Comments on: Hands On with Aperture 3.0.1: A huge step ahead for Apple’s photo software

By: Dave Brown

Dave Brown — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 06:02:56 +0000

Great developments in the area of photography. I am still wishing I could by the latest digital gadget like Aperture 3. Thanks for the article you posted here. It is helping me decide what to buy in the near future. Thanks.

By: Jim Roelofs

Jim Roelofs — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:47:50 +0000

Eric, the thing that really surprised me around 2 years ago was, when speaking to 2 Apple engineers at the beforementioned trade show here in Australia, they were not even aware of the Foveon technology. Talk about a "head in the sand" attitude.

By: David Riecks

David Riecks — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:14:38 +0000

Unlike iPhoto, Aperture does have the ability to modify the IPTC metadata embedded in an image. However there are a number of issues in the way in which it makes these modifications, and more importantly in how other applications view this data. This is of special concern to professional who will use other programs in their imaging workflow.

Anyone using Aperture to write metadata to files that will be used with other programs needs to do some testing to make sure that the metadata they are writing with Aperture 3 is still visible. If you do additional work in Photoshop or Lightroom, and then archive your images using other programs, there is a risk to having some or all of your metadata disappear. This is because other programs may not see (recognize) the information you are adding to your images with Aperture 3, because of the way it is being written. In addition, if you are importing images that have been worked on in other programs, some of that metadata may not be recognized or stored within Aperture.

You should really be concerned if you are fully using the various metadata fields, such as the Rights Usage Terms, Location fields, or geo-tagging your images, as many of these fields (and others), are not showing up in Photoshop, Adobe Bridge, Photo Mechanic, or Expression Media, after being exported from Aperture 3.

Read the article titled “Apple Aperture 3 Metadata Issues” on my site (http://www.controlledvocabulary.com/imagedatabase... if you want to find out more. Included on that page is a link to a chart that maps out what is seen and what is lost or hidden in JPEG, TIFF, DNG and proprietary NEF files when viewed in other applications.

These issues are still present, and were not remedied with the 3.0.1 release.

David

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:03:20 +0000

Yeah, I guess that did come off sounding a bit high-and-mighty. Sorry about that. I'm really surprised Apple didn't have support for these camears years ago.

By: Eric Welch

Eric Welch — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:34:09 +0000

You could use Adobe's DNG conversion tool, then import the DNG files into Aperture. It adds a step to your workflow, but you'll be able to use it. Face it, Sigma's camera is a minor minority compared to the other cameras, and when was the last time the sensor had an update?

By: Jim Roelofs

Jim Roelofs — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:35:48 +0000

Who says Aperture is better than ever? Still no support for Sigma / Foveon RAW files. I have been at them for a number of years now, even talking to some Apple (US) officials at a trade show here in Australia. Their arrogance just floored me. Wake up Steve & Co! I know quite a few Apple users that use this camera type and boy, are we disappointed.

By: Jim Roelofs

Jim Roelofs — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:06:01 +0000

OK, Eric, I've faced it and you're right. Us peasant minorities with insignificant cameras (read lack of updates) must learn our place. Please accept my humble apology. Wish every success with all your updates.

By: Eric Welch

Eric Welch — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:32:13 +0000

I have to say, Aperture 3 has been a major update for me. I had stopped using it pretty much a few years back. When I need a RAW workflow tool, Lightroom had become my choice. But most heavy-lifting in Bridge/Photoshop.

Well, Aperture 3 has changed all that. It's amazing how much better it is. And integrating video with stills and audio for slideshows is really cool I'm shooting through a microscope with a 5D Mark II at work and it's really been a life-saver for me.

And I can confirm the RAW conversions are really improved. Sharpness is truly better than in anything I've seen before. Good job Apple!

By: justme

justme — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:46:18 +0000

I wish Apple would reverse the depreciation of QTVR and add some QTVR authoring to Aperture… If Aperture had some QTVR tools built into it, I'd probably live entirely in Aperture on this Mac…