Apple's Aperture
(An Image Organizer and Improvement Software)
Aperture, from Apple is a software for organizing your images (as a library), and for improving them as well. This software came out about the same time as Adobe's Lightroom. Like Lightroom, Aperture is meant in its' library function to catalogue, sort, and rate your photos. It's also meant via its' metadata function to add descriptive words in order to rapidly access all similar images. And through its' adjustments function, it's meant to improve the image.
What I've noticed since writing posts about software is that there has become an overall move in the industry to make software both more user-friendly, and to make all software similar in "feeling" to other similarly-classed software. In other words, if you work with Canon Imagebrowser, then Adobe Lightroom, then Apple Aperture, you will feel and sense a similarity among the 3 softwares. The good news is that you will quickly begin to familiarize yourself with any of those that you never even worked with!
Apple's Aperture Icon
The Opening Library Window
Another Window Variation
Another Window Variation
This one brings up a small window that will search in the metadata for images of similar content, description, or rating
Here's a window once you've opened up a file or image.
You do this with a double-click (Mac)
The left side menu window in the Library Mode
Metadata
The Metadata Window
You need to become structured and organized when you choose to purchase any of these softwares.
Unfortunately, I haven't, and as I mentioned in another post, I now will have to spend hours and hours to bring everything up to date!
The Adjustments Window
The Levels Window from the Adjustments Menu
These software programs have certainly become unbelievably sophisticated and complicated. However, Once you learn them, they're a great asset to photography.
This sub-menu offers you "quick fixes".
They're presets that try to improve different aspects of your photo.
Here's a highlight/shadow submenuEven at this lower level of menu hierarchy, the controls and sophistication are fantastic.
Notice the levels of improvements available!
Here is a sub-menu that is opened when you press on the small arrow next to the word "adjustments.
This opens on top of the regular adjustment menu!
Fantastic just to think about how much there is to be offered in this program!
The Retouch Menu
This is certainly much easier to use than the Adobe Lightroom menu.
It starts with the double circles above), which can be adjusted larger or smaller.
An Option/Click changes the double circles to a Plus (+) sign.
The + sign is the source when you retouch another portion of your photo.
An enlargement to show "noise" in a poorly lit portion of the scene.
An enlargement to show the noise adjustment results
An image in need of highlight/shadow improvements
The highlight/shadow adjustments
The results on the same image
The Levels Menu
You have the option to improve the image automatically or by pulling on the dotted lines from the arrows.
The opening image
Manually set corrections by pulling on the vertical dotted lines
The Improvements
Another window for levels improvements
The Corresponding Results
Here's another image. It is underexposed and had incorrect white balance.
Here's the same image, but with a "quick fix"colour correction in white-balance
Here's the image improved by bringing out the best detail in the cast iron cars and truck, but 'giving up" the tabletop detail. Of course, you could do both with some adjustments.
I then proceeded to sharpen the cast iron vehicles
An enlargement of the sharpening effect
When you think at how sophisticated these software programs have become in such a short time, you certainly have to be in awe! These organizer/enhancements/metadata programs certainly offer you lots. Their prices of course are certainly not inexpensive. You need to question what your needs are first and foremost. Do you need this software and Photoshop or another imaging software? can you work adequately with the software that came with your camera (e.g. Canon Imagebrowser)?
Once you decide what your needs are, then your next step is to download a trial version of this organizer software several different manufacturers, and give them a "test drive". Or better still, work with your Nikon or Canon software until you have a very good grasp or understanding of it. Then proceed to these highly sophisticated and more-costly software and see if you really need them. Also, take a look at the less-costly and less-known softwares form other manufacturers. You may find that they can offer you most of the features of the more -established manufacturers, at a much lower price!
Another point that I'd like to make is about these these Image Management Softwares in general regarding all programs available.
Just how much software power does a program like this have to have?
When you purchase a DSLR or a pocket digital camera, it comes with excellent software that has many features. Nikon and Canon are very good examples of dedicated software.I'm also guessing, but I'm quite sure that all of the other manufacturers also have very good software. Then you probably have an imaging software program like Photoshop or even the CS5(Suite).
What comes with CS5 is Bridge, which is similar to Adobe Lightroom or even Bibble 5.
I did purchase Lightroom and Apple Aperture when I was teaching. But like most people, I don't print every image, nor do I need to work on every image. The same goes for most clients. If you're a working photographer, you'll shoot many photos, then select the best for showing.
No comments:
Post a Comment