File formats you can import into your library – Apple Aperture Getting Started User Manual
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Chapter 5
Importing Images
When you import images, you can choose whether to have the digital master files
stored in the Aperture Library or store them on your hard disk outside of the Library
where they can be accessed as referenced images.
As you import images, you can have Aperture automatically name and record
information about them. Aperture can assign filenames using custom naming
conventions, as well as record metadata such as captions, keywords, dates, copyright
and credit information, and IPTC information. You can even set Aperture to stack
related images together, keeping bracketed shots or a series of shots taken in quick
succession in groups that you can easily select and work with. For more information on
stacks, see Chapter 9, “
Stacking Images and Making Picks
Before you import images into Aperture, it’s a good idea to plan the organization of
your images. Eventually your image library may contain many thousands of images that
you’ll want organized in a flexible and easy-to-manage system.
Plan how you want to import your existing portfolio of digital images. Because you
may have many thousands of images previously stored on disk, you need to decide
whether you’ll import them into the Aperture Library, or import them as referenced
images, leaving them in their current hard disk locations. You can also copy or move
them into different hard disk locations when importing them.
As an import strategy, it’s best to try out importing images in a series of steps. Make
trial imports of a small group of images directly from your digital camera or card
reader. Try out the different methods for importing individual files into your system.
Once you’re familiar with how Aperture works, you can begin setting up your image
management system for long-term use.
File Formats You Can Import into Your Library
Aperture is a QuickTime-compatible application, so it supports standard QuickTime-
compatible still-image file formats, as well as some other file formats and file types. The
following file types and formats can be imported:
 GIF
 JPEG
 JPEG2000
 PNG
 PSD (8 and 16 bit)
 RAW files from a variety of supported digital cameras
 TIFF (8 and 16 bit)
Note: For a list of supported digital cameras, go to