Update on October 16, 2014: If the process mentioned below sounds too time consuming, Adobe just released a plug-in that makes it easy to export Aperture photos into Lightroom. The plugin, which requires Lightroom 5.6, preserves the images’ metadata. Click here to download the plug-in, where you’ll also find instructions on how to install it.
With Apple’s decision to discontinue its pro photo management software, Aperture, many die-hard users are feeling abandoned. Adobe, on the other hand, is taking full advantage of this by promoting its Lightroom software as an alternative. Since Apple confirmed that it would no longer develop new versions, Adobe has been courting Aperture users to its Creative Cloud Photography Plan. Its latest effort is a section on its website geared toward helping Aperture users migrate to Lightroom.
Related: Apple calls time on aperture, says photos for OS X is the future
Adobe has created a downloadable PDF guide that helps users export their photos from Aperture to Lightroom. However, it’s not a simple one-click process: Because Aperture processes images differently than Lightroom, any edited work would have to be exported as TIFF files. It’s not overly complicated, but you’ll have to do a bit of work. From there, it guides you in importing all those photos into Lightroom. Of course, the document simply helps you export your photos, but it doesn’t teach you how to actually use Lightroom. Luckily, Adobe has a bunch of online tutorials, like this one on managing your photos.
Although Aperture was considered the superior application between the two, Lightroom gradually received enhancements over the years (including a new version for iPad and iPhone that ties into your desktop workflow) and became more robust, while Aperture stayed stagnant. It’s early to tell how Apple’s new Photos app in OS X will serve the pro community, although it’s been speculated it will be more consumer-driven.
(This article was originally published on August 4, 2014.)
