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Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Other Raw Converters => Apple Aperture Q&A => Topic started by: StuartOnline on June 11, 2012, 05:13:03 pm

Title: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: StuartOnline on June 11, 2012, 05:13:03 pm
Just now released.

What's New in Aperture 3.3

New unified photo library for both iPhoto (v 9.3 or later) and Aperture; no import/export required; Faces, Places, slideshows, albums and web sharing work across both applications

Support for AVCHD video has been added

Aperture now lets you use camera-generated previews for faster browsing of RAW files immediately after import

Highlights & Shadows tool has been updated to deliver higher-quality results and work with extended range data

A new Auto Enhance button has been added to the Adjustments panel

White Balance tool now includes Skin Tone and Natural Gray modes to simplify color balance

Auto button has been added to the White Balance tool for one-click color balancing

Set Desktop command has been added to Share menu so you can set a desktop background from within Aperture

A new Manual option allows you to drag and drop projects to customize sort order in the Projects view

New preference allows you to set the background brightness of the full screen browser

Facebook, Flickr, and MobileMe albums are now displayed as thumbnails in the main window when accounts are selected in the source list

Minor terminology changes, including "Original" instead of "Master" and "Info" instead of "Metadata"

Source list includes a new "Recent" section, showing Last Import and recently-viewed projects

Raw Fine Tuning is no longer displayed in the Adjustments panel by default

Faces can now be named by dragging them from the Unnamed Faces browser to existing snapshots on the corkboard

The Faces corkboard now includes a menu that allows you to set the order of face snapshots

Newly designed monochrome source list and toolbar icons

Addresses numerous issues related to overall performance and stability

The update is recommended for all users of Aperture 3.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: michswiss on June 11, 2012, 08:53:08 pm
I saw this this morning and went to software update to grab it.  It requires Lion.  I'm still on Snow Leopard on my primary machine.  I'm a long-time user of Aperture and like the software, but I wonder sometimes on the emphasis of features like Faces.  Do any Pro Photogs use this?  I can understand it's usefulness for the FB crowd, but it's completely irrelevant for what I do.

It's also odd that there's additional integration of MobileMe galleries.  I thought those were going away with the advent of iCloud?  Hiding RAW tuning by default also seems like an odd decision.  Seems like this is being more and more tailored to the advanced family shooter.  I'll probably hang tight for a while with the package.  Still wondering what A4 might hold.  But the move to, or addition of C1 might be close.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: trichardlin on June 11, 2012, 11:37:57 pm
This is a nice upgrade.  The addition of extra white balance and highlight/shadow controls are quite useful.  If you don't use Faces (as I don't), it doesn't get in your way.

Richard
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: Alto on June 12, 2012, 12:26:56 pm
Hi All
Bring back the colour icons.

Jon
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: marcoborghesi on June 12, 2012, 12:50:10 pm
In my opinion it's a good update. I notice good improvements in reliability and performance.
Honestly i prefer the old Highlight and Shadows panels just because in my opinion was more complete. Anyway ... with time i can say how and if i like the new ones.
The grey interface it's not really bad ... i think need just time to feel comfortable.
Really nice the new WB Palette and could be useful the iPhoto TAB but not necessarily. I think could be more amazing if they introduced the grain tab in that to.
In generale it's good.

Now i hope they will move on soon for a new release with really new important feature.
M
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 12, 2012, 02:38:01 pm
Having a feature doesn't make the software less good than 'not having' a feature.

This is a very good 'point' upgrade.

I think the decision to dumb-down the Highlights and Shadows brick was a mistake, but it's still there if you want it.  Just make a 'Preset' with it and assign a keyboard command to that preset and apply the brick/adjustment at will.  I don't think Apple can remove it, because they need to cater to older images ... so it has to be in there.

Aperture still has many areas where it is much better than Lr (IMHO) and some where it is less good (IMHO).  Overall, I feel that it is a much much better database (Lr isn't a database ... it's a Finder replacement) and as such I feel happier with it.  But apart from that ... honestly ... just the UI of Lr is enough to make me switch to Aperture.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 12, 2012, 04:04:34 pm
"Lr isn't a database ... it's a Finder replacement"

Nonsense. Its UI provides you both control over Finder, and virtual folders, while Aperture only provides the latter.



[Edit] added a comma for clarity
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 12, 2012, 04:24:58 pm
It's not nonsense.

