Q: How are plug-in changes recorded?
I use NIK as a plugin. If I make adjustments through NIK, what is the format of the modified file? I expected to see TIFF files in my List View roster. All I see are NEFs (that's Nikon Raw).
Aperture 3, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), running an iMac
Posted on May 16, 2014 3:12 PM
"Plug-in" is simply a streamlined export➞modify➞import operation.
Here, in short form, is how Aperture handles files when using a plug-in. But we must start at the beginning: importing a file into Aperture.
A digital image file
Import
A record in your Aperture database. The visual representation of this record is the Image.
The digital image file becomes the Original and is never altered
Changes you make via adjustments or to metadata are saved as text instructions in the Version file, which is always kept in the Library
Execute "Edit with plug-in"
Aperture creates a new image-format file from the selected Image (Image = Version instructions applied to unaltered Original)
File format is set in Aperture prefs
Aperture creates a new entry in its database.
The new file is the Original. Because these Originals are _not_ inviolable, here in this forum we call them "Quasi-Originals". (I think Ernie Stamper coined the term and first described the behavior.)
Aperture sends this file to the plug-in
Use plug-in
Save your changes
Aperture _overwrites_ the Quasi-Original
Make adjustments or change the metadata
Aperture saves these changes to the Version file. The Quasi-Original is not altered.
Send Image back to the same plug-in
Aperture sends the current Quasi-Original. This file will not show any adjustments you have made.
Use Plug-in
Save your changes
Aperture _overwrites_ the Quasi-Original.
The Image is rendered by applying whatever adjustments you had made to the newly-changed Quasi-Original.
Extra-confusing part:
Duplicate your Image (via the {to me} poorly named command "Duplicate Version")
Aperture creates a new Image
Send this new Image to a plug-in
Aperture creates a _new new_ file based on the Image, makes this another new Quasi-Original, and sends it to the plug-in
At least, that's my understanding. I hope others will correct, modify, extend as needed.
Posted on May 16, 2014 7:07 PM


