Switching to Mac - software required?

[bdtracey]

Hi there,

I placed my order online yesterday for a 27" iMac. Right now I'm running Photoshop Elements on my PC but will likely need to get something for the Mac. Elements is alright but not exactly user friendly. I can stumble my way through the most basic fixes but there is no way that I'm using it to the full extent. "The Missing Manual" helped a lot and provides good reference.

What would you guys suggest to get for additional software?

Also, how does Topaz Labs work with Mac?

Thanks!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Welcome to the mac family.



I jumped over to the mac in 2009 when I started doing iPhone development. It will take some getting used to at first but you should enjoy it.

I have not gotten Apeture or Lightroom yet on my Mac. I do have Elements on it and it runs pretty well. The Topaz plugins work just as well on the mac (as far as I can tell) as they do on the PC.

One helpful hint I could give you......don't bother with the Apple Magic Mouse. I couldn't figure out how to do anything with the Mac because I couldn't right click on anything (apple mice don't have seperate right and left clicks). The Operating system does support right clicking on folders and such, so if you plug in a standard PC mouse it will work just fine.

Also, make sure you get TIME MACHINE set up correctly. Best backup software I've ever had the experience of using.

 

[wbeem]

Hi there,

I placed my order online yesterday for a 27" iMac. Right now I'm running Photoshop Elements on my PC but will likely need to get something for the Mac. Elements is alright but not exactly user friendly. I can stumble my way through the most basic fixes but there is no way that I'm using it to the full extent. "The Missing Manual" helped a lot and provides good reference.

What would you guys suggest to get for additional software?

Also, how does Topaz Labs work with Mac?

Thanks!

I use Aperture to organize my photos and do some minor editing. Then I have Photoshop CS5 for most of my photo editing. I have the full Topaz suite and it works fine. Same with the Nik Software suite and OnOne Perfect Suite.

You may want to look at Pixelmator on the Mac App Store. It was their App of the Year and it's only $30. Seems to have a lot of great user reviews. Since I have Photoshop, I didn't get it, but it sounds like it may be worth your while to investigate.

 

[photo_chick]

If you feel like Photoshop Elements is too complicated for you, try out iPhoto. It used to come already installed on iMac's, not sure if it still does. It's simple to use and can handle basic editing.

Lightroom comes in the box ready to go for both PC and Mac, so if you go that route it will work on both. It's great for those of us who are bi-platform and bounce back and forth between them.

 

[ukstitch]

Personally I'd highly recommend aperture for organisation and light editing - there's a 30 day trial available to see if you like it. It's also available for a very good price of about $80.

I used it for quite a while, though I've now moved across to lightroom because it fits the way I work better and I was able to get hold of an education copy to keep the price down.

If you don't edit much at all then iPhoto may well be suitable (and free) - just be aware that every version you edit makes a copy of the whole file so it quickly fills up your disk if you edit lots of photos (e.g. a basic crop of every photo = 2 copies of every photo).

 

[wbeem]

I'm not sure if that's true anymore. I use Aperture, which creates Versions when you edit. It's not a copy, but rather just the instructions to the edits you made. I thought that iPhoto did the same thing.

I just loaded a Nikon NEF file into iPhoto here and made some edits. Can't see any indication of another file or version. It maintains an ability to Undo the changes. I tend to think it's still using the original file, but only displaying according to the Crop & other adjustments I made.

 

[ukstitch]

I'm not sure if that's true anymore. I use Aperture, which creates Versions when you edit. It's not a copy, but rather just the instructions to the edits you made. I thought that iPhoto did the same thing.

I just loaded a Nikon NEF file into iPhoto here and made some edits. Can't see any indication of another file or version. It maintains an ability to Undo the changes. I tend to think it's still using the original file, but only displaying according to the Crop & other adjustments I made.

Interesting - I've just looked for personal interest and it does appear that they've "fixed" this recently (the apple support document for iPhoto '09 suggests it used to work as I described), but '11 does indeed work by creating a small version file.

Interestingly, there's still "traces" of the old way of working in the iPhoto library - there's still a masters folder and an original folder, but the original folder is now nothing more than a link to the masters folder meaning it doesn't fill your disk up now.

 

[bdtracey]

Thanks for all of the input! The biggest pain I found with Elements was that I used it solely for editting and then did all of my organizing in Windows Explorer. It would be really nice to use one program for editting and organizing. I know that Elements can do it but I really didn't like the way it worked.

I think I'll give Aperature a try and if it looks good I'll pick up the full version. It looks like the Topaz filters can all be run on Aperature which is good because I enjoy tinkering with them.