Lr doesn't organise your files internally.  It simply adds its own UI.  It doesn't move them into any system away from the Finder.  They remain in the Finder at all times.  So it is the Finder that is the database.  Aperture offers a Finder UI (referenced) and a true database via 'managed'.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 12, 2012, 04:39:12 pm
It certainly is nonsense. There's a SQL database that powers everything, and which records and displays where the files were when they were imported or where LR has moved them. In no meaningful sense does LR use Finder folders as a database.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 12, 2012, 04:49:01 pm
There's no option in Lr, that I've ever seen, to have files managed within a database.  Therefore, it seems to me that the Lr system is always at the mercy of missteps made by the user in the Finder.  That's why I suggest it's not a true database, which manages everything from A-Z.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 12, 2012, 05:13:52 pm
I'm sorry, but you seem to have a very shaky definition of what a database is. Aperture's "managing files in a database" is actually more like "storing managed files in a Mac OS package" or using the OS's file id (I forget what it's called) instead of the folder path (as in LR) to record referenced files' locations in the database SQL. And the last time I looked it only updated properly with referenced files on internal drives. To be honest, you'd be better off looking at the detail before arguing too much over this one ;)
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 12, 2012, 05:33:59 pm
Oops.  If you look inside an Aperture library, you will find a true database structure.  (SQL).  The last time you looked must have been before it shipped.

The point I'm making and I don't want to be contentious about this, so I'll just stop here, is that Aperture offers a managed SQL database, where there is no possibility of the database files being handled outside the UI of the database itself (Aperture).  It also offers a referenced system (like Lr) where the database content can be handled in more than one place (Finder and Aperture/Lr).  This AFAIC, is only a half database, because it is using the Finder's filing system and adding its own layer on top.  For example, you wouldn't find a bank running a system where data could be manipulated in 2 separate places (well ... actually all bankers manipulate money in an as many places/ways as they can ... but that's another issue).
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: JWB on June 12, 2012, 05:49:23 pm
Upgraded my copy of Aperture last night. I love the new white balance feature. The auto balance for skin tones works beautifully! I'll probably continue to use the temperature and tint feature for landscapes, but I'll definitely be using the new skin tone white balance feature for portraits in mixed lighting!

I'm not sure about the new highlights and shadows tool. It certainly works differently and produces different results. It's going to take some getting used to on my part.

The application in general seems faster--quite snappy actually.

The new gray interface, to me, seems to emphasize that Aperture is a pro application. It's a nice touch. This means that if I'm not in full screen, the only color on my screen now is the color in the image I'm editing and possibly in the histogram.

Great job Apple. Now, please give me an updated RAW converter with lens profiles! I'll hoping we're getting that with Mountain Lion next month.

For those of you still on Snow Leopard, I wonder what's keeping you from Lion? Don't bother upgrading now for Aperture 3.3. Mountain Lion will be out next month and it will only cost $19 and can be used to upgrade from any previous version of Mac OS X. It's probably worth waiting one month.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 12, 2012, 05:56:50 pm
I'm not sure about the new highlights and shadows tool.

The old one is not lost.  Here's how you get it back :

Find an image that you've used H&S on previously and you will see the old H&S adjustment brick still there.
Make a copy version of your image
trash the other bricks
set H&S to zero and apply to the entire image (in case you had previously brushed it)
Save as preset
(Optionally apply a keyboard shortcut to your preset)

You can now apply the old H&S adjustment to any of your new images if you wish.

(FWIW ... IMO the old H&S adjustment was/is the most interesting tool in Aperture.  I hope they bring it back as an alternative.  File Aperture Feedback if you feel the same.)

Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 12, 2012, 05:57:41 pm
"Oops.  If you look inside an Aperture library, you will find a true database structure.  (SQL).  The last time you looked must have been before it shipped."

Try not distorting what I said about "last time I looked" - I specifically referred to the last time I looked how Aperture records file locations, not whether Aperture records data in its SQL database (which of course it does). "Managed", incidentally, is the standard term for one way in which Aperture records file locations and stores them inside the library. I'm sorry, but it's pretty clear you have a loose grasp of what you're talking about. You're not far away, but you need to get your terms sorted out.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 12, 2012, 06:16:12 pm
I wasn't trying to distort anything.  What would be the point in that?

"Aperture's "managing files in a database" is actually more like "storing managed files in a Mac OS package""

I guess this is what I'm responding to.  What does it mean?  It certainly suggests you don't fully understand what Aperture does or what a MacOS package is.

