Aperture, Apple’s professional photo management and processing application, is to be discontinued. As a long-time Aperture user I am sad but not too surprised. Back in February this year, after months of trying to run Aperture and Lightroom side by side, I decided to go with Lightroom. As I wrote at the time, I prefer Lightroom’s folder-based management system and I am now happier with the post-processing routine in Adobe’s application.
Fans of Aperture can look forward to a much improved OS X Photos app later this year when it will be possible for most people to store all their shots in iCloud. The distinction between iPhoto and Aperture has been blurred for some time, especially since it became possible to share the same data file between the two. Now, Apple can concentrate on perfecting the photo cloud experience and I have no doubt this will appeal to the vast majority of amateur photographers.
Meanwhile, Adobe has been quick to jump in to win the hearts of Aperture pro users:
Put simply we’re doubling down on our investments in Lightroom and the new Creative Cloud Photography plan and you can expect to see a rich roadmap of rapid innovation for desktop, web and device workflows in the coming weeks, months and years. We also continue to invest actively on the iOS and OSX platforms, and are committed to helping interested iPhoto and Aperture customers migrate to our rich solution across desktop, device and web workflows.
Abobe’s subscription-based Creative Cloud Photography Plan offers Photoshop CC as well as Lightroom for £8.78 a month, including tax, and will be an attractive alternative for ex-Aperturists. Currently I rely on Lightroom because it comes free with all Leica cameras. However, now the die is cast in Adobe’s favour, there is little reason not to subscribe and have the additional benefits of Photoshop.