Calo

Hello, I've researched the forum but still need to post for suggestions, recommendations... I use Affinity Photo, Designer, Publisher on Mac and iPad. Old Workflow before Apple: I had a nice workflow when I had Windows Desktops and Windows Laptops: Google Drive Backup and Two-Way Sync (now Google Drive Desktop for Workspace) kept all my Photo/Video folders and files in sync across all my devices. Now, seeking new workflow with Apple: Early this year (January, 2021) I decided to migrate to Apple and bought M1 Mac Mini (currently has MacOS 12 Monterey) and M1 iPad Pro (currently has iPadOS 15). Google Drive does not have Syncing features under the iPad Google Drive app. 3 Notes to keep in mind: Note 1. I'm eventually going to a NAS but will stay with Google Drive in the meantime. I don't want a solution that uses iCloud OR Apple Photos or other cloud or photo storage/editing solution. Note 2. Also, I think the best solution is to have 2 copies of all my data (one on Mac, one on iPad) for speed of files with local availability, and as a backup. But want them to stay in Sync so if any of the data (One or more Terabytes of Photo/Video files) is changed. Note 3. Sync content between the Mac and iPhone or iPad using Finder (devices connected or on same wireless network) does not work because it wants to use iCloud OR it wants to use Apple Photos. The "Files" tab of this approach only transfers data, but does not "Sync" data even though it uses the word "Sync". A few solutions I've seen in my research are: 1. Network Drive. Not sure of the details but want 2 local copies (one on each device) and sync capability when devices are apart and/or together on same network. 2. Resilio Sync 3. SyncThing with Mobius App (for iOS) What suggestions, recommended solutions can you share? What are your thoughts and suggestions for keeping Photo/Video folders and files in two-way sync across Mac, iPad devices? Thank you!

Plus 1. Can’t import or export to Google Drive from inside Affinity Photo 1.10.252. I’m on an 12.9 inch M1 iPad Pro with iPadOS version 14.7.1. If I am on Google Drive and select the photo, I can share it to Affinity Photo and work on it. Then, when trying to export it, Google Drive is grayed out and can’t be selected. Google Drive is added as an iPad Files “Location” and the app is current. Google Drive is not showing within Affinity Photo as a Default Save location in the settings drop down. Please discuss ideas and solutions.

Thank you @Patryk, this looks very promising to the problem of opening Topaz plugins from within Affinity Photo (v1.9.3) on M1 Mac Mini. Can you comment on performance of the AP app using Rosetta on the M1? I really enjoy the speed of the AP app and don't wish to impact its performance, or performance of anything else (so far no Rosetta is being used). Also, Topaz states on their website: "PHOTOSHOP PLUGIN NOT WORKING ON M1/SILICON MACS: If you recently updated your Photoshop to version 22.3 on your M1 device and can no longer see our plugins please know there is a conflict between Adobe and Apple preventing the use of our plugins on M1 devices. While waiting for this to be resolved, you can run the M1 native Photoshop through Rosetta and our plugins should appear." (Link: https://help.topazlabs.com/hc/en-us) So, is this an Adobe Photoshop fix? And if Adobe fix is needed, can we look to AP help solve this (other than the Rosetta solution) independently of Adobe? Long Live Independence from Adobe! Please discuss, thank you! Carl

Thank you and I hope there is light in that tunnel soon. In the meantime, any recommendations for a photo management solution? Which will accept many file types (raw included) and possibly will accept afphoto extensions so all photos and and their edited work files, and maybe even pdf files (or other publication files) can live together? And, ideally, works with Google Drive. Please discuss Carl