Anyway, aside from that.  I have a pretty good understanding of what a database is and Aperture offers one.  Lr offers a DBMS and that is not a database.  Aperture also offers a DBMS to manage a database outside its own system, as a user choice.  It's not my choice, because I think it's flawed/dangerous in terms of data integrity.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 12, 2012, 06:21:07 pm
OK ... I understand now.  You're actually just trolling because you sell Lr stuff.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 12, 2012, 07:13:28 pm
Oh, I see, because I prefer Lightroom means I'm not giving you simple facts. Hm. It's more like your failure to understand basic terms like database or package kinda exposes that you're out of your depth.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 12, 2012, 07:16:46 pm
It's always a mistake to debate anything with someone hiding behind anonymity.....
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: michswiss on June 12, 2012, 07:29:06 pm
Having a feature doesn't make the software less good than 'not having' a feature.

This is a very good 'point' upgrade.


Some of the new features certainly sound interesting.  That said, I make a lot of use of the current H&S tools so am a little wary of the new shadows tools.  Still, I won't be making the update until Mountain Lion comes out.  I can't think of a compelling reason to do two major OS upgrades within a six week period
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: msbc on June 13, 2012, 07:41:25 am
The thing you need to understand about John is that he likes to dump on Aperture. He goes out of his way to make negative posts about Aperture whenever he can - just check his blog or other posts in this forum. He never contributes anything to the Aperture discussion so I really don't know what his agenda is.

Mark Connell - no anonymity so debate away :-)
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 13, 2012, 07:58:18 am
Agenda? Simply correcting a ludicrous point about Lightroom in this thread.... I don't think any of my comments have been dumping on Aperture, not here anyway.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: Bob Rockefeller on June 13, 2012, 09:59:55 am
This is not true. Aperture allows both forms of image filing - you can let Aperture decide where the images are stored (managed) or you can decide (referenced). Plus you get the virtual organization of albums, books, light tables, etc.

If you pick managed, Aperture puts the images inside its own hidden folder systems (called a package) and moves them around in there as you move them around inside Aperture. You can open the package in the Finder if you want to dig around in there and see the images yourself. They are not locked away, just filed differently.

When you pick referenced, the images are kept in folders in the Finder in the obvious way.

In either case, if you go to the Finder and move files around, Aperture may lose them and you have to tell it where they are.

The nice thing about Aperture is you can mix the virtual organization with the physical. The aperture project holds the images and inside that project you can create albums, books, light tables, etc. I find that to be a much more powerful way to organize than Lightroom's separate folders and collections.

Bob
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 13, 2012, 10:11:17 am
You're arguing a point I didn't even make....
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: Bob Rockefeller on June 13, 2012, 10:36:14 am
"Nonsense. Its UI provides you both control over Finder, and virtual folders, while Aperture only provides the latter."

John, I was responding to this point.

Bob
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 13, 2012, 11:32:11 am
Thanks, then I stand by it in its context. Lightroom offers direct control of file and folder locations through its UI, unlike Aperture, and both offer virtual folders, Lightroom's being optional and Aperture's compulsory. With heavy irony, wouldn't it be great if Lightroom users were forced to jump through hoops like File > Relocate / Consolidate Originals just to control where their files are? If the guy had identified other aspects - Aperture's better smart albums, list view, preview mode, slideshows, books, perhaps AppleScript too - he might have been on firm ground.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: Bob Rockefeller on June 13, 2012, 01:07:23 pm
Lightroom offers direct control of file and folder locations through its UI, unlike Aperture, and both offer virtual folders, Lightroom's being optional and Aperture's compulsory.

OK, I see where you're coming from.

And yes, Aperture (stemming from it's inception) has assumed that you don't care where, exactly, the original image files are stored on your drive. For lots of folks, like me, that works fine - let the computer keep track of such things as long as I can find any output (JPGs) I might produce. After all, I can create books, order prints, create slideshows, make prints and even email JPGs without having to touch those files. Others want the ability to "see" their files out there on the hard drive; and they really hate Aperture's managed system.

But that managed system allows for Aperture's ability to save vaults as all inclusive backups. Lightroom users depend on other backup systems.

The "consolidate masters" command is for moving originals back into Aperture's package. But if you do want to move referenced files around on the drive, you need the "relocate masters" command.

