Apple launches Aperture 3
updated 09:20 am EST, Tue February 9, 2010
Expands with editing, iPhoto '09 features
Apple has released Aperture 3, a major update of the company's photo workflow software. The program is now 64-bit only, and has also been upgraded with several new features, most notably Brushes and Adjustment Presets. The former allow people to "paint" edits onto a photo, making them more precise without having to open a secondary app like Photoshop. There are 15 default Quick Brushes, such as Dodge, Burn, Blur and Polarize.
Adjustment Presets by contrast affect all of an image, applying a collection of parameters. Aside from those included with Aperture, users can create their own or import others.
The program now also includes two components from iPhoto '09, Faces and Places. Both organize photos according to repeating criteria; the former detects people, while Places translates geocoding into more easily searchable terms. When GPS data isn't available, photos can be manually assigned to a particular location.
A new slideshow option in the software incorporates six default themes, and tools for picking custom borders, titles, backgrounds and transitions. Each show can include audio, text and video, and be exported into iTunes for sync with iPhones and iPod touches.
Aperture 3 requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later and a Core 2 Duo processor. It is on sale for $199 new, or $99 as an upgrade from a previous version. A 30-day trial copy is a free download.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2001
FInally
I'm sure this is appreciated by those who stuck with Aperture -- hopefully it hits some of their wishlist items. Meaningless to me since I found Lightroom to be a much better fit for me, and appreciate its far more aggressive development schedule and public roadmap.