How can i import from my Sigma SD10 to Apple Aperture

Hi Frank,

You don't really need a driver -- you can't import directly from your Sigma into Aperture. You need to copy the files from your compact flash card to the Mac, and then convert them using Sigma's software to TIFF or JPEG files, you can load those into Aperture. Aperture has no support for Sigma's RAW format, currently.

Frank, go into Aperture and submit an enhancement request. It's part of product feedback. I have the same problem with my Fuji S2 Pro files. Since RAW support is part of OS X, if Apple adds support for our files into the OS, then Aperture should handle them.

Version 10.4.4, which should be out shortly, is said to have additional RAW file format support built into it.

Jeff Weinberg

Frank,

I also have a Sigma SD10. (By the way, Sigma Photo Pro is a superb raw file format converter for X3F files.). Did you know that Adobe Camera RAW supports the Foveon RAW files?

Yes, definately go to http://www.apple.com/feedback/aperture.html and ask for support for the Foveon X3F format. It is greatly missed in Aperture.

Clint

I have a Sigma SD-10 as well.

In addition to asking for RAW support (which I have also done) what you can do for now is use PhotoPro to export 16-bit TIFF images.

That's what I've been doing. They take up a lot of space but I can use hue, contrast, and other adjustments just fine. The only thing that is not enabled is the "auto-exposure" option. Auto-levels works fine though...

My whole workflow now is to do a really rough-cut in Photopro converting anything that looks half good using a batch conversion using all automatic PhotoPro adjustments.

Then I compare and toss anything really bad in Aperture and do other tweaking (like color) as needed from there. Since those edits take up no space and are quick I save a lot of time over just using PhotoPro and PhotoShop. I've never been quite as happy with Photoshop ACR conversions for SD-10 files so I really didn't use that much.

One thing I would say is that if Aperture supported Adobe DNG Linear RAW files I would probably just use ACR to batch-convert all X3F files to DNG files (embedding originals of course!) and then just work from those. I'm hoping Aperture adds such support pretty soon and would encourage you to ask the same. There are a whole world of camera users that could benefit from that.

via Adobe's stand-alone DNG converter app?

Steve

Steve - OS X (and therefore Aperture) currently only supports DNG files for cameras it supports natively, so converting to DNG won't make any difference.

Frank - the only adjustment that you get in Aperture with RAW but not with TIFF is the fully-automatic button.
Ian

Ian,

I've not played with DNGs much, so I'm not speaking from personal experience.

This seems at odds with the purpose of DNGs. If what you say is true (and I've read about DNGs embedding the original RAW file) then it means that the whole purpose of DNG (i.e. an image format you can use when support for your camera's native RAW has been dropped) is defeated.

Could the problem not be caused by embedding the origina RAW file in the DNG? Perhaps OS/X sees the original RAW file but can't process it.

If you (or the original poster) converts to DNG but elects to 'convert to linear' and 'do not embed original RAW file' (can't remember the exact options) then perhaps OS/X (and therefore Aperture) will be able to read the DNG.

I can't test this as I don't have a camera with an unsupported RAW format.

Steve

DNG version 1: the original RAW file wrapped inside another file with some metadata - this doesn't gain you a lot when it comes to making it easier for other apps to decode the file.

DNG version 2: including a linear, demosaiced image, in theory readable/convertable by any app that fully supports DNG - OS X doesn't (yet?) support reading the linear image, which is why we're all currently limited to native-supported cameras.

In theory, a DNG file with the original embedded AND the linear conversion is the most widely compatible, as applications can use the original RAW if they support that camera, or use the linear conversion if they don't.

Ian

Ian,

Thanks for the clarification.

Steve

Yes, this is completely at odds with the whole point of the DNG format. Apple's claim that it supports DNG is misleading at best.

Yes, this is completely at odds with the whole point
of the DNG format. Apple's claim that it supports DNG
is misleading at best.

I don't think you can claim to be supporting DNG unless you first support DNG linear RAW.

However Apple should not be dinged too badly on this, as it's only the same level of support offered by ANY program that supports DNG today. I defy you to find an app that supports DNG Linear RAW files correctly today. I have yet to see such an app, and I've been looking.

The greater problem is that OSX doesn't support DNGs without supporting the camera it came from RAW format. Linear files or not, OSX flat out does not support DNG as it should.

The bare minimum in supporting DNG is to actually support DNG, not have it as a option of supporting a cameras RAW. Apple needs to fix this, then can move on to anything dealing with options of DNG

Reading the linear conversion is how you support cameras that you haven't already coded for - it's not an 'optional extra' in that way.