In the end, as I've often said, the Aperture vs. Lightroom discussion has a lot in common with the Nikon vs. Canon discussion. Both are powerful and effective tools about which intelligent people can disagree on which is "best," because a lot comes down to personal taste.

Bob
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: ario on June 13, 2012, 01:15:46 pm
My SW of choice is the one I know better.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 13, 2012, 01:31:39 pm
"the Nikon vs. Canon discussion"

Isn't that just a way to evade a judgement? YMMV, Different Strokes etc. There are plenty of times when you can say A does something in a better way than B.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: Bob Rockefeller on June 13, 2012, 01:39:40 pm
"the Nikon vs. Canon discussion"

Isn't that just a way to evade a judgement? YMMV, Different Strokes etc. There are plenty of times when you can say A does something in a better way than B.

There ARE times that A does a specific task better than B. For example, Lightroom has better noise reduction abilities than Aperture and Aperture has better Slideshow abilities than Lightroom (not to start a feature-by-feature count).

But there are also times that A does a specific task differently than B. "Better" then depends a lot on the user.

And, since powerful programs such as Aperture and Lightroom do so very many specific tasks, its hard to callout an overall "winner" when some of those tasks are done better by one and some better by the other.

This is why I say it's a bit like Nikon vs. Canon.

I use Aperture (as my primary choice, since I own Lightroom 4.1, too), because the "better" features outweigh the "worse" features for the way I work and the things I do.

Bob
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: marcoborghesi on June 13, 2012, 02:58:51 pm
In my opinion with my English from Italy about the match aperture vs lightroom can stop just saying I think the best software is that one suite perfectly on you and in my opinion there isn't nothing you can get from these kind of discussion. As the Nikon vs Canon long debate doesn't get you nothing good for yor work. Nikon user will go on to work with as Canon users to. The same Aperture's users and lightroom to.
So in my opinion that's the fact.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: KirbyKrieger on June 13, 2012, 03:52:59 pm
This is not true. Aperture allows both forms of image filing - you can let Aperture decide where the images are stored (managed) or you can decide (referenced). Plus you get the virtual organization of albums, books, light tables, etc.

If you pick managed, Aperture puts the images inside its own hidden folder systems (called a package) and moves them around in there as you move them around inside Aperture. You can open the package in the Finder if you want to dig around in there and see the images yourself. They are not locked away, just filed differently.

When you pick referenced, the images are kept in folders in the Finder in the obvious way.

In either case, if you go to the Finder and move files around, Aperture may lose them and you have to tell it where they are.

The nice thing about Aperture is you can mix the virtual organization with the physical. The aperture project holds the images and inside that project you can create albums, books, light tables, etc. I find that to be a much more powerful way to organize than Lightroom's separate folders and collections.

Bob

Very well said, imho.  On point, specific, clear, true, personal, and free of put-downs and posturing.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 13, 2012, 04:24:34 pm
Must be the first thing that's happened in this forum for a long time!
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: KirbyKrieger on June 13, 2012, 07:13:38 pm
The old one is not lost.  Here's how you get it back :

Find an image that you've used H&S on previously and you will see the old H&S adjustment brick still there.
Make a copy version of your image
trash the other bricks
set H&S to zero and apply to the entire image (in case you had previously brushed it)
Save as preset
(Optionally apply a keyboard shortcut to your preset)

You can now apply the old H&S adjustment to any of your new images if you wish.

(FWIW ... IMO the old H&S adjustment was/is the most interesting tool in Aperture.  I hope they bring it back as an alternative.  File Aperture Feedback if you feel the same.)


_Very_ welcome news.  Thanks!  I use H&S on almost every adjusted Image.

For those who want complete step-by-step instructions, I have posted some on the Apple Aperture Discussion forum, here (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4026294?tstart=0).

Works great.

I don't know of a way within Aperture to apply a keyboard shortcut to a Preset (now called an Effect) -- do you?  I set it to one using Keyboard Maestro.  I selected a keyboard shortcut very similar to the ones I use for all the Quick Brushes.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: gfsymon on June 14, 2012, 07:10:49 am
_Very_ welcome news.  Thanks!  I use H&S on almost every adjusted Image.

You're welcome. :)

Quote
I don't know of a way within Aperture to apply a keyboard shortcut to a Preset (now called an Effect) -- do you? 

