HT204478: How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture

Learn about How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture
Brian Cameron

Q: Does Photos import multiple libraries from Aperture?

I have a very large Aperture file, and I would like to export them to smaller project libraries (e.g., per calendar year), then import each of them into Photos. My concern is that if I attempt to export the large Aperture file, there will be errors, which I hope to minimize by creating smaller, annual project libraries.

 

I am using a early 2016 iMac, with Yosemite OS X. I have the latest versions of Photos and Aperture.

 

I would appreciate any help.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jun 19, 2016 3:10 PM

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Q: Does Photos import multiple libraries from Aperture?

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  • by Rysz,Helpful

    Rysz Rysz Jun 20, 2016 6:46 PM in response to Brian Cameron
    Level 6 (19,763 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 20, 2016 6:46 PM in response to Brian Cameron

    No, although there are third-party apps that allow Photos to be used with multiple libraries.

     

    The best approach is to combine your Aperture libraries into one library before migrating it to Photos.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jun 21, 2016 12:54 AM in response to Brian Cameron
    Level 10 (105,249 points)
    iLife
    Jun 21, 2016 12:54 AM in response to Brian Cameron

    To merge your libraries in Aperture make sure you are seeing the prompt "Add or Merge", otherwise you may create duplicates in the merged libraries.

    sometimes this prompt is missing.  Then it helps to add some duplicate photo intentionally to both libraries to be merged.

    Merging libraries needs plenty of extra storage, much more than the combined size of the libraries to be merged. do it on an external drive with enough free storage.  The drive needs to be formatted MacOS Extended (journaled).

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jun 21, 2016 7:30 AM in response to Brian Cameron
    Level 10 (84,056 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 21, 2016 7:30 AM in response to Brian Cameron

    You probably are going at this backwards and increasing the chances of problems plus making management and usability greatly reduced

     

    what is "a very large" Aperture library?

     

    In general with Photos having one large library is far preferable to having multiple small libraries

     

    And there is no exporting or importing involved - you simply migrate the Aperture library by dragging it to the Photos icon in the Dock - Photos migrates it using very little additional space since it uses Hard Links to link the originals and previews - Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

     

    LN