Archive notice: This article was originally published on February 9, 2010. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Apple today introduced Aperture 3, the next version of its powerful photo-editing and management software with more than 200 new functions, including Faces, Places and Brushes. Based on the Faces and Places features introduced with iPhoto ’09, Aperture 3 now makes it even easier and faster to organise large photo libraries. Aperture 3 introduces new photo-enhancement tools, including the Brushes tool, with which effects are simply painted onto the image, and Adjustment Presets to apply professional photo effects with a single mouse click. Impressive new slideshows enable work to be presented by simply combining photos, sound, text and HD video.
“Millions of users love using iPhoto to organise, edit and share their digital photos,” says Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Aperture 3 was developed both for professional users who need to edit and manage huge photo libraries and for iPhoto users who want to take the next step in digital photography thanks to easy-to-use tools such as Brushes or Adjustment Presets.”
“Aperture 3 just fits,” adds National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson. “The image-editing tools are exactly what I wanted. They are so easy to use and give me a level of control I did not even begin to think was possible.”
“I chose Aperture because it is the most powerful archiving application on the market, but now it is also an incredible image-editing tool,” says Bill Frakes, staff photographer at Sports Illustrated. “I am also very impressed by the massive changes in Aperture 3.”
Thanks to functions such as Projects and the new Faces and Places, Aperture 3 enables even greater flexibility when organising large photo libraries. Faces uses face detection and recognition to find and manage photos according to the people shown. The Faces function can be used across the entire photo library or to search for faces in selected projects. The organisation process is accelerated by a new view in which Aperture 3 displays the faces that have been found but not yet named. Places can be used to search for photos by where they were taken and, as in iPhoto, converts photos’ GPS data into user-friendly location information. In Aperture 3, GPS positions can be assigned to photos either by drag-and-drop on a map or through local information from GPS-enabled cameras, tracking devices or photos taken with the iPhone.
The new Brushes tool allows professional fine adjustments to be made to photos by simply painting effects onto the image. Aperture 3 has 15 so-called Quick Brush functions for performing the most common tasks, such as dodging (lightening), burning (darkening), sharpening and softening, without the complex use of layers or masks. The Brushes tool automatically detects edges in images and allows effects to be applied or removed exactly where desired. Aperture 3 includes dozens of Adjustment Presets that give the entire image a special style or look with just one mouse click. Users can also create their own custom presets and use other photographers’ techniques by importing their settings.
Aperture 3 makes it easy to share one’s work with others through impressive slideshows combining photos, sound, text and HD video. Users can choose one of six themes designed by Apple or select their own transitions, backgrounds, borders and titles and even add their own soundtrack. The slideshows can then be imported directly into iTunes to take them anywhere on an iPhone or iPod touch. Images can also be processed into beautiful prints and custom photo books and published directly from Aperture 3 to photo-sharing websites such as Facebook and Flickr.
Pricing & availability
Aperture 3 is available through the Apple Store (www.applestore.de), Apple Retail Stores and Apple specialist retailers for 199 euros including VAT. Existing Aperture customers can upgrade to Aperture 3 for 99 euros including VAT. A 30-day trial version is available for download at http://www.apple.com/aperture/trial. Aperture 3 runs as a 64-bit application under Mac OS X Snow Leopard on Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo processors. System requirements, online tutorials and further information can be found on Apple’s website at http://www.apple.com/aperture.