OK ... using the 'new' terminology :

Make your new 'Effect' ( I called mine Highlights & Shadows + )
Go to Aperture Menu / Commands / Customize /
The Search field will already be active ... just type 'high'
Add your Keyboard Command.  I use Ctrl-Optn-Cmd for everything personalised, because virtually no software ever uses it itself. So mine is Ctrl-Optn-Cmd-H  (A Sal Soghoian tip! :) )

FWIW, Aperture lets you personalise and add keyboard commands for virtually every part of its entire UI.  You can also have more than one 'personalised keyboard', so if you really wanted to, you could get a couple of keyboards, put stickers on them and work very fast that way.


Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: JohnNewman on June 14, 2012, 07:55:35 am
The old one is not lost.  Here's how you get it back :

Find an image that you've used H&S on previously and you will see the old H&S adjustment brick still there.
Make a copy version of your image
trash the other bricks
set H&S to zero and apply to the entire image (in case you had previously brushed it)
Save as preset
(Optionally apply a keyboard shortcut to your preset)

You can now apply the old H&S adjustment to any of your new images if you wish.

(FWIW ... IMO the old H&S adjustment was/is the most interesting tool in Aperture.  I hope they bring it back as an alternative.  File Aperture Feedback if you feel the same.)



This also works if you want to preserve the 'old' Edge Sharpen brick.  I previously decided I preferred Edge Sharpen to Sharpen but see that Aperture 3.3 only has Sharpen.  I don't know if this is an improved version but don't want to take the risk of not having Edge Sharpen available if I wanted it so followed the same idea of duplicating an old image, removing all other adjustments and saving as an effect.

Regards

John
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: StuartOnline on June 14, 2012, 08:26:35 am
This also works if you want to preserve the 'old' Edge Sharpen brick.  I previously decided I preferred Edge Sharpen to Sharpen but see that Aperture 3.3 only has Sharpen.  I don't know if this is an improved version but don't want to take the risk of not having Edge Sharpen available if I wanted it so followed the same idea of duplicating an old image, removing all other adjustments and saving as an effect.

Regards

John

Hi John,

I just checked and Edge Sharpening is still within Aperture 3.3. I found it under Add Adjustment.

On another note Joseph Linaschke of ApertureExpert.com has posted his review of Aperture 3.3:
http://www.apertureexpert.com/tips/2012/6/14/aperture-33-the-apertureexpert-review.html

Personally I go back and forth between LR4 and Aperture 3.3.
Have a new MacBook Pro with the Retina Display on order and was just notified from Apple it will arrive on Monday, June 18th.
Since Aperture 3.3 has be optimized to work with the Retina Display it is going to be interesting on how viewing improves.
I am sure Adobe will be upgrading their software to take advantage of the Retina Display.


Stu
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: CatOne on June 14, 2012, 01:19:00 pm
This also works if you want to preserve the 'old' Edge Sharpen brick.  I previously decided I preferred Edge Sharpen to Sharpen but see that Aperture 3.3 only has Sharpen.

Hmmm.  No, Edge Sharpen is still there in Aperture 3.3.  It's the preferred adjustment, and what you get by default when you hit control-S to add a sharpen adjustment.

"Sharpen" is purely a legacy adjustment.  Unless you used Aperture in 1.0 and have photos you sharpened and haven't upgrade, you should never use it.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: Daniel Salazar on June 14, 2012, 03:21:10 pm
a question John, if you like Lightroom so much, why are you posting on this Aperture forum?, what does it brings you?, what are you trying to get?, this behaviour makes no sence. Daniel
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: john beardsworth on June 14, 2012, 03:38:10 pm
I might say mind your own xxxxxxx business, Daniel, but I was reading the thread (am I allowed to do that?) because I was curious (is that OK too?) to figure out the change to previews as I couldn't see it from looking at Aperture on my own computer (OK with you?), and corrected a remarkably misleading point about Lightroom. To be honest, as the thread had moved on I was going to let sleeping dogs lie, but as you ask....
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: KirbyKrieger on June 15, 2012, 09:03:13 am
Hmmm.  No, Edge Sharpen is still there in Aperture 3.3.  It's the preferred adjustment, and what you get by default when you hit control-S to add a sharpen adjustment.

"Sharpen" is purely a legacy adjustment.  Unless you used Aperture in 1.0 and have photos you sharpened and haven't upgrade, you should never use it.

