Key Concepts in Aperture 3

Projects

Containers used to hold master image files, image versions, and albums. When project files are moved, the contents are moved with them.

Folders

Organizational tools used to organize projects, albums, and other folders. You can create folders to organize projects, or you can create folders within projects to organize albums.

Albums

Organizational tools used to organize versions of images. You can create albums within projects to organize versions for a specific purpose.

Library

The Aperture database that manages your files from import to image adjustments and final distribution. Once you import images, the library records and tracks your master image files and corresponding image versions. The library also tracks folders, projects, and albums you create to organize your images. Changes that you make to images, including adjustments and metadata, are stored in the library no matter whether the master is stored in the library or another disk location. You can create more than one Aperture library, and you can import new libraries and merge libraries when you need to.