Aperture vs. PhotoShop Elements 11

PsE is strictly an image editor. It does not have a library, so there is no organizing. Aperture has pretty deep oganizing tools, crazy metadata editing and great image editing capabilities.

That being said, you can't create layers or do compositing like you can in PsE.

They can be used together (so can iPhoto and PsE). You can set up PsE as an external editor in Aperture. Meaning, you can launch the image into PsE, edit, and save it directly back into Aperture.

Aperture is built to handle larger image files and more of them than iPhoto.

I work with a lot of big images. I use Aperture and Ps CS5 together.

Hope this helps.

Actually iPhoto and Aperture's storage features are not the same. While with the current release of each application they share a common library structure Aperture gives you a much richer set of features to manage your collection. This especially comes into play on a large library. Aperture is clearly better at managing the library.

Aperture's image adjustment and development tools are far superior to iPhoto's especially if you shoot RAW.

Aperture isn't an editor in the sense of a PS. Aperture is a digital image developer, it develops the digital images much like a darkroom develops film negatives. Aperture doesn't do the type of cutting and pasting that a program like PS does. What it does do is give you the tools you need to take an image from the camera to the final print.

Many users of Aperture also make use of an editor like PS or GIMP from time to time in their workflow. Aperture gives you the ability to hook one of these programs into your workflow so that an image can be worked on in Aperture sent to PS and then returned to Aperture for further development and storage.

regards

One thing worth mentioning. If you want Elements, consider buying a Wacom Bamboo. It comes with Elements and it's only, like $20 more. Then you get a sweet drawing surface too.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H7238LL/A/wacom-bamboo-capture-graphics-tablet ?fnode=56&p=1

Good recommendation.

When I purchased my Wacom Intuos4 I picked up PSCS5 for much less than half the price (I don't remember and don't want to mislead with a guess).

Frank -- this is very well put. I have tried dozens of times to express what Aperture is, simply, and now I know how to say it. Thanks. 😀 .

Kirby, that will be 5 bucks please 😉

Larry,

Not to worry, given the software here it's amazing you were able to even reply from an iPad. 😁

Good luck and post back as you get into Aperture. Remember the biggest boost to learning this is to not be worried about making a mistake and loosing your photos. Keep good backups and the rest will come easy.

regards

Frank -- this is very well put. I have tried dozens of times to express what Aperture is, simply, and now I know how to say it.

Yes, isn't? Kirby, your previous answer are terrific too - since an answer is always to be judged in relation to the question asked 🙂

Frank and Kirby, how about another User Tip about the differences between Aperture and iPhoto, and between image development and compositing please?

That is another FAQ where a User Tip would help a lot.

Léonie

Larry,

All I can say from personal experience is that I have had no real troubles with the latest version of Aperture on Mountain Lion, works fine for me.

As for the noise reduction, I've never used iPhoto's noise reduction and I tend not to use noise reduction in Aperture all that much so I can't comment on this directly, I will say that I have seen reports on Aperture's noise reduction capabilities and they seem to be mixed. Some folk are satisfied, some feel it's not as good as what is out there. That's all I can honestly say on that.

Remember that there are a lot of Aperture users out there and the overwhelming majority seem to be satisfied. Are there users having problems, sure, any program with as many users as Aperture has will have its share of problems. Is it a show stopper, for me it's not. Only you can answer that for yourself.

Unfortunately Apple stopped the Aperture trial, that would have been the best thing for you to have done. If there is an Apple store somewhere near you you should be able to load up some of your more troublesome images onto a flash stick and give Aperture a try at the store.

regards

Thanks - this was very helpful!

Thanks - this was very helpful!