As far as can tell, the Quick Brush uses Sharpen (and has since at least v. 3.0, which is where I climbed aboard).  As such, it is not "purely a legacy adjustment".  Rather, the two sharpening adjustments exist side-by-side.  (If you sharpen using the Quick Brush, you get a "Sharpen" Brick in the Adjustment stack; if you add an "Edge Sharpen" adjustment, you get an "Edge Sharpen" Brick in the Adjustment stack; if you do both, you get both.)

I have assumed that the engineers left it this way for a reason, and have thus used the Sharpen Brick for brushing, and the Edge Sharpen Brick for whole-image sharpening.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: KirbyKrieger on June 15, 2012, 09:07:54 am
You're welcome. :)

FWIW, Aperture lets you personalise and add keyboard commands for virtually every part of its entire UI.  You can also have more than one 'personalised keyboard', so if you really wanted to, you could get a couple of keyboards, put stickers on them and work very fast that way.

Thanks twice  :D .

I have customized the entire keyboard shortcuts set.  For some reason I couldn't find my newly added Effect in the command list.  Just double-checked, and of course it's there.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: CatOne on June 15, 2012, 10:27:18 am
As far as can tell, the Quick Brush uses Sharpen (and has since at least v. 3.0, which is where I climbed aboard).  As such, it is not "purely a legacy adjustment".  Rather, the two sharpening adjustments exist side-by-side.  (If you sharpen using the Quick Brush, you get a "Sharpen" Brick in the Adjustment stack; if you add an "Edge Sharpen" adjustment, you get an "Edge Sharpen" Brick in the Adjustment stack; if you do both, you get both.)

I have assumed that the engineers left it this way for a reason, and have thus used the Sharpen Brick for brushing, and the Edge Sharpen Brick for whole-image sharpening.

Hmmm.  Interesting, that's true.  Still, trust me, sharpen is more "legacy."  It's about as good at sharpening as Aperture's noise reduction is at removing noise ;-)
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: KirbyKrieger on June 15, 2012, 11:35:45 am
Hmmm.  Interesting, that's true.  Still, trust me, sharpen is more "legacy."  It's about as good at sharpening as Aperture's noise reduction is at removing noise ;-)

Can you speculate as to why Apple has, over the course of at least a couple of years and several updates, left the Sharpen Quick Brush untouched?  Not trying to be disagreeable -- just hoping to learn more in the absence (now quite common) of any information from the creators of the tools we use.

Have you done any comparison testing of the two adjustments when used for brushed-on spot sharpening?
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: JWB on June 18, 2012, 02:52:09 pm
Can you speculate as to why Apple has, over the course of at least a couple of years and several updates, left the Sharpen Quick Brush untouched?  Not trying to be disagreeable -- just hoping to learn more in the absence (now quite common) of any information from the creators of the tools we use.

Have you done any comparison testing of the two adjustments when used for brushed-on spot sharpening?

I'm not sure why the quick brush uses Sharpen rather than Edge Sharpen, but this paragraph from the Aperture manual is illuminating:

Quote
Which Sharpening Adjustment Should You Use?
If you’ve already applied sharpening in a previous version of Aperture using the Sharpen adjustment controls, the Sharpen adjustment controls are still there so that your adjustments remain intact and unchanged. However, to do further sharpening on other images, it is recommended that you use the Edge Sharpen adjustment controls, which generally offer more precise control over how sharpening is applied. For more information, see Working with the Edge Sharpen Controls.

I believe you can brush in Edge Sharpen.
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: KirbyKrieger on June 18, 2012, 08:09:35 pm
I'm not sure why the quick brush uses Sharpen rather than Edge Sharpen, but this paragraph from the Aperture manual is illuminating:

I believe you can brush in Edge Sharpen.


To me, it illuminates a contradiction.  If Apple recommends Edge Sharpen over (old) Sharpen, why hasn't the still-current Sharpen Quick Brush been supplanted by the Edge Sharpen Quick Brush?  "Repair and Clone" Quick Brush replaced the "Spot and Patch" Quick Brush when 3.0 came out -- and now with 3.4 we've seen the replacement of whole Bricks.  Seems an excellent question for Apple:  why does the sharpening Quick Brush work with the out-dated and not-recommended Sharpen Brick?
Title: Re: Aperture 3.3 Released June 11. 2012
Post by: sdwilsonsct on June 19, 2012, 03:58:14 am
Wow! Finally a version of Aperture that doesn't hang my aging Mac. Thanks for the heads-up. And the tips in this thread.
Scott