As many of you know from this post, I’ve taken the plunge on a Canon 350D DSLR recently. After I’d been taking shots for the first couple of days iPhoto just didn’t seem to cut it for editing photos anymore. I had moved up from the consumer Sony CyberShot to a professional Canon DSLR, so why not the software too?
I promptly downloaded the Aperture 30 day free trial, installed it, and moved my iPhoto library over (which I must ad was very simple and swift, thumbs up Apple!)
What do I like about Aperture that iPhoto doesn’t offer?
- Versioning
I love the ability to create as many versions of any image without effecting the original image.
- Stacks
Now I have the DSLR I can take up to 3 frames per second, stacks are a great way to manage these images taken in rapid succession.
- Advanced Editing Tools
I love the ability to edit RAW images with super attention to fine details, Aperture allows me to edit images 50 times more powerfully that iPhoto.
- Edge Sharpening
Ah, this falls under the advanced editing tools, but edge sharpening is a life saving tools. What I have images of the sky I dont want the whole thing sharpened, just the foreground, otherwise the image looks grainy.
Aperture 1.5 is avaliable for a free 30 day trial here. IF you like it and decide to purchase, you will be able to download the 1.5.1 update which includes many enhanced features on common tools such as the loupe, plus a slightly enhanced application speed.
Regarding performance? I’m running an iMac 17″ Intel Core Duo 1.83Ghz with 1.5GB of RAM, and Aperture runs super smooth.
Overall, I’m very happy with Aperture, expect a more in-depth review, and lots of posts with Aperture tips. Maybe even a little series of video podcasts in the future, along with a review of the Canon EOS 350D.
What do you use to manage your digital images, and why do you like it?