Export using the Export command

When you need more control over export formats than dragging provides, the File > Export command gives you a variety of options:

  • Export versions: You can export versions of photos with the adjustments and other changes you’ve applied.

  • Export originals: You can export copies of the original files that you imported into Aperture.

  • Export audio and video: You can export audio or video clips that you’ve imported.

  • Export Aperture projects, albums, and folders: You can select parts of your library, such as specific projects, folders, or albums and export them as a new Aperture library. You can then open that separate library in Aperture or transfer that library to another computer that has Aperture installed.

  • Export using third-party plug-ins: You can also use third-party plug-ins to automate the export process.

  • Export metadata associated with photos in a separate file: You can select photos and export the IPTC metadata assigned to them in a tab-delimited text file.

Export versions of photos

You can export photo versions that you’ve created in Aperture. For example, you might make adjustments to images for a specific purpose and then export them for use in another application. You can also rename photos when exporting them, make minor adjustments on export, add watermarks, and export photos with metadata. You can also quickly export photos to your email application to send them to others.

When you export photo versions, you can specify settings for the exported files, such as format, size, and filename.

Note: You can set Aperture to always include location information and names assigned to faces when exporting your photos. For more information about including Places and Faces information with your photos, see Export preferences.

  1. Select a photo or photos in the Browser.

  2. Choose File > Export > Versions (or press Shift-Command-E).

  3. In the dialog that appears, navigate to the location where you want the exported photos placed.

    Figure. Controls in the Export dialog.
  4. Choose an export preset from the Export Preset pop-up menu.

    For more information, see Work with export presets.

  5. Do one of the following:

    • Choose None from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu to store the versions as separate files in the selected folder.

    • Choose a folder name preset from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu to have Aperture create a hierarchy of subfolders with specific folder names to hold your files. For more information, see Export photos into named or numbered folders.

    • Choose Custom Name or Custom Name with Counter from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu, then enter a custom folder name in the Custom Subfolder Name field.

  6. Choose a name format for your files from the Name Format pop-up menu.

    If you choose a Custom Name format, enter a name in the Custom Name field. For more information, see Rename photos at export.

  7. If you want to be notified when the export process is complete, select the “Show alert when finished” checkbox.

  8. When you’re ready to export files, click Export Versions.

    The photos you selected are exported to the location you specified. If you selected the “Show alert when finished” checkbox, a dialog appears displaying the number of versions exported and the file path. If you want Aperture to open the Finder to the location where you exported your versions, click the Reveal in Finder button. Otherwise, click OK to close the dialog.

    Note: If you want to check the progress of an export operation, choose Window > Show Activity. You can also use this window to pause or cancel an export operation.

Export copies of originals

When you export originals, duplicates of the files that were imported from your camera or other source are created; no adjustments, file modifications, or any other changes are exported with the file.

  1. Select a photo or photos in the Browser.

  2. Choose File > Export > Originals (or press Shift-Command-S).

  3. In the dialog that appears, navigate to the location where you want the exported files placed.

  4. Do one of the following:

    • Choose None from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu to store the originals as separate files in the selected folder.

    • Choose a folder name preset from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu to have Aperture create a hierarchy of subfolders with specific folder names to hold your files. For more information, see Export photos into named or numbered folders.

    • Choose Custom Name or Custom Name with Counter from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu, then enter a custom folder name in the Custom Subfolder Name field.

  5. Choose a name format for your originals from the Name Format pop-up menu.

    For more information about selecting and setting up filenaming formats, see Rename photos at export. Aperture shows an example of the selected name format in the dialog.

  6. To export the originals with IPTC metadata, do one of the following:

    • To write IPTC metadata into the original: Choose Include IPTC from the Metadata pop-up menu.

    • To create an XMP sidecar file that contains the photo’s IPTC metadata: Choose Create IPTC4XMP Sidecar File from the Metadata pop-up menu.

  7. If you want to include audio attachments with your exported original files, select the Include Audio Attachments checkbox.

  8. If you want to be notified when the export process is complete, select the “Show alert when finished” checkbox.

  9. When you’re ready to export your files, click Export Originals.

Copies of the originals for the selected photos are exported to the location you specified. If you selected the “Show alert when finished” checkbox, a dialog appears displaying the number of originals exported and the file path. If you want Aperture to open the Finder to the location where you exported your originals, click the Reveal in Finder button. Otherwise, click OK to close the dialog.