Cheers!!!

 

[wbeem]

Aperture will let you do a lot of basic photo editing - more than most users actually know. It also supports plenty of plugins. I've been using it for years, so let me know if you have questions about it.

One of the first things you'll have to decide is if you want to store your photos in Managed or Referenced mode. Managed means that they're kept in a database format. Referenced means you have to put them in file folders and keep a catalog so Aperture can refer to them. If you move them out of a folder without using Aperture, it'll get confused (same with Lightroom).

My own preference is to use Managed. You can easily backup your photos that way within Aperture, and you can export the original (Master) anytime you want.

 

[handicap18]

I just use Nikon Capture NX2, same as when I used a PC, in fact it was the same disk that I installed (it had both PC and Mac software on it). I also have PS Elements for when I want to do some in depth editing (which isn't very often). I have Aperture and its got some cool features, but I was so used to using Capture NX2 that I just stuck with that.

I keep all my photos in file name order and they are separated by year then into each month within that year. Thats how I've also kept my photos, so an organization software isn't for me.


PS:
I LOVE my Magic Mouse. We have both the Magic Mouse and the track pad. I couldn't get used to the track pad and rarely use it, but my wife prefers that to the mouse. Then again she has a MacBook Pro and is used to the track pad.

 

[wbeem]

I keep all my photos in file name order and they are separated by year then into each month within that year. Thats how I've also kept my photos, so an organization software isn't for me.

How do you search for portraits vs landscapes? How do you know which photos were taken in New York or Disney World?

One of the big advantages of a Digital Asset Manager is the ability to use metadata - both the kind embedded in your photo and the data you can add to it. There's more to organization than date order.

 

[handicap18]

How do you search for portraits vs landscapes? How do you know which photos were taken in New York or Disney World?

One of the big advantages of a Digital Asset Manager is the ability to use metadata - both the kind embedded in your photo and the data you can add to it. There's more to organization than date order.

I actually have my Disney photos in separate albums. But if I know I went to Philly in Sept '07 then I go to that year and folder for those pics. If my mother wants a picture of her and her sisters that I took at the x-mas party in 2009, then I go to that year and the Dec folder.

I've been using this system since I started taking pictures in 1981 and my memory is pretty much right on. I have over 3,000 pictures on my screen saver and anytime one comes on I can tell you when and where it was taken and who it is. Personally, I'd rather do it my way than take all the time to tag each of my 40,000+ photos with 5 or more tags each.

I've never not been able to find a photo and I can almost always find it pretty quick. This is the system that works for me.

 

[wbeem]

I actually have my Disney photos in separate albums. But if I know I went to Philly in Sept '07 then I go to that year and folder for those pics. If my mother wants a picture of her and her sisters that I took at the x-mas party in 2009, then I go to that year and the Dec folder.

I've been using this system since I started taking pictures in 1981 and my memory is pretty much right on. I have over 3,000 pictures on my screen saver and anytime one comes on I can tell you when and where it was taken and who it is. Personally, I'd rather do it my way than take all the time to tag each of my 40,000+ photos with 5 or more tags each.

I've never not been able to find a photo and I can almost always find it pretty quick. This is the system that works for me.

Well, bless you, then, because it seems like a mess to me. Tagging isn't really isn't very difficult at all if you're organized about it. I wrote a post last year and included a free list of keywords for Aperture users.

For instance, I could do a model shoot a the beach. When I get home and upload my photos into Aperture, I tag them all with the basics (model name, location name, city, state, time of day, etc.). Later on, it's an easy search to find all the photoshoots I did at Ponce Inlet, or all of the photos I shot with Amanda.

I think your system works if you're looking for a specific photo, but I'd hate to wade through those folders if you needed a collection based upon other criteria.

Like you said, it works for you. To me, it just seems less flexible for finding things.

http://williambeem.com/2010/04/26/tagging-photos-with-keywords/

 

[photo_chick]

How do you search for portraits vs landscapes? How do you know which photos were taken in New York or Disney World?

One of the big advantages of a Digital Asset Manager is the ability to use metadata - both the kind embedded in your photo and the data you can add to it. There's more to organization than date order.

I used to tag the heck out of my metadata. But after loosing my entire Lightroom library (twice) with all that work, I stopped. Putting all those tags in management software doesn't save them to the file, it puts them in the library or as a sidecar file and makes it a setting that's applied when you export as a jpeg, psd or whatever. You loose the library or have to go to your backup files ( from theft, fire, power surge that fries your main drive and your backup, virus, flood.. etc) and you've lost the tags.

Tagging is great if you want to spend the time to do it, but have a backup to that.

