Aperture is Apple's RAW image processor and file manager

Aperture is Apple's RAW image processor and file manager; it competes with Adobe Lightroom but undercuts its price by $100. Like LR (and Adobe Camera RAW), it is a RAW image processor and also an application for managing large collections of files. It imposes order with Projects, similar to Catalogues in LR. Pictures can be exported as web pages or arranged for printing as a book, or as a slideshow. Aperture is well integrated with iPhoto.

LIKE

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The combination of Aperture and iPhoto is just about all the average photographer could want. Input is not restricted to RAW files – it handles all formats produced by digital cameras. The interface is attractive and the free PDF user manual is brilliant. Adobe should take note.

DISLIKE

Cataloguing, naming and managing files is not intuitive. You need the manual to get the best out of the program. The web gallery construction module is basic compared with either Lightroom or Adobe Bridge, but it can be improved with third-party Gallery theme sets.

VERDICT

Photoshop can be designated as the external photo editor in Aperture, so it can be as well integrated into either PS or PS Elements as Lightroom is. If your photo collection is in a mess and you have lost track of particular images, Aperture is a good tool for imposing order. For Mac pixies, it's a no-brainer.