Apple Releases Aperture 3

Apple has released Aperture 3, the next major release of its photo-editing and -management software. It includes more than 200 new features.

The new features include:

• Faces: Aperture 3 uses face detection and recognition to find and organize photos by the people in them. Users can view faces across their entire photo library or view just the faces that appear in selected projects. In addition, Aperture 3 now displays faces that have been detected but haven’t yet been named.

• Places: Allows the user to explore photos based on where they were taken, and automatically reverse geocodes GPS data into user-friendly locations. Users can assign locations by dragging-and-dropping photos onto a map or by using location information from GPS-enabled cameras, tracking devices or iPhone photos.

• Brushes: Users can “paint” effects onto the image. Aperture 3 includes 15 Quick Brushes that perform popular tasks like Dodge, Burn, Polarize and Blur, without the complexity of layers or masks. Brushes can automatically detect edges in images to allows users to apply or remove effects exactly where desired.

• Adjustment presents: Dozens of Adjustment Presets are included that apply a specific style or look to the entire image with one click. Users can create their own custom presets or explore the techniques of other photographers by importing theirs.

• Slideshows: Users can weave together photos, audio, text, and HD video. One of six Apple-designed themes can be selected, or users can choose their own transitions, backgrounds, borders and titles, as well as soundtracks.

Suggested retail price: $199; existing Aperture users can upgrade for a suggested retail price of $99.

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