Unsupported Image Format

Question

Level 1

140 points

Unsupported Image Format

I'm getting the red box with "unsupported image format" error.

I use:
2) Nikon D70's (NEF)
Intel Core 2 Duo iMac 24"
Aperture 2.1.4

The files with errors will open in Nikon Capture nx2

My Library is managed and on a FW800 1.5TB external hard drive. I have more than 30% free space.

I've searched this forum for a solution and tried Consistency Check, Rebuilding Library, switching views etc... and still have the error.

Is there a solution?

24" White iMac (late 2006) 2.16GHz 3GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jan 10, 2010 6:09 AM

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Answer 1

Kathleen S Author

Level 1

140 points

Jan 10, 2010 6:36 AM in response to Kathleen S

ps.

I decided to see if restoring the vault on a different external hard drive would help. I recently backed up over 23,000 images to the vault and Aperture is only locating 13,000 to restore. Does that mean 10,000 images have been affected?

I have been hesitant to do any OS upgrades because it was working so well with my setup. I do have Leopard and have ordered Snow Leopard but have not switched over yet.

I came to Aperture from iView but I still have that older software. I don't recall having issues with it but kept the catalogs small. I was looking forward to dumping everything into one huge software bin and thought Aperture was up to the task.

Please assist me in finding a solution if you can? This issue has caused some anxiety.

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Answer 2

Kathleen S Author

Level 1

140 points

Jan 10, 2010 10:36 AM in response to Kathleen S

I've combed the net and am unable to find a solution. Here are some other things I've tried today since my initial post.

I created a 'referenced' iPhoto Library with a one year sampling of the same images they were corrupt and looked like 'tye-dye'.

I can view the exact image in Finder and Nikon Capture nx2 and they look fine.

In Aperture 2 I have an "Unsupported Image Format" error for cameras that have been supported (Nikon D70's).

In iPhoto '06 the images import but look like a wet tye-dyed mumbled mess.

I am now importing them into my ancient iView Media Pro 3.1.3 and the look fine. I know it's no longer supported for Apple but it's the catalog that still works???

I imagine I seem desperate making 3 posts with no responses from other members. Well, I think at this point I really am at a total loss. I do not wish to go back to iView Multimedia Pro. I wanted to 'get ready' for a New Year photographically and not clean up this unruly mess caused by software I paid good money for.

I will try and refrain from talking to myself here for the rest of the day at least.

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Answer 3

fijim

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2010 2:09 PM in response to Kathleen S

I have the exact same set up as you as far as computer and Aperture version.
I had been using an earlier Canon 30D which produces a CR2 RAW image.
I just bought the newest canon 7D which also produces CR2 but I to am now getting the same red box with unsupported image!
At times I can get it to appear and read the Metadata but cannot modify the image with any tools. They are all grayed out!

Just started working on this problem today so lets not give up. There must be a reason as it worked before.
I hate to give into any of these problems. Keep trying.

fijim

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Answer 4

Mr Endo

Level 4

1,010 points

Jan 10, 2010 2:35 PM in response to fijim

Fijim,

I would be surprised if your two cameras have the same sensor. RAW files are essentially streams of electrical measurements from your cameras sensors. Every different sensor (I.e., Canon 7d versus Canon 30D versus Nikon D70) has different characteristics, so every sensor needs special software to decode it into RGB to save in a picture file.

Just because Mac OS could decode your 30D does not in any imply it will be able to decode your 7D (unless, of course, Canon built those two cameras with the same exact sensors).

The fact that they both produce CR2 files is inconsequential. That file is a for that C developed to store its newer RAW data. Each camera still needs special software to interpret that CR2 (or NEF in the case of the Nikon). Have you ever used Microsoft Word? Have you ever received a .doc file that your version of Word said was made with a different version of Word, and therefore might not be loaded correctly? Same thing with CR2 files. It's the same file extension, and the same file format, but you still need the right software to load it.

Can you still view your Canon 30D pictures? If so, your problem description is a bit misleading.

Do you have Apple Digital Camera RAW 2.7? It appears you need that for the 7D.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1475

Kathleen, I'm not sure about your problem. I can't find the Mac OS 10.4 RAW update page. I'm not sure if it's the same as the page I pasted above.

nathan

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Answer 5

Kathleen S Author

Level 1

140 points

Jan 10, 2010 2:44 PM in response to Mr Endo

Thanks!

for fijim I found:

** Requires Aperture 2 with Mac OS X v10.5.8 Leopard or Mac OS X 10.6.2 Snow Leopard or later.

for his new 7D so it 'should' work since he has 10.5.8 on his profile thingie...

