Sort of asked this earlier but too “long winded” I guess
What I want to do is get a raw, (Nikon NEF), file from Aperture to a program called Nikon Capture NX2,
I want to keep it as an NEF raw file and not change it to a Tiff
Can this be done?
Regards
Gary
No problem Gary, I rarely answer software/tech questions, but the workaround that Russell Watkins offered up is very nice work. Have fun with your new toy.
Thank you Jim
Yes I would like to reimport back into Aperture,
Regards,
Gary
Gary - this is a modified version (for CNX2) of something I posted on a different User Question a couple of weeks ago.
It’s a simple workaround that I do using Automator Folder Actions. You need a workaround because as is suggested in your post, roundtripping the NEF to CNX2 as the External Editor gets you a TIFF.
You probably know this but Automator is an app included in OSX with which you can write script-like functions. It’s actually quite a powerful tool but fairly easy to use. Anyhooooo…
I’ve written two Automator Folder Actions allocated to two specific folders. I “Export Original” from Aperture into the first folder. The Automator Folder Action takes the file and opens it in CNX2 where I can do what edits I want.
I then save the edited file as a NEF with the suffix -cnx so the original NEF survives but is easily identifiable in case you want to process it differently in the future. The file is saved into a second different folder that I have set up with an Automator Folder Action that immediately imports it into Aperture. You can actually choose when setting up the Folder Action whether to import as referenced or managed. And if imported as a managed file, you can choose to delete your now redundant edited NEF. If you use a referenced library, obviously, leave the file where it is and you can always relocate it to one of your regular archive folders within Aperture.
So, in Automator, the first Folder Action is simply Allocate Folder > Get Folder Contents > Open in Capture NX2.
The second Folder Action is Allocate Folder > Get Folder Contents > Import Photos (and you can choose within Automator whether it’s managed file +/- delete new edited version). Make sure in Automator you choose the option with the Aperture icon rather than the iPhoto option.
The only thing I can’t get it to do with Automator is delete the copy of the original raw file that has been exported from Aperture into the “Open with CNX2” folder after CNX2 has finished with it. So I just go back and trash it manually later.
By the way, if you want to save your CNX2 edited file as a TIFF or a JPEG, Aperture will automatically import those because of the Folder Action too.
Fortunately, Aperture plays nice with NEFs, even ones that have been edited and re-saved in CNX2 and ViewNX.
Russell
Thank you Russell for taking the time for your detailed reply
In reading your reply, if I can manage most edits with Aperture, the odd tiff for CNX 2 should be a lot easier due to my lack of knowledge
I guess I’m a little too impatient,
I should be able to get my new iMac in 2-3 weeks
I’m coming from a laptop which has transpired and been trying to start off the right way as I have a bunch of files cot sort out
I may have to do a lot of learning to get a grasp of Automator, I’m new to Apple and Aperture and I can see a steep learning curve ahead
The way things are panning out, I might just get Joseph’s training video an view that first before I use Aperture
Regards,
Gary
you can just highlight them all and shift, command & s will export the original .nef for you. That’s what I do all the time. It’s super fast too, it literally takes seconds. I have no idea why is so quick
Thank you Paul
Much appreciated,
That sounds so simple,
Just a re confirmation on your commands?
Is that,
Highlight,shift,command, & S ?
….Gary
yes just highlight the .nefs and hit shift command s, bang they’re gone. I use CNX2 also, I totally forgot this is even quicker, open it up then the 1st screen that appears has options, on the right hand column, click on open folder, you then get to navigate through your entire library and can do batches too.
Sorry Gary . It’s an excellent program once you get your head around it. It’s very technical too. It produces great photo’s colour’s etc but people are put off by it being slow and clunky. I don’t know how to use 1/10th or more of it. I just use it for Infrared Photography, it’s does the colour conversion like nothing else.
OK something has changed, it’s nothing big but just the way to get to your folders on CNX2, I just went to use it for the first time since upgrading it. They didn’t upgrade it for years then there has literally been 6 in the last year.
OK Open it up, on the very far left of the screen there is 2 thin strips running the entire length of the screen, click on the one marked folder. You are into your library folders that aperture has created, as someone mentioned Aperture and CNX2 play VERY nicely together. So that is it, once the folder in question is located in there, double click on it and it opens the photos up inside, which is the second thin strip called browser. I hope that helps you and it’s all the .nef and even the .jpgs, .tiff that you have created within that folder too. Pretty awesome.
Just quickly Gary did highlighting the pics you needed and hitting- shit, command, s not work for you?
regards Paul
All good Paul,
Sorry for the late reply,
All happening here,
Computer transpired, waiting for new iMac
41 year old daughter has a heart attack!
She is OK, too much stress apparently
No damage fortunately, too much uni, 2 kids, teaching, too much study
Good news,
All exams with high distinctions, heart OK, now taking it easy
All your help has been much appreciated,
And thankyou for such a simple and informative explanation,
If I can get a suitable preset for my D700, I guess CNX2 may not be used as much
Done that much time on the iPad lately, I’ll be putting my fingers on the screen!
Regards,
Gary
You haven’t provided much detail, so basically, yes it can be done. However…
Are you using a referenced or managed library in Aperture? That determines the process to be used.
After you do whatever to your image in NX2 do you intend to reimport for use again in Aperture? Again that determines the process.
I just bought Viewpoint2 from DxO and am having trouble importing my CR2 files from Aperture into the plug-in with the EXIF data required for the distortion correction to function. I have died using Catapult which does work for Optic Pro 9 but not for VP2. and suggestions?