Aperture 2.1 introduces an open plug-in architecture that lets photographers use specialist third-party image-processing software inside Aperture. The free update includes Apple’s Dodge & Burn plug-in, with brush-based tools for dodging, burning, contrast and saturation adjustments, sharpening and blurring. Third-party developers were expected to add plug-ins for local adjustments, filters and effects, tone analysis and noise reduction, and fisheye correction.
Rob Schoeben, Apple’s Vice President of Applications Product Marketing, said the architecture gives users direct access to tools from the wider photographic software industry without leaving Aperture.
John Stanmeyer, a founding member of the VII Photo Agency and photographer for Time and National Geographic, said the plug-in allowed him to perform dodging and burning inside Aperture instead of moving images into another application.
Users can select one or more images and choose an installed plug-in from a menu. The plug-in can then process TIFF or RAW files directly.
Announced plug-ins included Nik Software Viveza with U Point technology for local colour and brightness adjustment; PictureCode Noise Ninja for ISO-noise analysis and reduction; Digital Film Tools Power Stroke for masking adjustments; Tiffen Dfx for filters and effects; dvGarage dpMatte for chroma keying and HDRtoner for merging images into an HDR result; and Image Trends Fisheye-Hemi, ShineOff and Pearly Whites for fisheye correction, portrait shine reduction and teeth whitening.
Prices and availability
Aperture 2.1 is available as a free software update for existing Aperture 2 users.
