Apple Aperture 2 is the image management tool that allows professionals import large numbers of their pictures directly from digital cameras and other image capture devices.
You can import pictures in a batch, adjusting their properties, group them into libraries and upload to MobileMe online gallery making it available for download for others.
Aperture 2 imports your photos automatically for you when you connect the camera or memory stick containing media to your Mac. Import is automatized in a degree and allows you to streamline routine tasks such as adding copyright information, meta tags, generating thumbnails, changing file names and adding other information. Imports from iPhoto are supported too.
The pictures you import can be grouped into libraries and albums (Smart Albums). Aperture 2 will store your images locally or on any removable media or network drive you may choose and advanced search tool enables you to find the photos you are looking for in seconds.
Once imported, your photos can be previewed, viewed, scrutinized, resized, zoomed and compared with each other allowing you to pick those that look best and get rid of the rest.
Aperture's stack utility lets you add tagging and ratings to a large number of photos very quickly using predefined keyboard shortcuts. The tools included in Aperture 2 allow professional photographers apply corrections in a completely automated fashion. Now you can crop, straighten, adjust exposure, color, brightness and contrast for a large number of photos in an instant. Image enhancement tools such as soft retouch brush remove unwanted effects and defects from your images. Once changes have been made to a picture, you can save them and apply to other images.
All adjustments are being made on copies of original files making sure no original work is destroyed by Aperture.
Once all done, export your finished work to PNG, TIFF, JPEG, PSD or a number of other industry-standard formats. Resolution is set during export and you can include ICC color information and watermark to your images.
Apple Aperture 2 can exchange data with Apple iWork (Pages, Keynote, Numbers), iMovie, iPhone, iPod touch, MobileMe or Apple TV. Publish your work online, making it available for download by your friends, colleagues and customers. There are also plugins available allowing you to upload your stuff to Flickr or Picasa directly from Aperture 2.