I put things in a folder by year. In that I either label by event or by date. I don't really have much of a need to label beyond that anymore, and I shoot a high volume of images. I don't let the software manage where my files get put on import either because I want to know exactly what is where. But what works for me may not work for someone else.

Do put your copyright info in your metadata though. That's really easy to do with your entire library very quickly.

 

[bdtracey]

I go by subject for my organizing (each Disney trip, kids, dogs, weddings, etc). Hopefully I can keep this same sort of thing going with the Mac. From the tinkering I did in the store it looked like it would work out pretty good. I sure am glad I paid the $99 for the One-to-One tutorials. I'll likely book an appointment every other week.

Still...I'm pretty nervous about the switch...

 

[photo_chick]

Macs and PC's really are not that different these days. They look a little different and there's a few quirks that you learn but as far as basic operation they're pretty much the same now.

 

[wbeem]

I used to tag the heck out of my metadata. But after loosing my entire Lightroom library (twice) with all that work, I stopped. Putting all those tags in management software doesn't save them to the file, it puts them in the library or as a sidecar file and makes it a setting that's applied when you export as a jpeg, psd or whatever. You loose the library or have to go to your backup files ( from theft, fire, power surge that fries your main drive and your backup, virus, flood.. etc) and you've lost the tags.

Tagging is great if you want to spend the time to do it, but have a backup to that.

I put things in a folder by year. In that I either label by event or by date. I don't really have much of a need to label beyond that anymore, and I shoot a high volume of images. I don't let the software manage where my files get put on import either because I want to know exactly what is where. But what works for me may not work for someone else.

Do put your copyright info in your metadata though. That's really easy to do with your entire library very quickly.

Aperture is a little different than Lightroom in that respect, at least if you use a Managed approach instead of a Referenced catalog. The Managed approach keeps everything in a database. Backup is as simply as copying a single file. I keep four different Aperture databases on a RAID 5 array, and then back them up to a separate drive. All of the metadata stays organized in the database.

You can also use Aperture like Lightroom with a file structure, but I think it would be susceptible to the same problem you mentioned if you lose your catalog.

I definitely agree about the copyright info. I register every photo (even the crappy ones) right out of the camera with the US Copyright office and tag the Case # and Claim ID in my Aperture database using a custom field. Once the registration form arrives, I update another field with that number, too.

 

[Shutterbug]

I go by subject for my organizing (each Disney trip, kids, dogs, weddings, etc). Hopefully I can keep this same sort of thing going with the Mac. From the tinkering I did in the store it looked like it would work out pretty good. I sure am glad I paid the $99 for the One-to-One tutorials. I'll likely book an appointment every other week.

Still...I'm pretty nervous about the switch...

Dont be nervous about the switch. I made the switch about 3 years ago.
I thought I was going to need classes and such but it was pretty intuitive.

One of the first things to do is enable right click on your magic mouse:

http://helpspa.com/os-x/os-x-concepts-for-windows-users-how-to-add-right-click-to-the-magic-mouse/

 

[handicap18]

Apple has some great video's on their web site about switching from PC to Mac.
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#switcher


Window's is actually based on Mac's OS. Mac OS has been around longer than Window's. Mac originally came up with the "window's" style of the OS. Steve Jobs wasn't very happy with Bill Gates after Windows 3.1 came out. MS Word and MS Excel were originally written by Bill Gates for Mac OS before he came out with his Windows OS. Also Adobe wrote programs for Mac before they started writing them for Window's (that eventually lead to the no flash on iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod OS), Steve Jobs gave them their big break with the original Macintosh, then when he went to them again to write for the iMac and they blew him off. He could hold a grudge.

Some people have said that with the way Window's 7 has developed, it is now more like the Mac OS than what the earlier versions of Windows are.

I found it no problem at all switching over. Took me all of about 10 minutes to get used to some things. You don't "X" out a window to completely close it. You have to go to the file menu and chose Quite "program". There is a lot less double clicking and when you want to change a setting it doesn't ask you four hundred times "are you sure you want to do this".

Instead of Alt/Tab to switch between programs that are open you use Command/Tab. Then if you have multiple windows of the same program open (i.e. Safari) you use Command/` (the key to the left of the #1) to switch between just the windows of that program.

Or and Viruses: A Mac isn’t susceptible to the thousands of viruses plaguing Windows-based computers. That’s thanks to built-in defenses in Mac OS X that keep you safe, without any work on your part. So no more needing an anti virus program or yearly subscription or a spyware program or yearly subscription. Even if you get it for free on your PC, no need to have it on the Mac taking up hard drive space.