Export versions of audio and video clips

You can export edited versions of audio and video clips brought into Aperture. If you trimmed the length of the audio or video clip, the new edited length is exported along with any metadata you applied in Aperture.

  1. Select audio or video clips in the Browser.

  2. Choose File > Export > Versions (or press Shift-Command-E).

  3. In the dialog that appears, navigate to the location where you want the exported audio or video files placed.

    Figure. Controls in the Export dialog.
  4. Do one of the following:

    • Choose None from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu to have the clips stored as separate files in the selected folder.

    • Choose a folder name preset from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu to have Aperture create a hierarchy of subfolders with specific folder names to hold your files. For more information about creating folders to hold your exported audio and video files, see Export photos into named or numbered folders.

    • Choose Custom Name or Custom Name with Counter from the Subfolder Format pop-up menu, then enter a custom folder name in the Custom Subfolder Name field.

  5. Choose a name format for your files from the Name Format pop-up menu.

    If you choose a Custom Name format, enter your custom name in the Custom Name field. For more information on renaming audio and video files at export, see Rename photos at export.

  6. If you want to be notified when the export process is complete, select the “Show alert when finished” checkbox.

  7. When you’re ready to export files, click Export Versions.

    The audio or video clips you selected are exported to the location you specified. Clip file formats are not changed or compressed. If you selected the “Show alert when finished” checkbox, a dialog appears displaying the number of versions exported and the file path. If you want Aperture to open the Finder to the location where you exported your clips, click the Reveal in Finder button. Otherwise, click OK to close the dialog.

    Note: If you want to check the progress of an export operation, choose Window > Show Activity. You can also use this window to pause or cancel an export operation.

Export projects, folders, and albums in a new library

You can select and export any combination of projects, folders, and albums in the Library inspector. Aperture consolidates the selected items into an Aperture library and places it in the location of your choosing. After exporting the item selection as an Aperture library, you can either open the new library and work within it, or you can merge the library into the library of another Aperture system.

For more information about opening Aperture libraries, see View other libraries. For more information about merging Aperture libraries, see Merge libraries.

  1. In the Library inspector, select the items you want to export, then choose File > Export > Items as New Library.

    Note: The name of the command changes depending upon your selection.

  2. Enter a name and choose a location for the exported library.

  3. Do any of the following:

    • If your project contains referenced images and you want the original files available to the new Aperture system: Select the “Copy originals into exported library” checkbox to copy the original image files into the new library file.

    • If you want to copy the previews into the new library so that you don’t have to rebuild them on the new Aperture system: Select the “Copy Previews into exported library” checkbox.

    • If you want Aperture to alert you when it has finished building the new library: Select the “Show alert when finished” checkbox.

  4. Click Export Library.

Aperture consolidates the selected items into a library and exports the library file to the location you chose.

Export photos using a third-party plug-in

Some applications, social networking sites, and photography services supply plug-ins that allow Aperture to export files automatically with the format and settings the application or service requires. For example, a stock photography service or print lab may require that photos be transferred at a specific size, in a specific file format, or with particular types of metadata. Such a service can create its own plug-in that automatically sets up Aperture to export files with precisely the characteristics the service needs.

To use an export plug-in, you must first obtain the plug-in software from the service or application vendor and install it. You can find a list of available plug-ins by connecting to the Internet and choosing Aperture > Aperture Plug-ins. Installed third-party plug-ins for Aperture are stored on your computer in the following location: /Library/Application Support/Aperture/Plug-ins/Export/.

  1. Select the photos you want to transfer.

  2. Choose File > Export, then choose the plug-in that you want to use.

Export photo metadata in a text file

You can select photos and export the IPTC metadata assigned to them in a tab-delimited text file. The text file also lists the version names, ratings, keywords, and color labels assigned to the photos in Aperture.

For more information about IPTC metadata, see About IPTC metadata.

  1. Select the photos whose metadata you want to export.

  2. Choose File > Export > Metadata.

  3. Enter a name for the text file in the Save As field, select the location where you want the file stored, then click Export Metadata.

Aperture exports the metadata information as a standard Unicode text file that you can open and use with any application that uses text files.