Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Less bitter , more gratifying : with each update , Aperture , Apple ’s professional photographic work flow and direction software , has gotten that much better .
That ’s certainly the case with the later update , version 1.5.2 . The novel version is design to improve reliability and performance in contact - sheet printing , impudent albums , water line , the Lift & Stamp feature , double exportation , and file direction . This is the good and most functional version of Aperture so far . But before I get to its sweetening , allow ’s catch up on some previous installment ofAs Aperture Turns .
Buggy updates
Last October , Apple give up Aperture 1.5 ( ) . It was a substantial improvement on version 1.1.2 , with a far more flexible approach to photograph program library management , new trope - allowance feature , integration with Apple ’s iLife programme , and more . Better still , Aperture 1.5 was a costless update for drug user of previous reading . And for fledgeling , Apple reduce Aperture ’s price from $ 499 to $ 299 .
On the downside , Aperture 1.5 had bugs , some of which were potentially serious . And one of Aperture 1.5 ’s good new feature — the ability to make fast - load trailer version of turgid images — was follow through in a direction that could cause the political platform to slow to a creeping .
Apple treat these problems last November with the sacking of version 1.5.1 . At the same time , Apple introduce a barren , fully functional , 30 - day trial version of Aperture — an ideal elbow room for prospective buyers to detect Aperture ’s unique advance to digital paradigm editing and , at least as important , gauge how well Aperture would run on their systems .
While Aperture 1.5.1 fixed translation 1.5 ’s bugs , it insert new bugs of its own . And the free trial version was based on Aperture 1.5 , so anyone who downloaded it was n’t seeing the authoritative performance enhancements of version 1.5.1 .
Now Aperture 1.5.2 is out , and it fixes the bugs from translation 1.5.1 . Plus , the free Aperture visitation version is now based on interpretation 1.5.2 , so prospective vendee can get an precise trailer of the Aperture experience .
What’s new and fixed
Aperture has always relied on Mac OS X ’s Core Image applied science to decrypt Raw file . The drawback of this approach is that users of the latest digital cameras would often have to wait until Apple unblock a Mac OS XTC update to have Aperture work with their images .
This is no longer the case . Last November , Apple secrete Digital Camera Raw Support Update 1.0.1 , a small download that enables Mac OS X to support bare-assed files from Nikon ’s D80 digital SLR ( ) and other new camera . Aperture still does n’t support as many naked as a jaybird formats asAdobe Camera Raw , but it does brook the most popular tender - capable cameras . Equally significant , the Raw Support Update shows that Apple is uncoerced to respond promptly when the market demands support for a new camera — substance abuser wo n’t of necessity have to hold off for a Mac OS ecstasy update .
The most annoying bug infix in Aperture 1.5.1 involved printing pic contact sheet . If you had cropped a exposure , it would appear squished on the contact sheet of paper . This is fixed in edition 1.5.2 . And Aperture ’s watermarking feature , which lets you stamp exposure with a logo or schoolbook , is more versatile in 1.5.2 than in old variation . Apple also fine - tuned the workings of chic album to provide hunky-dory control over where a chic record album searches , and it fixed some glitches in Aperture ’s Lift & Stamp batch - process feature .
What stayed the same
Some particular I cited in my former reviews were not deal in the current update . For representative , I ’d still like to see more keyboard shortcuts for image adjustments , as well as more simulacrum - zooming choice . Aperture still ca n’t import XMP - format sidecar files ( a disjoined file that stores image metadata , such as photo configurations ) , a capableness that would make it easier for users of other Raw - processing software to migrate to Aperture . Apple contend that this does n’t affect a majority of users , but there is a outspoken minority on Apple ’s treatment panel who would like to see it .
Aperture ’s printed support is still inadequate . Apple greatly flesh out Aperture ’s electronic documentation when it put out version 1.5 — by around 700 Page . If you savor reading hundreds of pages on screen , please raise your helping hand .
And Aperture is still demanding when it make out to arrangement requirements , in particular the carrying out of your Mac ’s video card . This is n’t a drawback ; it ’s a side effect of Aperture ’s groundbreaking design . Read the advice we published in our reassessment of version 1.5 — and essay version 1.5.2 on your system before you buy .
Macworld’s buying advice
With version 1.5.2 , Aperture has hit its step . Apple did a praiseworthy line of work of listen to user ’ requests and complaints , delivering seven updates within 12 months . While there ’s room for Aperture to grow , version 1.5.2 brings the program even nearer to fulfill its promise as the start out - to - refinement , import - to - yield hub of professional and sophisticated photographic work flow . Serious digital photographers should give it a look .
[ Senior Contributor Jim Heid writes about digital media . He is the writer ofThe Macintosh iLife ’ 06(Peachpit Press , 2006 ) and ply its companionWeb land site . ]
