I have a 3 year old MacBook Pro with MAC OSX 10.6.8, iPhoto ’09 version 8.1.2 and have downloaded two software programs: one is Aperture 3.2 and the other is Photoshop Elements 9 (which I got from a friend who didn’t need it). I am totally happy with the

Before upgrading the Aperture library, go to Pictures folder and copy the library to the Desktop, so you will have a copy if the library upgrade fails. After doing it, upgrade your library without worrying.

First, see if you can use Aperture for what you want to use the application, and then, decide if it's worth for you to install Lightroom

Export those few photos via the File ➙ Export ➙ File Export menu option with Kind = Original to the Desktop. Then import them into the Aperture library. That would keep one copy in your iPhoto library and another in your Aperture library to edit, etc.

You can use Photoshop Elements 9 from within iPhoto as your editor of choice. However, if you edit a raw file in iPhoto with PSE9 the resulting edited version must be saved outside the iPhoto Library and imported back in as a new file. For editing jpegs just do a Save (not a Save As) and it all will be kept within iPhoto.

Using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.

1 - select Photoshop or Photoshop Elememts as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.

2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.

3 - however, if you get the navigation window

that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.

This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..

NOTE: With Photoshop Elements the Saving File preferences should be configured as shown:

I also suggest the Maximize PSD File Compatabilty be set to Always. In PSE’s General preference pane set the Color Picker to Apple as shown:

Note: to switch between iPhoto and PS or PSE as the editor of choice Control (right)-click on the thumbnail and select either Edit in iPhoto or Edit in External Editor from the contextual menu. If you use iPhoto to edit more than PSE re-select iPhoto in the iPhoto General preference pane. Then iPhoto will be the default editor and you can use the contextual menu to select PSE for your editor when desired.

OT

So unless you upgrade to iPhoto '11 version 9.3 and to Aperture 3.3 of newer (which requires an OS upgrade - not sure if uyouor hardware will support the required OS - you need to verify that) you will have two libraries which have no connection to each other - see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5260?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US for more information

Aperture is basically the same as iPhoto in organizing with more options, has more editing power and is much more powerful in working with RAW

Elements is not a place to store and manage photos - it is a photo editor and can be used as an external editor for either iPhoto or Aperture

Many people find that Aperature eliminates the need for PSE totally or almost totally

Lightroom is a replacement for either iPhoto or Aperture and can nto be used with the database of either, does not integrate into the OS and other programs like iPhoto and Aperature and is more expensive - is it strictly a personal choice - the poeple have chossen not to use it - if you go to the LR forums the people there will have chossen to use it

IMHO if you can your best solution is to upgrade to iPhoto '11 version 9.3 and Aperature 3.3 and get the best of all worlds

LN

It will upgrade your library to be able to use it with this Aperture version, so do it without worrying about what will happen, always that you have backed up the library on a different folder

What ever - you pays your money and you makes your choice

iPhoto '11 is just fine - I've read stores about people who won the lottery and weren't happy - but if I win I'll still take the money

Since you are changing it my personal advice is to do it the best way which IMHO is to go to iPhoto '11 version 9.3 and Aperature 3.3 or newer

THat is what I have and I am very happy - you do what ever you want

LN

1. Yes.

Most Simple Back Up

Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.

Slightly more complex:

Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate

2. You'll have a copy of the Library on another drive, so, yes. Twice as much space used, but spread over two drvies.

3. As you have iPhoto 09, no.

4. Yes.