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Easy adjustment shortcuts (and metadata shortcuts too!)
We want to work as fast as we can in Aperture, while at the same, keep our focus on the images. There are numerous keyboard shortcuts that allows us to do this. Some are single letters that are quick to remember, and then there are other keyboard shortcuts may require repeated use before they can be memorized.
This week, we will deal with a few shortcuts when doing adjustments to photo images. It seems that normally, we select the desired adjustment tool, and we use the mouse to drag the slider left to right when applying adjustments. Sometimes, we do the adjustment by double-clicking to highlight the numeric value (at the right-end side of the slider), and replace it with a desired value.
To begin using the keyboard shortcut, select the adjustment tool by clicking once on the numeric value. When it is highlighted, press the left and right arrow keys to sequentially change its numeric value. Here's what it can do:
← or → Increment or decrement by x (by an amount)
← or → with Opt Increment or decrement by x/y (by a fraction of that amount)
← or → with Shft Increment or decrement by x * y (by a multiple of that amount)
Changing the numeric value incrementally helps me get the pricise adjustment I'm looking for as I keep my eye on the image instead of on the adjustment tool. In particular, I use this fine-tuning in conjunction with another Aperture command, the Highlight Hot & Cold Areas (The shortcut is: Option-Shift-H).
Now, if you press the left or right arrow keys with the command key, you skip to the image before or after the current image and remain in the same adjustment field. Or, for that matter, the same metadata field if you are working on the metadata instead of the adjustment tool.
← or → with Cmd - Skip to next image and remain in this adjustment or metadata field
You can also use the tab to skip to the next adjustment field or metadata field.
[tab] - Skip to next adjustment
[tab] with Shift - Skip to previous adjustment
These keyboard shortcuts will help you work faster when doing adjustment to your images. And also when working with metadata.
[Note: Photos in screenshot by Dominique James of The Studio and The Playground. Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.]
If you use Aperture with a laptop, then I hope you would have graduated to key-command primacy in you workflow. Don't get me wrong, the trackpads on Mac laptops are some of the best I've ever used. However, key commands become essential when you want to get work done. Typing with on hand and mousersizing with the other doesn't work so well when the typing hand covers the pad :-/.
I would suggest using key commands whenever possible, especially in aperture since not only does Apple give you a robust set to start with (which are VERY easy to pick up) but it lets you create your own commands for just about any action. Arrow adjustments and tabbing through the interface can save you a hefty amount of time, especially with these pixel dense screens that give you a smaller target to hit with your pointer.
Now that I've lauded key commands and key-interface usage, I will say that moving sliders incrementally on some adjustments can be exceptionally slow in terms of visual feedback when you're using older, slower Macs. Issues like this and wanting to skip over a few pictures (slower render-load time) are just about the only reason my fingers leave the keyboard to use the mouse in Aperture.
Yes, this has all been an anecdote, but hopefully you'll start weighing the advantages.