Aperture Viewer opens a different image to the one selected

Hi Léonie, I can answer some of those questions now, still at work, and the others later when I am home.

"Can you export the original files of the selected image with "File > Export"? If yes, do the originals open in Preview without the problem?"

I was actually opening the images to decide which ones to export as versions for a project but when this problem occurred I simply selected the most likely thumbnail and exported successfully. I cannot recall whether I exported from the distorted pixellated image or the default image, probably not, but I can try that later.

"Are your images RAW files or JPEGs?"

JPEG & RAW with JPEG as the master because I had a problem a couple of years ago with RAW as master, when changing the origination from landscape to portrait or left to right facing. Apple advised me at the time to use the JPEG as master but I shoot and import both images and they are 'referenced' files, the reason my Aperture libraries are so large is because they actually contain all the images imported.

"Where are your Aperture Libraries stored?"

The libraries I was accessing are stored on a 4TB internal drive given over entirely to photography.

I also have a complete set of the libraries on a large external Lacie Rugged drive with I take with me into the field along with the MBP. That drive and the MBP are with me now and were working fine.

"Does it happen to all libraries?"

It happened first in a 300GB library so then I tested several other libraries of 500GB, 90GB and 5GB, it happened in every library I opened.

I don't know what "on-screen proofing" is so I would say probably not!

I showed a screen grab of the pixellated image to a friend and he said he thought it looked like a failing graphics card. I have just replaced one of the two graphics cards in this mini tower with a brand new one. I am running a NVIDIA GeForce GT120 from 2015 and an ATI Radeon HD 5770 which is only months old. When I get home I can try to determine which card is running Aperture, my two displays run one of each card.

Okay Léonie, I am now home so I double-clicked on a thumbnail and it opened a different image, the image whose thumbnail I had clicked on previously, as if it were a memory and always defaulted to that image in Viewer. I then did an export while this 'default image' was in Viewer and the image that ended up on my desktop was the right image, the image from the thumbnail I had clicked, not the one that opened in Viewer. It is very strange.

Regarding on-screen proofing, I found it in View but I can't tell if it is enabled or not, the shortcut is 'opt shift P' not 'opt cmd P' according to the menu, but if I key those in I see no difference.

Underneath there is a right-side menu Proofing Profile so does that mean it is activated?

I am looking at other points you raised now I'm home.

Hi Léonie, I think I am way behind you here. I finally managed to log in with my test account but it took a while as I'd forgotten the password, I have used it so rarely.

I opened Aperture and one of the libraries I've had issues with. All the thumbnails had R badges for RAW when I thought it should have been J (pls. remind me how to turn those annoying badges off, I don't use them in my main account libraries).

I clicked a thumbnail in Browser to open in Viewer and it was plain white, same in Split View.

Right now I am back in my proper user account and just opened Aperture again.

In Browser I clicked several thumbnails and this time everyone opened in Viewer with the correct image, no pixellation, no default image, so what gives, has my little jaunt over to my dark side jogged Aperture to work correctly again, and if so, for how long.

I will post this and read your more recent posts below and respond. Mark

Just remind me how to reboot in safe mode.

I just remembered something I had to do to be allowed access to Aperture in the test user account.

I had to repair permissions to gain access.

I have done that several times in my own user account to no avail but maybe doing it in a different account fixed it.

I just opened another library and it worked fine, then another and back to the default image issue again.

Onscreen proofing was not ticked.

I then selected Apple RGB, went back to check and onscreen proofing was now ticked.

I turned it off.

I closed Aperture, reopened it and clicked on a thumbnail, what appeared was a mishmash or purple and bits from a library I checked earlier, not even an image from the library I have open.

I thought it was fixed but it seems worse than ever now.

So where am I now, I am back in my user account, I binned the plist again, repaired permissions and booted Aperture.

Initially it worked fine, opening the selected thumbnails, then in another library it started to pixellate again, then back to the previous library, all fine, back to the pixellating library, fine, another two libraries, fine, fine.

So at this moment Aperture is performing properly again, but for how long, and what to do if it has another hissy-fit, that is the question, because I don't honestly know what I've done that fixed it.

The MacPro accesses libraries on an internal 4TB drive, the MacBook Pro accessed the libraries on the external Lacie which I carry with me. Same libraries but different copies.

I have repaired permissions and done the rebuilds but I'm happy to do them again if you think I ought.

As for generating new thumbnails and previews, given that they have been the issue that might be a good idea, except it is working again now so do I want to rock the boat. I also couldn't locate the "Image" menu.

"As to the "J" and "R" badges: YOu enable or disable badge overlays from the View menu: View > Metadata, then select "Customize"." - yes I've been there but in Aperture in this user account they are not visible because I turned them off (deleted them) already.