Apple Releases Aperture 2

Apple today introduced Aperture 2, the next major release of its photo editing and management software with over 100 new features that make it faster, easier to use and more powerful. With a streamlined user interface and entirely new image processing engine, Aperture 2 also introduces new imaging tools for highlight recovery, color vibrancy, local contrast definition, soft-edged retouching, vignetting and RAW fine-tuning, and lets users directly post their portfolios on the .Mac Web Gallery for viewing on the web, iPhone, iPod touch and Apple TV.

Featuring a new, easier user interface designed to be more intuitive and accessible, Aperture 2 now lets users navigate between Viewer and Browser modes with a single key command. Screen real estate is maximized for images with an all-in-one heads up display that allows users to toggle between library, metadata and adjustment controls in a single tabbed inspector. The All Projects view, modeled after iPhoto's Events view, provides a poster photo for every project and the ability to quickly skim through the photos inside, and the integrated iPhoto Browser offers direct access to all the events and images in the iPhoto library.

Performance has been enhanced in Aperture 2 so it's faster to import, browse and search large volumes of images. Embedded previews let photographers caption, keyword and rate images as they are being imported, and with the ability to export images in the background, photographers can continue working while images are processed to JPEG, TIFF, PNG and PSD file formats. Quick Preview allows users to browse RAW images in rapid succession without having to wait for files to load, and the Aperture library database has been re-architected to provide fast project switching and near instantaneous search results, even when working with extremely large libraries of 500,000 images or more.

Aperture 2 delivers new imaging tools for getting the most out of each photograph. Apple's next-generation RAW image processing is at the core of Aperture 2 offering uncompromising image quality and precision controls that let users fine-tune the image profile for each of their cameras. New tools for improving and enhancing images include Recovery for pulling back "blown" highlights, Vibrancy for selectively boosting saturation without adversely affecting skin tones, Definition, which offers local contrast for adding clarity to images, Vignette & Devignette filters for providing professional visual effects and a true soft-edged Repair and Retouch brush for quickly and easily removing blemishes, cleaning up sensor dust and cloning away problem areas.

Aperture 2 works seamlessly with Mac OS X, iLife, iWork, .Mac and Apple print products, so any image in the Aperture library can be accessed directly from within other applications, such as iMovie, Keynote and Pages, and even from within Leopard Mail. Now with .Mac Web Gallery support, Aperture users can publish their photos once to view them on the web, iPhone, iPod touch and Apple TV. Books in Aperture 2 feature new theme designs, layout tools, customized dust jackets (including full-bleed) and foil stamped covers.

Aperture 2 is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $199 (US). Owners of previous versions of Aperture can upgrade to Aperture 2 for $99 (US).

Minimum Hardware Requirements:

One of the following Mac computers:

• Mac Pro
• MacBook Pro
• MacBook Air
• MacBook
• Mac mini with an Intel Core Solo or Duo processor
• iMac with a 1.8GHz or faster PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo processor
• Power Mac G5 with a 1.6GHz or faster PowerPC G5 processor
• 15- or 17-inch PowerBook G4 with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4 processor

Memory requirements:

• 1GB of RAM
• 2GB of RAM required for Mac Pro

One of the following graphics cards:

• ATI Radeon X600 Pro, X600 XT, X800 XT Mac Edition, X850 XT, X1600, X1900 XT, 9800 XT, 9800 Pro, 9700 Pro, 9600, 9600 XT, 9600 Pro, 9650, HD 2400 XT, HD 2600 PRO, or HD 2600 XT
• ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 or 9600
• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra, 6600, 6600 LE, 6800 Ultra DDL, 6800 GT DDL, 7300 GT, 7800 GT, 8600M GT, or 8800 GT
• NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 or Quadro FX 5600
• Intel GMA 950
• Intel GMA X3100

Minimum Operating System requirements:

• Mac OS X v10.4.11 Tiger
• Mac OS X v10.5.2 Leopard
• DVD drive for installation
• 5GB of hard drive space for the application and sample projects

More information on Aperture 2 can be found at www.apple.com/aperture.

Source: Apple

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