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Aperture-2 posts

Filed under: Software

Hydra 1.5: HDR and OS X beauty revisited

by Nik Fletcher (RSS feed) on May 13th, 2008

Back in January, the folks from Creaceed released version 1.0 of Hydra -- a Leopard-only, GPU-powered photo application for creating High Dynamic Range photos that competes with the much-renowned Photomatix Pro. Just in time for the Apple Design Awards version 1.5 of Hydra is available. With more tone-mapping options, an image-navigation HUD, RAW importing (should you wish not to convert to 16-bit TIFF before importing), a plethora of Aperture options (more on those in a moment), and many more new features it's certainly a compelling release.

As mentioned before, there's plenty of Aperture integration with this release. As well as being able to import photos from (and export photos to) Aperture, Hydra is now available as an Aperture plugin (beta) - based on the all-new Aperture 2.1 Plugin SDK - that allows you to create HDR photos from within Aperture.

Unlike the cross-platform Photomatix Pro, Hydra's UI is the epitome of OS X slickness -- replicating much of the look and feel of both Aperture and other iLife applications. We'll be taking a look at both Hydra and Photomatix Pro in the near future to see whether Hydra's charms are merely skin deep.

Hydra 1.5 costs $59.95, and is a free update for those we already have a license.

Tags: aperture, Aperture-2, Aperture-SDK, Aperture2, hdr, Hydra, imaging, photography

Filed under: Software, Software Update

Aperture 2.0.1 hits Software Update

by Nik Fletcher (RSS feed) on Mar 3rd, 2008

Here at TUAW, we've been greatly enjoying the latest version of Aperture, which hit earlier in the year. With a few minor bugs slipping under the radar, the experience has not been entirely annoyance-free, and today Apple has released Aperture 2.0.1 update. Areas receiving treatment include:
  • Library upgrading from previous versions
  • .Mac Web Galleries
  • AppleScript support
  • 'Export Plugin API reliability' - presumably to fix issues with Export Plugin statuses not being showed in the Activity Window (much to the chagrin of third-party developers)
  • and lots, lots, more.

The 43.9MB update is available now through Software Update (if you're running a fully-licensed version of Aperture) or Apple's Download Pages -- if you're running the Aperture Trial, you'll need to re-download the demo from Apple's site as the updater will not work with the Trial version. Aperture costs US$199, with upgrades from version 1 costing US$99.

Tags: aperture-2, apple-aperture

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Apple

Aperture 2 is here

by Nik Fletcher (RSS feed) on Feb 12th, 2008

Let's just say it: Aperture 2 is here - and boy are some of us here at TUAW excited. Amongst the news, the full-price of the application has dropped to just $199 US, with the paid upgrade being just $99. That's down from the previous full price of $299 -- a price currently retained by competitor Adobe Lightroom (we'll see how long that lasts).

New features include:
  • Quick Preview mode -- 'for rapid-fire photo browsing'
  • re-engineered database for the application to allow Quick Preview touted to be snappy even with half-million-image libraries.
  • an all-in-one heads-up panel for Library, Adjustment and Meta-data controls.
  • a selection of new tools: Recovery for blown highlights, Vignette & Devignette, Definition , Vibrancy and Repair and Retouch
  • .Mac Web Gallery integration
  • and 'All Projects' view, not dissimilar to iPhoto '08's 'Events' view
  • improved RAW decoding
The new version is available to buy in the US online store now, and undoubtedly heading to other international online stores soon, though the Aperture site has yet to be updated to reflect the changes now got the low-down on the new features.

Thanks to all those who sent this in!

Tags: aperture, aperture-2

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