar. My ?: if the photos go to Photos how do I maintain their RAW format or is it automatic. Will I/we lose the organizing of files-albums from over the years. New to Luminar, does it just PP or help w/organizing. thanks for your thoughts

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Photos accepts raw just fine. I do it all the time.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

P.Beau
I used Aperture for many years before switching to Photos and I shoot in RAW. When you move to the Photos Library the RAW format is automatically maintained.
When I made the switch, any changes that were made to the original in Aperture became permanent, so clicking "Revert to Original" only returned to the way the file was when moved to Photos. Check with Apple to see if this has changed over time. If not, if you want to keep the ORIGINAL original you will have to "Revert to Original" before moving them to Photos then re-adjust them in Photos, or keep the changes you made in Aperture as the new original.
Organization is much different from Aperture. I prefer the "Aperture Way" of organizing to the "Photos Way", but I have gotten used to it. When you move to Photos, Aperture albums are kept, but subfolders are moved to a separate Photos folder named Aperture Projects. Again this may have changed since I switched so it's another thing to check with Apple about.
Luminar does not do any organization, it is only PP, but Luminar (and other Macphun PP programs) show as extensions in Photos, so they go to Photos organization.

I hope this helps you, any more questions just ask.

Bob Boner

Photos is a disaster. iPhotos was better. When I upgraded to El Capitan OS, Photos deleted 4 slide shows I had put together to show in nursing homes.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Photos isn't a disaster.

P.Beau Loc: EG.RI

Mac, thanks for all the details. I do have photos and when i import they are jpegs so that is why i worried. Photos is a different program w.o all bells and nice whistles Aperture had but Luminar does it better. I have all my materials on back up drives so will add them there for Original Saves. then go to Photos. again really appreciate your effort and information.

whitewolfowner

If you were happy with what you had before the upgrade, a simple solution would be to get an external hard drive and load your older OS system on it and run Aperture with that.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.