“In an effort to improve the RAW conversion quality provided by Aperture (and other applications that rely on the same operating system code for those conversions), Apple issued a call for RAW files from professional photographers earlier this month. The earlier request was made to a select group of working shooters and others; now, Apple has given the green light to make the option of submitting files open to anyone seriously interested in helping the company spruce up its RAW file processing. In the words of Apple PR staffer Christine Wilhelmy: ‘We want to reach as many professional photographers as we can,'” Rob Galbraith writes.
The wording of Apple’s request is as follows:
In a ongoing effort to improve and refine the handling of RAW images in the Mac OS, Apple is interested in working with a broad range of sample images from professional photographers. If you have images that you feel exemplify particular aspects of RAW handling that require improvement, you can submit these to Apple for testing and evaluation purposes. Please be assured that any image content you send us will be used for internal testing purposes only. None of these images will be distributed to the public, used in any marketing capacity whatsoever, or included in public demos. They will be used exclusively to test and evaluate RAW image processing, with the goal of delivering improved RAW support for your camera in the future.
More info here.
Advertisements:
• MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
• iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
• iMac and MacBook Pro owners: Apple USB Modem. Easily connect to the Internet using dial-up service. Only $49.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
Maybe they’re hoping Playboy will submit some photos?
^ “Maybe they’re hoping Playboy will submit some photos?”
Naah. “Perfect 10”.
If Aperture can get its RAW processing right we will have much less need for Photoshop… Then Adobe can take as long as they like..
And the next Aperture update–the one that improves the RAW stuff–should be free just like the universal one is. Unless they’re one and the same. How hard can it be to fix?
Now I’m thinking of the Windows tolerators who like to say Apple never listens to its customers, but somehow Microsoft does better
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
http://www.apple.com/feedback says different. So does Apple catching a clue and making universal aperture free.
I have an idea.. lets see… HOW ABOUT supporting more then 2 camera’s RAW! HOW ABOUT IT APPLE? My Fuji S2Pro shoots BEAUTIFUL pix, and RAW works delightfully with Adobe whatever (Lightroom, Photoshop). Apple, on the other hand, simply cannot even READ the RAW pix from my Fuji.
Not so professional photo app, eh???
After spending a lot of money for a glorified iPhoto (as I can’t work with my RAW pix as discussed below), yes, you may say I’m a LITTLE bitter….
compete with each other!
what’s up with people repeating the same wrong info over and over? does that happen on boards for Windows lovers too?
“Apple calls on photogs to provide RAW photos for Amateur improvements testing”
T,FTFY
Fuji.
Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Fuji. What a hoot.
Ah yes, the choice of the pro wannabe’s but price conscious. I’m sure Apple will get around to it, after the Canons and Nikons, hasselbads, etc.
Fuji…
you did of course read the page of supported cameras BEFORE purchasing.
No?
Calling Aperture “A glorified iPhoto” is an indication that iPhoto is probably the better tool for you.
Aperture is aimed at professionals, and I dare say even most serious amateurs probably won’t see the benefits.
I might shoot 500 to a thousand shots in a typical session. On the occasion I do a wedding it can be as many as 3000 exposures.
Aperture shines at handling this large number of RAW photographs. I’m shooting with a Canon EOS 1DS Mark II and a 1D Mark II as spare. My RAW images are on the average 15-20MB.
Aperture makes it feel like I’m working with 200K Jpegs, its so fast.
If you’re just shooting the occasion bug, flower, vacation, and family shot, then no, Aperture isn’t for you. iPhoto is a much better tool.
I also find Aperture’s color matching to exceed the capabilities of Photoshop without going through the hoops Photoshop makes you go through. Printing to an Epson R1800, R2400, and the Stylus Photo 4800 I got excellent results without all the tinkering required in Photoshop.
My guess is that a significant portion of the complaints about Aperture are coming from hacks, and not real photographers.
As a consultant I’ve installed and trained REAL photographers on this software as well. Those that are new to digital workflows love it. Those that are entrenched in a Photoshop workflow miss what they’ve become accustomed to, but gradually learn to love Aperture.
TheloniniousMac
I know exactly how you feel… i had someone tell me that Final Cut is just iMovie but bloated, more difficult to use, and more expensive.
Aperture and iPhoto are used for completely different things, just like Final Cut and iMovie, and some people don’t realize it.
Uh… TheloniniousMac… you missed the point. Aperture DOES NOT DO RAW from the Fuji S2 pro. Your snide comment about the camera choice only exemplifies your ignorance. It really doesnt matter if you choose to use Nikon or Canon (both of which I have). Aperture SELLS itself as a Raw workhorse. And YES I did read the support. Initially it was not at all clear that it would not support my Fuji (it has since been updated).
This is not the Apple “way”. They need to FIX IT and FIX IT now.
TheloniniousMac, while I agree with you on most of your points, Aperture does need further work in both conversion quality and the handling of a color managed workflow. Where is my 16-bit ProPhotoRGB? Why does ACR do such a better job at retrieving blown out highlights. Why does C1 do a better job with shadow area noise? And, not that I use it, but why does Canon ImageBrowser give such nice color compared to other converters?
Also, taking your example of 3000 20mb images which is about 60gb, I’d say that even with 500gb drives you could only shoot 8 weddings before you have to change to a new library and drive. At that point, the workflow benefits of Aperture browsing stop because its library can only exist on one drive at a time. It is a throwback to the iPhoto system. That system works for iPhoto. It even works well for me as a commercial table top shooter. It does not work quite as well for a full blown Pro app aimed at high volume/quick workflow professional photographers. They simply create too much volume for a one drive limitation.
Are any of these thing impossible to over come, no. The most glaring of which is really good, but not top or even second place RAW conversion quality. It looks like Apple is taking the first steps to correct Apertures shortcomings. I would imagine that most of the kinks will be worked out during point releases.
To the idiots who have to keep keep repeating that Photoshop and Aperture do not compete, I say this: As a photographer I need to get photo’s sorted, adjusted and out the door… just what Aperture will do for me when its fixed and I have a Mac with Intel duo. With Aperture I do not need Photoshop except in very special, rare circumstances. So whatever you say, photogs WILL have less use for Photoshop…