Can you build a database in Pixelmator pro like in Aperture/Apple photos?

Talk about Pixelmator Pro, share tips & tricks, tutorials, and other resources.
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2021-01-10 15:41:33

Hi, I am a new Pixelmator Pro user. I was used to finding all imported photos inside the photo editor app like in Aperture/Apple photos. I haven't figured out how to do the same with PP, if it is possible at all...
Could anyone shed some light on this? Or what is your method for keeping a structure system with PP?
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2021-01-10 19:21:26

Sometimes we want a program to do everything, but Pixelmator's proposal was never to be a photo editor in the Lightroom / Aperture style. You can sync your edits to the cloud, but stop there. Pixelmator Pro is a Photoshop-type image editor, with very interesting graphic features!
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2021-01-11 13:02:00

J2323, almost the entire Pixelmator Pro app is available as an extension in Photos, so while it doesn't offer a custom file manager itself, Pro allows you to take full advantage of the system available in Photos.
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2021-01-23 22:50:52

by Aurelija 2021-01-11 12:02:00 J2323, almost the entire Pixelmator Pro app is available as an extension in Photos, so while it doesn't offer a custom file manager itself, Pro allows you to take full advantage of the system available in Photos.
Thanks, I took notice of that. But I found that, after a photo is edited by Pixelmator Pro and saved back to Photos, all the "edited states" are not saved in either Pixelmator Pro or Photos. If I want to switch to PP to make more changes, I will not be able to see the previously edited parameters. Is there a way to preserve the edits made in PP, while I use it as an extension?
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2021-01-24 13:17:36

by J2323
If I want to switch to PP to make more changes, I will not be able to see the previously edited parameters. Is there a way to preserve the edits made in PP, while I use it as an extension?
Well that's not quite the case I think.
First of all, did you set the preferences in PP to keep track of the edits and where to save them ?
Image

Secondly ( as a limitation of Photo's) if you, after you saved the edits back to Photo's, make an edit, crop or what so ever in Photo's the previous edits will be baked in, so if you then re-open in PP, all the edits are already applied, and you lost the history.
If you however don't make any modifications in Photo's, but simply re-open in PP, you can continue making edits were you left off..

This article explains in great detail how Photo's interact with extensions.

HtH
Ben
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2021-04-02 13:30:52

I read this about the integration in Photos, but I always get lost in the labyrinth of Photos, because all details files are stored somewhere. Not easy to backup as I have all my thousands of photos stored in straight directories as I want them.
ACDSee does that better in managing, but I should love to use Pixelmator more in case there is a good combined photo management program.
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2021-04-03 13:23:20

@Ben.
A. You can use Photo’s with referenced files. So you can use your “straight directories” in that way. However I’ve read about using Photo’s this way might cause some problems if you use iCloud (not sure as I don’t use it this way).
B. In Photo’s you can use the same folder structure as you created in your “straight directories” the extra stuff from Photo’s is a bonus or you simply don’t use it. Personally I like some of the A.I. functions like looking for objects, places or faces.
C. The only program that has a basic organisation/search and rating functionality, works seamlessly with Photo’s, can directly export to Pixelmator and can be used as a standalone program for browsing “straight directories” and the Photo’s library, is RawPower.
RAw Power is an advanced RAW editor (and jpeg) supporting presets and Luts and batch editing etc. (no local adjustments yet). For the fun stuff, local adjustments and working with layers you can use Pixelmator Pro. That is the way I am using it since a while. Have been working with on1, Luminar and Affinity Photo. But PP, RP are my ideal combination with Apple Photo’s as they work flawless together, and offer everything I can/will use.
But it all depends on your needed workflow of course.
My 2 cents :wink: