organizing files help...

I just recently switched from a dell to a mac and can navigate it decently well, but I'm wondering what people have used to best organize their import/edit/export process for their photos. I have the basics as well as lightroom, pshop cs4, and aperture. Right now I import them to iPhoto, then when I want to edit a photo i bring it into pshop and export as a jpeg into some random folder titled by a ton of numbers and then when I try to put together a folder full of the collection I imported (non edits and pshop edits) it's kind of a pain. suggestions?

Well, crap, I had a big post all typed up touting the benefits of Lightroom, but then I went to search for the link to the free Adobe training, and lost everything I typed.

Cliff's notes of my original post: Start using Lightroom, it rocks. Includes almost everything you're already doing in Photoshop, integrates seamlessly with Photoshop for the things that you can't edit in Lightroom, and all-around knocks iPhoto's socks off.

Stop using iPhoto to manage your library, start using Lightroom to manage your library instead. It's way better.

http://tv.adobe.com/sh​ow/learn-lightroom-3

thanks man...I just need to learn where things are stored on my computer bc right now its confusing as hell when I go to share my files and stuff on my flickr or when I want to put them on someones pen drive...just locating the files is confusing lol

Well, that's iPhoto for you. The more I learn about it, the less I like it.

With Lightroom, you control the location/structure/hie​rarchy of your image library. Personally, I have a master photo folder, then a subfolder for each major type of work (portraits, sports, cars, etc), then one or two more levels of subfolders that group photos into shoots (for paid work) or styles (for my personal work). I also use the keywords, which is not too different than the iPhoto keywords system. I've begun using Collections, though not as extensively as some people.

With iPhoto, there are at least three copies of each image - the original, the modified, and the thumbnail. That not only bloats the size of the library, it makes it harder to find the file of the image you want.

Lightroom just keeps the original file, and never actually changes the file. It just keeps a lit of all the edits you've done, and only applies those edits when you view or export the image. The original is never changed. (this is called non-destructive editing).

Lightroom also integrates pretty seamlessly with Photoshop. If there's an edit that you can't accomplish in Lightroom, such as editing Uncle Bill out of the family photo (nobody liked him anyway), you simply right-click the photo then click "Edit in Photoshop." When you're done, save your work and quit Photoshop, and the file will show up automagically in your Lightroom library, right next to the original.

ok so what you are saying is I can import my files from iPhoto into lightroom and then delete all files from iPhoto...correct?

As long as you move or copy them to a new location when doing so, yes.

In Lightroom's Import dialog, it's possible to simply Add the photos to Lightroom, from their current location in the iPhoto library. You probably don't want to do this; if you do, they'll still be organized according to iPhoto's scheme, and if you delete them they'll be gone. Instead of Add, use Move (or Copy, or Copy as DNG) in the Import dialog, to put them into the folder hierarchy that you want.

There might be a tool out there to assist in moving a library from iPhoto to Lightroom, but I haven't ever searched for such a tool.

You got a mac then get Aperture, fantastic value for money from the App store £45 against Lightroom's £210 here in the UK

Both programs will do more or less the same things, it's just a personal preference, for me I hated the Lightroom workflow, other absolutely love it.

Aperture like Lightroom keeps the original file, and a list of all the edits you've done.

With Aperture you can turn the stupid faces off unlike iPhoto.

Free trails of both available.

To echo what others have said, do not use iPhoto.

If you are looking for a workflow tool use either Aperture or Lightroom (for all the bickering that goes back and forth over these two, they are basically the same).

The basic functions of both are exactly what you are looking for and both offer fantastic raw file management and conversion opportunities as well as easy incorporation of full photoshop for your more advanced editing.

I would ultimately, if it were me, on a mac, prefer to use Aperture but that is because you can also use Automator that is built into OSX for expanded batch processing since it is an Apple software that can integrate with other Apple applications where as you seem to be more limited in your batch processing options with lightroom.

whiteflyer wrote in post #12716532
You got a mac then get Aperture, fantastic value for money from the App store £45 against Lightroom's £210 here in the UK

Both programs will do more or less the same things, it's just a personal preference, for me I hated the Lightroom workflow, other absolutely love it.

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I was the same way. When I went all Mac, I tried Lightroom first. Maybe I didn't give it a fair shake, but I couldn't stand it. Aperture just seemed way more user friendly and easy to use. If I need heavy editing, I export to CS4. Works like a champ.