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Level 1

15 points

Making a logical "path" to referenced HD

I recently transferred my files from an old to a new iMac. I could not get A3 to open on the new machine see thread..https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4975859?answerId=21844612022#21844612022 Leonie helped me get A3 to open but I now have a few images that are offline and also notice that there is a rather convoluted path for the Library I'm using. My referenced images are stored in an external HD called "Aperture Masters." And this worked well on the old machine. I now have two external HDs one, called "Photo Masters," being the backup of the other. With the new iMac, I switched the destination of the images, in the import pane, from Aperture Masters to Photo Masters. I'm quite confused and would be very happy if someone could guide me on the correct procedure. Thanks, jp

This is the location of my present library

This is a new library I created but I cannot get my images to open in it.

The right hand image is an example of a distorted image which I presume is offline.

Posted on Apr 22, 2013 2:10 AM

29 replies

léonie

Level 10

194,935 points

Apr 25, 2013 10:49 PM in response to jay pegg

Yes, all folders, that should contain image files are missing in that library - an empty shell. To search for other Aperture libraries, as David suggested, use Spotlight. Enter ".aplibrary" into the search field and you should see a list of available aperture libraries in the drop down list. If you hover the mouse over an item in this list and press the key combination ⌥⌘ at the same time, you should see the path to the library in the footer of the info panel, like this:

To open a library from that list in Aperture, simply double click it.

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

Apr 25, 2013 11:04 PM in response to léonie

Thank you Leonie. I had managed to work out the spotlight but was unaware that the option>command keys would show the path. Let's see how this works out. I did a complete re-install of OS X hoping it might fix my email and Aperture issues but no luck. jp

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

Apr 25, 2013 11:51 PM in response to léonie

Wow! that works. If nothing else, I'm learning a few computer skills along the way. I'll have to re-install A3 to put this into practice - I need to find the dates for the missing images. I'll keep you posted. jp

léonie

Level 10

194,935 points

Apr 26, 2013 1:17 AM in response to jay pegg

I need to find the dates for the missing images. I'll keep you posted. jp

If you are lucky, Aperture may be able to tell you.

One of the Metadata tags in Aperture is the "Import session".

Select the image where you need to now the import date. Set your "Info" panel to "File Jnfo"- Does it show the "Import Session" tag? I don't remember, if it is shown by default. If not, add it manually by selecting "Edit". Then enable it in the right column in the "Aperture" section.

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

Apr 26, 2013 5:39 PM in response to léonie

There is so much about A3 that I don't know, Leonie. However, its prime purpose is a converter and management system and, not being technically inclined, I only learn enough to get the job done. Let me see if I can put your advice to good practice. Cheers, jp

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

Apr 30, 2013 5:34 PM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie. My apologies for the delay. It is a very busy time for me. Firstly, it seems that I have two libraries with very similar paths - the only difference being the date ...one is April 12 and the other April 18

If I track the red fuzzy image in Masters it comes up looking just fine...

léonie

Level 10

194,935 points

Apr 30, 2013 9:39 PM in response to jay pegg

If I track the red fuzzy image in Masters it comes up looking just fine...

And is the original image in "Masters" o.k. in both your backup libraries, dated April 12 and April 18?

dbmoore

Level 1

105 points

May 1, 2013 5:58 AM in response to jay pegg

Jay are you using a digital med format back to stich images togather? Or are you using layers and masks in another program, Photoshop, to make these nice shots of bottles? I see they are jpgs, so Im assuming you have reduced them and reimported? Unless they are iphone shots. Just trying to understand the origin of your image before or during your AP experience. Thanks

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

May 1, 2013 3:43 PM in response to léonie

Leonie, I can't define two libraries in the finder. If you view the attachment there are three libraries, two are 5MB and have no images and the highlighted one is 86GB, which is the one with images. The "Astro rockpool" image which was fuzzy red yesterday, is a pixelated blur today (in both libraries), and now I notice it is back to the fuzzy red! The image is fine when tracked through to "Masters" in the Finder.

I have used A3 in the last couple of days to process my bottle shots and it has worked perfectly, just like it did with my old computer. It is only the the images brought through from my old to the new iMac that are inaccessible.

There is inconsistency in the way the affected images show up - some are fuzzy, others black and some with just the dotted outline.

I think the problem can be solved but if not, all is not lost. I still have the "unedited" bottle shots and I can always process them again in PS although it is a very time consuming procedure. jp

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

May 1, 2013 4:00 PM in response to dbmoore

Hi db. I'm currently using a D700. I send the images through to PS for editing which may involve multiple layers. The edited image is flattened then clipped (outlined with the pen tool and cut and pasted into a new file). I save the image in jpeg format, then drag this from the finder onto the A3 icon in the dock. The exported images never have layers. As I explained to Leonie, the system works well today and on the old computer too. It is only those images that I transferred from my old to my new iMac that are inaccessible. I'm not sure why the library is on my "CCC" HD because this is HD I've set up with Carbon Copy Cloner to save my computer HD on a daily basis. I have an external HD for my referenced images and I have these images cloned to another HD daily.

I did change the "store files" in the A3 import pane to another HD. However this drive was an exact copy so I presumed it would not make any difference. jp.

dbmoore

Level 1

105 points

May 1, 2013 4:36 PM in response to jay pegg

Jay the reason I asked is that I recognized the thumbnails from when I imported images from PS with layers and masks. Sometimes if you meant to or not and saved a mask as a channel you would get a corrupted thumbnail and then preview. At first it didnt show up but it does eventully. Not sure about paths. Your images are jpgs so no layers, but Id look at the worst offender and look at Channels and paths. If you have extra channels delete them and then re generate thumbnail from AP. Ive used Show in Finder tons of time.. then open it from the finder in PS to check or fix then regenerate thumbnail and preview. Nice Product shots by the way Im a food shooter in AZ. Cheers

dbmoore

Level 1

105 points

May 1, 2013 6:24 PM in response to dbmoore

I doubled check and jpgs can have paths but they dont seem to cause a problem with AP. When a jpg is made from a layered tif or psd the layers and channels are flattened. So unless you have tifs or psd with masks in the channels Id say you just have a corupted files. If you can replace the image thats probaly best. Good luck cheers

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

May 7, 2013 12:10 AM in response to dbmoore

Hi Leonie and db. A bit busy of late. I have been looking over the information on this thread to see where I'm at. Firstly, it would seem that my housekeeping is appalling and is responsible for the mess I'm in. What I have discovered thanks to your help Leonie is that I can find the missing thumbnail in the "Masters," drag it onto the A3 icon and it appears as good as new. For instance in the fuzzy red thumbnail and the "Rockpool" example above, I just need to drag the "Rockpool" onto the A3 icon.

Also, db, I notice "show in Finder" works with the original image but will show "greyed out" when selecting the edited image brought back from PS. However the edited image will show up in the Finder if I track it through "Masters."

I'm still working on this but I will post this reply because I have to go. jp

jay pegg Author

Level 1

15 points

May 9, 2013 5:28 PM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie. I've marked your answer on "how to find Masters" as solving the question. It may not have explained the issue but it allowed me to access the missing images. So, thank you very much. jp

Making a logical "path" to referenced HD