Separators for Project Thumbs in Browser?

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Level 1

140 points

Separators for Project Thumbs in Browser?

Another question from a new Aperture user:

When I select a folder containing multiple Projects, the Browser (in "full" window mode) shows me all the thumbs for all the Projects contained in that selected folder. And that's great, but is there no way (an option; a preference) to have some sort of visual divider to separate the thumbs of one Project from the thumbs of the next Project? Some sort of title bar with the Project's name and date range appearing above that Project's thumbs -- ideally with a disclosure triangle so that particular group of thumbs can be displayed or collapsed? This seems like an obvious option to have in both Grid View and List View.

But so far I only seem to be able to see the Folder's contents as one long continuous unbroken mass of thumbs, with nothing to indicate when the thumbs for one Project end and the thumbs for the next Project begin. For a program which prides itself on powerful flexibility of organization & presentation this limitation seems... well, kind of surprising.

Hopefully I'm just missing an obvious Browser preference option. Or perhaps there's a workaround -- looking forward to any suggestions.

Thanks,

John Bertram,
Toronto

Mac Pro, 8-core 2.8GHz; 10 GB; GeForce 8800, Mac OS X (10.5.5), Mac user since 1990 (starting on a sleek SE/30)

Posted on Oct 17, 2008 7:41 PM

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Answer 1

rwboyer

Level 4

3,170 points

Oct 17, 2008 7:55 PM in response to John Bertram

no there isn't like a check box or anything like that but it's easy enough to put some info on the thumbnails (ie the project name) check out this PDF and comment with any questions if you don't see what I am talking about.

http://photo.rwboyer.com/2008/08/aperture-and-metadata-display/

RB

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Answer 2

John Bertram Author

Level 1

140 points

Oct 18, 2008 9:23 AM in response to rwboyer

Having every single thumb display its Project Name, in addition to its individual file name, Caption, and whatever else I choose, is certainly a possibility. But I'm looking for something simpler, more elegant, and much clearer -- some kind of separator/title bar for each project's thumbs in the Browser (when multiple Projects are being browsed), with options to show or hide (in large, easy-to-see type) each project's name, its date range, notes about the project, etc.

iPhoto can give you that info for each Event; something similar should at the very least be an option in Aperture. (And especially an app that's now at version 2.1.x) This is a basic interface feature that shouldn't have to be requested, it should've been there in the original Beta (IMHO).

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Answer 3

rwboyer

Level 4

3,170 points

Oct 18, 2008 9:46 AM in response to John Bertram

I am not disagreeing with you at all but...

One of the ways that I have evolved to using Aperture since the beginning is to use various features like metadata display customization etc. with a mindset of dealing with the matter at hand, not with a mind set of how do I set it up for every possible circumstance and then leave it alone.

In this case setting up a metadata display preset of just the project name, activating it as the secondary browser set, and then flipping between just the project name and other data is a single keystroke.

I guess I would rather refinement of this kind of thing and other features before I would like to see a zillion very specific behaviors implemented a la the useless all project iPhoto event simulator mode that I have looked at a grand total of once.

RB

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Answer 4

John Bertram Author

Level 1

140 points

Oct 18, 2008 10:19 AM in response to rwboyer

rwboyer wrote:
In this case setting up a metadata display preset of just the project name, activating it as the secondary browser set, and then flipping between just the project name and other data is a single keystroke.

Having it be the secondary Browser set, as you describe, would definitely be the way to go.

But I'd still much prefer an option in which the thumbs for separate Projects are visually arranged together in distinct, separate groups.

If I were laying out prints on the floor from four different shoots, I would probably start by laying them out in four distinct groups. If I were creating contact sheets from four different shoots, I would probably divide the negs into four separate sheets. And if I were sorting slides from four different shoots, I would probably start by grouping the slides into four separate areas of the light table.

This is how I want my Browser in Aperture to behave -- or at least have the option to behave. The comparison to iPhoto was not meant to reference its Event mode, but rather the Photos mode, where ALL the thumbs for each Event are laid out clearly and cleanly, with the Event title and date range separating each group.

I just think that's a display option Aperture would do well to include. Doesn't even have to be the default -- but at least make it an option.

Cheers,
jb

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Answer 5

rwboyer

Level 4

3,170 points

Oct 18, 2008 10:29 AM in response to John Bertram

Just a thought -

For all of the things that you mention in specific examples I usually use light tables - something that I love but don't seem to see much use by others.

The other feature that I use all the time is the ability to have multiple projects open in different browser tabs sharing the same viewer pane. If you aren't using the multiple browser tabs you might want to give it a shot.

RB

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Answer 6

John Bertram Author

Level 1

140 points

Oct 19, 2008 3:50 PM in response to rwboyer

Rob --

Have started a new question at
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1758892&stqc=true
which relates to some of the things you discuss in your Metadata Display article, mentioned above.

Check it out if you have a second.

Thanks,

jb

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