Aperture OR Lightroom?

[billash1]

Need advice, please! I'm considering Aperture and Lightroom for my digital workflow. I have an iMac (pre-Intel).

Does Lightroom work well on Macs? Is it easy to transfer iPhoto files to Lightroom? Which program (Aperture or Lightroom) is better suited for image management.....transferring, sorting, archiving, some editing, RAW and JPEG processing, etc.....

I'm prepared to get either program. Going to both software sites and digging around for info, it sounds like both programs will work for me. However, I'd like opinions of others who use both programs before I purchase one.

Thanks for any feedback I get.

[LWimages]

I used to use Aperture, but recently switched to Lightroom, which suited me much better for my workflow style.

For photo management and versioning, Aperture is much better. Aperture also does not constrict you to a linear workflow: you can manage and edit at any time, where as Lightroom requires you to switch back and forth between management and editing (Library and Design).
If you have multiple monitors, you can take advantage of that with Aperture to display images being edited on the second monitor in full screen, which is awesome.

On the other hand, Lightroom allows you to have multiple libraries easily and is a bit faster for images that are imported but external of the library.

Both work well with Photoshop. Both have trial versions you can test. I would suggest you download them and play around with them to see which works best for you. And both also have video tutorials on their website to get you going.

[AndrewCCM]

Tried both.. I use Lightroom on both PC and Mac now. Love it.

[KeithnFW]

If I have CS3, why would I need lightroom? I tried the demo and like the interface. . . but there are still things that CS3 can do that LR can't. I can't see using 2 programs to do the same job. Maybe I am missing something.

[billbunton]

Bill - Aperture is still better at photo management/DAM than Lightroom. However, on an iMac, especially a pre-Intel iMac, it's not going to run very well. It requires a lot of GPU that's just not available in an iMac. And this isn't just for actual raw processing, it bogs down pretty heavily building previews.

Keith - In a word, DAM. Bridge is a file browser, Lightroom and Aperture are (aspiring to be) full-fledged DAM programs (as well as RAW processing and full photo workflow in many cases).

[LWimages]

Pardon the ignorance, but what does DAM stand for?

[CincoJoe]

Originally Posted by billbunton

Bill - Aperture is still better at photo management/DAM than Lightroom. However, on an iMac, especially a pre-Intel iMac, it's not going to run very well. It requires a lot of GPU that's just not available in an iMac. And this isn't just for actual raw processing, it bogs down pretty heavily building previews.

Keith - In a word, DAM. Bridge is a file browser, Lightroom and Aperture are (aspiring to be) full-fledged DAM programs (as well as RAW processing and full photo workflow in many cases).

That's debatable. Ford or Chevy, Nikon or Canon, Coke or Pepsi...but to say that Aperture is a better DAM is a matter of opinion.

I have personally used both for a long time. I was all about Aperture when it came out and tried Lightroom when it first came out and didn't care for it. However since the updates to Lightroom it's been much improved and absolutely love it. I also love the way it integrates seamlessly Photoshop.

They both have a demo so I suggest you try both for 30 days and see which one you like better.

[CincoJoe]

Originally Posted by louis24x7

Pardon the ignorance, but what does DAM stand for?

Digital Asset Management...fancy term for keeping your crap organized...;)

[Duffy Pratt]

Digital Asset Management. Your pictures are your "Digital Assets". The problem that DAM software tries to solve is how to store, organize, back-up, and maintain a very large collection of digital pictures and their different versions.

Duffy

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by louis24x7

Pardon the ignorance, but what does DAM stand for?

Digital Assist Management.
For sorting and archiving your photo collection.

[LWimages]

Thanks