Apple Aperture Getting Started - Manual (Page 14)

14 Chapter 1 An Overview of Aperture
What Are Versions?
Once you have digital master files on your hard disk, you can review and make
adjustments to your images. For example, you can change the exposure, contrast, or
saturation, or add information to an image, such as the photographer’s name, event,
and location. To work with images, Aperture creates a “version” of each master file that
includes your adjustments and embedded information, and leaves the master file
unchanged. A version refers to the master file on your hard disk, but it is not the master
file itself. Versions store only the thumbnail image, adjustments, and embedded
information. A full image file is not created until you are ready to print or export, saving
valuable storage space on your hard disk.
When you create a version, several things occur:
 Aperture reads the original master file on disk and displays it on the screen.
 As you make adjustments or add information to the image, Aperture uses floating-
point calculations to display the image with those changes, but the original master
file is never changed.
You can create as many versions of an image as you need. For example, a client may
request color, sepia, and black-and-white versions of the same wedding shot. Instead of
saving multiple copies of that image, as you would with other applications, you simply
create different versions of the master file.
Pictures
folder
Computer
Aperture
Library file
3A
3B
3C
2A
2B
Versions
from
Master 1
Master
Versions
from
Master 2
Master
Versions
from
Master 3
Master
1A
1
1B
1C
1D
2
3