Any Aperture users out there?

[fitzperry]

I'm considering purchasing Aperture to use on my Macbook Pro for raw conversion and organizing my photos. I have Lightroom 1.x but have recently been using Capture NX because I get better results with my raw conversions (I have a Nikon D300). Problem is, of course, that Capture lacks organizational tools, and iPhoto isn't really doing the job. The reviews I've read on Aperture 2.1 have mostly been favorable, but I thought I'd see what people around here think of it.

Thanks!

 

[Groucho]

Have you tried Adobe's new camera profiles? They claim to give identical Raw color output that you get from the OEM Raw converter (in your case, Capture NX.)

 

[fitzperry]

Have you tried Adobe's new camera profiles? They claim to give identical Raw color output that you get from the OEM Raw converter (in your case, Capture NX.)

Haven't tried them because they require LR 2.0 and I only have 1.0.

 

[bostran1]

I've been using Aperture on my MacBook for 2 years now. I love it. Organizing photos is simple and straightforward, having the ability to edit RAW has been spectacular, and keywording is simple. There is a bit of a learning curve but there are some great video tutorials on Apple's website.

If you want to learn even more about Aperture you could sign for Apple's One-to-One training too (of course, you'd need an Apple Store near where you live).

Aperture now supports plug-ins too so you can get even more functionality out of the program.

I think its a wonderful program and have been extremely happy with it. Let me know if you have any other questions. There is a free trial you can download too.

 

[fitzperry]

I've been using Aperture on my MacBook for 2 years now. I love it. Organizing photos is simple and straightforward, having the ability to edit RAW has been spectacular, and keywording is simple. There is a bit of a learning curve but there are some great video tutorials on Apple's website.

If you want to learn even more about Aperture you could sign for Apple's One-to-One training too (of course, you'd need an Apple Store near where you live).

Aperture now supports plug-ins too so you can get even more functionality out of the program.

I think its a wonderful program and have been extremely happy with it. Let me know if you have any other questions. There is a free trial you can download too.

Thanks for the suggestions! I started to download the trial yesterday but got sidetracked and haven't been back to the computer!

We do have an Apple store, so I will definitely take advantage of the training class. My husband went to an iPhoto class and picked up some good tips.

One of the reviews I read was lukewarm on the sharpening tools. Sharpening is something I have trouble with--I'm just never sure if I've done too much or not enough. Do you sharpen in Aperture?

 

[bostran1]

The One-to-One training is an excellent service. Only $99 for the full year and you can learn about any Apple software.

As for sharpening, that is something I don't fully understand either so I couldn't tell you. If you go to the Apple Store they may have a Creative who can answer your questions.

 

[Groucho]

Haven't tried them because they require LR 2.0 and I only have 1.0.

I would take a look at a trial version of 2.0 and try the "Camera Standard" profile before dumping Lightroom entirely. I have been so busy lately that I hadn't upgraded for a little while and was still on the original LR2.0 and the original Camera Raw release, which didn't have a "Camera Standard" for my camera, just the usual ACR 4.x and "Adobe Standard".

The usual knock against ACR is that the reds are orangey and the greens washed out. The K20D profile isn't too bad (not as bad as the K100D profile, for example) but not perfect. The Adobe Standard went too far in the other direction, with oranges becoming red! They now include some Pentax models (K10D/K20D/K200D) in the latest Camera Standard profiles and it's much better, a pretty happy medium between the two. Theoretically it should match the JPG output from your camera.

Anyway, if you're not happy with the color rendering you're getting from LR1, this might be the cure.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Anyway, if you're not happy with the color rendering you're getting from LR1, this might be the cure.

Hi Groucho -

I took your advice a while back on this and did upgrade to LR2. Much better color for my NEF files. Should I uninstall LR1? Both are still on my computer. I kind of expected that would happen with the install of LR2, but it didn't. I've been a little hesitant to remove LR1 because of all the cataloging, etc. LR2 did import my catalog, but it is organized differently. I really need to get a LR2 book and figure this out.

Thanks!

 

[Groucho]

Adobe seems to be pretty sloppy about their installers. (Acrobat Reader is especially bad, I can't count the number of PCs I've worked on that have had multiple versions installed.) It's probably not hurting anything to have LR1 still installed unless you're really running out of HD space. If you want to get rid of it, try backing up your catalog from LR2 first just in case, then uninstall LR1 and make sure LR2 still works. If it has problems, reinstall LR2. In either case, your database will probably be fine... but better safe than sorry.

 

[iggbees]

i have it. my boyfriend bought it for me as a present. so far it's been good, i still have a lot to learn about it, but i like what i've been seeing. it's much better than iphoto, which is the only program i had prior to getting this. there are some annoying things that i hate about it, like you have to make a folder before you import your photos (which i always forget to do) unless you want them going into the last folder you had open.

 

[edolyne]

I have tried many different Raw editiors or the past few months and I believe I will be sticking with Aperture. It offers the best integration with the other Mac sofware that came on your computer. The best part is that all of your photo's can be browsed via the media browser without the need to export them from the editior first.