apple aperture users

[dalewilde]

i have just bought myself a apple macbook and need to decide wether i will buy cs4 or apples photo editing program aperture? anyone know on comparison reviews or such?

[Calxoddity]

Dale,
They're not directly comparable - Aperture is a digital asset management package with good raw processing and output plus some limited editing capability, whereas CS4 is a comprehensive image editing package.

The short answer is that you probably need both types of software. Example: I use Aperture plus PSE6. Don't do that much photochopping, so PSE6 gives me all I need for the 2% of photos that I use it for. Everything else is done in Aperture.

Here's some reviews that might help you work out what you need:
http://www.macworld.com/article/134898/2008/08/lightroom2.html
http://www.macworld.com/article/132459/2008/03/aperture2.html
http://www.macworld.com/article/132704/2008/03/photoshopelements6.html
http://www.macworld.com/article/136256/2008/10/pscs4.html

I've deliberately pulled them all from the same source to reduce reviewer/publisher perception variation.

Regards,
Calx

[MarkW]

For me I didn't like the way aperture 2 stored and handled images. Whether I gave it a full and complete assessment I may not have - but I found that its want to store images and its way of storing side car files not to my liking. I also dont need another image processor as I use Nikon NX2 for small change and CS3 for heavy duty change.

I went for CS3 cause that version was out at the time and use Portfolio as the image management tool. Portfolio doesnt do image manipulation or post processing, in fact it pretty well only stores and locates image files and does that very well (providing you regimentally tag your images).

CS3 is formatted to maintain the TIFF image and any changes I make to the image are permanent - but I keep the oringinal NEF file as an archive disk.

[bigdazzler]

yep .. what Calx said .. ^^^^ :th3:

[discontinued]

I used both - Aperture for managing my files and for doing general editing. I like how it doesn't actually change the original file and I'm able to lift any adjustments I've made. If I want to do something more extensive then I open a file up in CS4 and work on it, then close and save. If you need to make some serious changes to photos and prefer creating from scratch then go Photoshop and use iPhoto that comes with your mac for management and quick edits.

[jonty]

As has been said above, you can't compare the two directly as they do different things (though both can be used for processing RAW files).

What I would do is download trials of Aperture, Nikon Capture NX 2, and Lightroom and see which you prefer (there are many others of course).

[dalewilde]

yeah i think i will do that i now realise ill get cs4 and aperture because ive tried raw processing in cs3 and wasnt a fan thanks everyone!!

[Calxoddity]

Dale,
Good luck - btw, here's a link to a thread where Daz and I discussed Aperture and general Mac setup and I remembered that there was a screenshot of using Aperture for real. This might give you an idea of its look and feel if the reviews don't:

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=23080&page=3

Regards,
Calx