Apple Opens Aperture to Third-Party Plugins

The latest patch for Aperture introduces a new set of basic photo-editing tools with the capability for third-party developers to produce more.

Apple added a new level of flexibility to its photo-management and editing software to on Friday with the release of Aperture 2.1, a free patch that allows third-party developers to write plug-ins. The company hopes the new features that can be added will allow photographers to make Aperture their only software need.

“The image quality in Aperture 2 has won over the most demanding photographers,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing, in a statement. “Now, thanks to our open plug-in architecture, users can access an entire industry’s worth of imaging expertise without ever leaving Aperture.”

While the first plug-ins include staples like brush-based dodge and burn tools, contrast and saturation adjustment, sharpen, and blur, Apple has plans to bring out a wider array of plug-ins through partners in the future. For instance, high-ISO noise reduction, stroke-based masking, and chroma-key tools for composites are all in the works.

Aperture 2.1 is available immediately as a free download from Apple.