Apple today released Aperture 2.1, which introduces an open plug-in architecture that makes it easy for photographers to use specialized third party imagine software from within Aperture.
The free software update includes an Apple developed plug-in, Dodge & Burn, which adds brush-based tools for dodge, burn, contrast, saturation, sharpen, and blur effects. Plug-ins for localized editing, filters, effects, noise analysis and reduction, fisheye lens correction and many more are expected over the next several months from third-party developers. Apple is working with key developers on plug-ins.
“The image quality in Aperture 2 has won over the most demanding photographers,†said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “Now, thanks to our open plug-in architecture, users can access an entire industry’s worth of imaging expertise without ever leaving Aperture.â€
“To date, maybe two percent of my photographs needed to be touched up outside Aperture,†said John Stanmeyer, founding member of the VII Photo Agency and contributing photographer for Time and National Geographic magazines. “Now that I can dodge and burn right within Aperture’s new plug-in, I can’t imagine when I’ll have to open any other application to tone my images.â€