I was on 10.5.8 on a different iMac and it broke so I am on this one using Tiger. I did try downgrading back to Aperture 2.1.3 but have not been able to test that same year's photos yet.

All I wanted to do today was create a 'best of' album for '09 and set photography goals for 2010. :O( The day got worse from there...

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Answer 6

Kathleen S Author

Level 1

140 points

Jan 10, 2010 2:50 PM in response to Kathleen S

I've had my Nikon D70's since 2003... ? ... Anyway, they're older (6MP) and have been supported in Aperture until a software update... ?

I hope it was the 2.1.4 as I have now downgraded to 2.1.3.

To go lower I think I'll need to re-install the OS. I don't want to do that.

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Answer 7

Kathleen S Author

Level 1

140 points

Jan 10, 2010 3:26 PM in response to Kathleen S

Here's the 10.4 support list. I just bought in at Aperture 2 but it's been supported since I got the software. This is a new issue as of the New Year. I'm fairly certain it was the 2.1.4 upgrade but not positive yet.

http://www.apple.com/aperture/specs/raw.html

There is no * by the D70 under Nikon so 10.4.11 should work.

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Answer 8

Jan 10, 2010 3:31 PM in response to Kathleen S

AFAIK, the newer bodies are only supported by Snow Leopard... yet another way Apple has tried to force us into their new operating system.

7D would fall into this category, but I'm not sure about the D70... that's an old body.

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Answer 9

Kathleen S Author

Level 1

140 points

Jan 10, 2010 3:42 PM in response to John Vandercook

Yes, 2 old bodies that still work! LOL! I just wish they'd continue to work on my computer with Aperture!

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Answer 10

Jan 10, 2010 3:44 PM in response to Kathleen S

hey never said they were bad. I still used a D100 until about a year ago!

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Answer 11

fijim

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2010 5:08 PM in response to Mr Endo

Nathan,

You really sound like you know what your talking about!
Thank you for the support page. It just confirmed that I should be able to work on my Canon 7D Raw Images as I have Aperture 2.14 and I am running OS 10.5.8. From what everything I have read I should be fine. But, I'm not!
The only upgrade that is listed in the download section is 2.6 in June 4, 2009.
How do I know if I have 2.7?
I am able to work on my older 30D RAW images.

It is weird in that I can see the image if I click and hold on the red box "unsupported Image format" and read the metadata but I cannot open the image or do any work on it.

Any more ideas?

Thanks again.

fijim

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Answer 12

mrsnaps

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2010 8:12 PM in response to Kathleen S

I too get the red box of "Unsupported Image Format". I have OS 10.5.8. Aperture 2.1.4 and a Canon 50D. The camera has three RAW versions: Full size, medium & small raw. Aperture displays the full size raw with no problem. The medium & small raw it will not. Same with the quick preview in finder. Oddly, Adobe bridge has no problem displaying any of the formats.

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Answer 13

jinpack

Level 1

14 points

Jan 10, 2010 9:38 PM in response to Kathleen S

Kathleen, you might find the following link helpful:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2290225

I had a mysterious issue where import failed on some of my images, despite none being sRAW (some were JPG) and all bodies I used were supported. The thread I linked above has the answer, and I was able to solve it. Basically, if any of the folders that contain your images (or any folder higher up in that chain) has the "~" character anywhere in its name, Aperture fails to import those pictures, even if they're supported formats.

Also for another user who asked about "small RAW," that's sRAW and it is NOT supported in many other image editing software, not just an issue with Aperture alone. So don't shoot sRAW, the only small image that Aperture can import from your camera is the small/med/large JPG.

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Answer 14

Kathleen S Author

Level 1

140 points

Jan 11, 2010 3:40 AM in response to jinpack

After reading the link I went in and looked more closely at the files.

As it turns out this whole fiasco was 'User Error'. I suspected as much but could not get to the bottom of it.

I went into Nikon Capture nx2 and did some massive batch renaming. I selected .nef as the file extension and asked Capture to over write originals. At the time I failed to realize that I had some jpgs mixed in. Those are the 10,000 messed up files. I am now placing all of the corrupt files into a separate folder and re-batching through Nikon Capture as jpgs and viola! My pictures are back with all of my exif data intact. <BLUSH>

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