Use an external editor

If you need to perform more advanced image operations, such as compositing, you can set an external editor for use within Aperture. First you have to specify which application Aperture should use and the file format (TIFF or PSD). You only have to do this once. Then you select a photo and choose a menu command to have the photo open in the application designated as the external editor. You can also set an external editor for audio and video files.

Set an external editor for photos in Aperture

Choose Aperture > Preferences, and click Export.
Click the Choose button to the right of the External Photo Editor field, navigate to an application in the Select Application dialog, and click Select.
The application’s name appears in the External Photo Editor field.
Choose the appropriate file format (TIFF or PSD) from the External Editor File Format pop-up menu, and enter a resolution in the dpi field.
This is the file format Aperture uses when opening files in external editors.

Tip: It’s a good idea to choose the 16-bit option for the External Editor file format because the greater bit depth allows each pixel to express an exponentially larger number of colors and helps reduce color clipping and banding.

Set an external editor for audio and video files in Aperture

Choose Aperture > Preferences, and click Export.
Do either or both of the following:
- To set an external editor for audio files: Click the Choose button to the right of the External Audio Editor field, navigate to an application in the Select Audio Application dialog, and click Select.
  The application’s name appears in the External Audio Editor field.
- To set an external editor for video files: Click the Choose button to the right of the External Video Editor field, navigate to an application in the Select Video Application dialog, and click Select.
  The application’s name appears in the External Video Editor field.

Use an external editor in Aperture

Select an item in the Browser.
Choose Photos > Edit with External Editor (or press Shift-Command-O).
Aperture duplicates the original, converts the duplicate to the chosen file format, and opens the new file in the external editor. The file is tracked as a new original stacked with the previous original.
When you’ve finished modifying the image, audio, or video file in the external application, save the file.

The saved file is automatically updated in Aperture.