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Changing Aperture 2.0's Default Raw Converter
Raw conversion quality is a very subjective topic, and different people have different ideas about what they like in a raw conversion. If you decide you prefer the 1.1 converter to the new 2.0 converter, you can easily change the program to default to the older version. Aperture 2.0 doesn't provide a preference for selecting a raw converter, but the ability to change the defaults for your camera let you tell Aperture to use the 1.1 converter when importing raw files.
To change the default to the 1.1 converter (or 1.0, if you're really old-school) first select an image from your camera. In the Raw Fine Tuning adjustment brick, change the pop-up menu from 2.0 to 1.1. Aperture will re-convert your image using the older converter. Next, open the small gear menu at the top of the HUD and choose Save as Camera Default.
Now, any time you import an image from that same model of camera, Aperture will use the 1.1 converter. If you ever decide you want to change back to the 2.0 converter, just save a new default.
When you change to a previous converter, you'll give up a couple of new features. First, the new Hue Boost and Moiré fine tuning controls will disappear. In the Exposure brick, the Recovery slider will become inaccessible. However, you will still be able to perform highlight recovery using the Exposure slider. Similarly, the Black Point slider will become unusable, but you can perform a black point correction using the black point in the Levels adjustment.
The new Enhance features - Definition and Vibrancy - will still work.
Comments (5)
Ben,
Have you noticed, when upgrading to 2.0 that the images that you processed in the past stay in raw 1.1?
is there a way to get them to convert to 2.0?
THanks
File > Migrate Images will do it, but be aware that the new converter will noticeably change the look of your images.
Yes, I've had to do a fair bit of tweaking to each image I've converted from 1.1 to 2.0. Unless you've a compelling reason (and the desire to clean up all of your images, or haven't worked with them already), I would highly recommend not converting your images en-masse.
I, on the other hand, recommend converting everything, well, for my camera anyway. I am using the Rebel XT and the new conversion 2 is far better than 1.1. Even images that I have spent time post-processing in 1.1 look much better after the 2 conversion.
Because the Rebel converter is so much better I am enjoying going back to images and seeing just how much more info is there and how much better I can post-process them.
It's like seeing a whole bunch of new photographs.
I'm glad to hear you really see a difference in RAW conversion quality with 2.0 ( I have yet to download trial or purchase upgrade ). I got so disappointed with conversions and edits in Aperture version 1.1 I stopped round tripping .Tiff files in an out of the program and resorted to Exporting Master files to Desktop for further editing then have to Import again.
I may give version 2.1 a try now. I want very much to keep as much workflow within one program but so far I see a major improvement in quality in what Nikon Capture NX or Adobe Camera Raw can do in RAW conversion verses Aperture 1.1.
I do have to say that there is no other DAM ( digital asset management ) program quite like Aperture. I just wish Apple would open up the SDK to camera manufacturers like Photo Mechanic has done with Nikon and allow round tripping a .NEF file into PSCS3 or Nikon Capture NX.