I don't think Apple will venture far past enhancing iPhoto. But it will probably never reach the level of PS LE 3.0
the photo market on the mac is very good at the mo, there's no need to develop iPhoto further, it does more than windows picture viewer, it is already competing with Photoshop because the adobe version of elements doesn't include the album.
Guys, I am talking about software for PROFESSIONAL photographers, not graphic artists or casual home users. These people take 1,000+ images per day in RAW format and need an efficient workflow to review, adjust and convert those images.
iPhoto is for casual home users shooting JPEGs. It can't even read RAW format and would choke on huge TIFFs generated by pro cameras like the 16.7 MP Canon 1Ds-II. I know this because it chokes on my moderate size TIFFs generated from my Canon 20D and processed through Photoshop.
Since I actually use the equipment and software maybe you can take my word for it. Do you guys use digital SLRs and Photoshop for RAW conversion?
BTW, pro camera and lenses usually exceed $10K so these people can afford a nice $499 application that makes their lives easier.
Guys, I am talking about software for PROFESSIONAL photographers, not graphic artists or casual home users. These people take 1,000+ images per day in RAW format and need an efficient workflow to review, adjust and convert those images.
iPhoto is for casual home users shooting JPEGs. It can't even read RAW format and would choke on huge TIFFs generated by pro cameras like the 16.7 MP Canon 1Ds-II. I know this because it chokes on my moderate size TIFFs generated from my Canon 20D and processed through Photoshop.
Since I actually use the equipment and software maybe you can take my word for it. Do you guys use digital SLRs and Photoshop for RAW conversion?
BTW, pro camera and lenses usually exceed $10K so these people can afford a nice $499 application that makes their lives easier.
Ok I'm confused. You want Apple to develop a semi-professional app that is basically an upgrade for iPhoto, but yet you complain that photoshop is not good enough, surely nor would the iPhoto Pro?
If your having problems bringing your images into iPhoto go to the apple forums, and start complaining that your having a problem, or do a search, and start looking for answers.
Games would be a new market for Apple but I'd rather see them fill in some holes in their lineup. They do not have intermediate and pro-level photography software and that's something that is really needed. With core image, maybe they would rather build something from the ground up. Otherwise, they would gain instant credibility if they bought someone like PhaseOne that would be quite similar to their purchase of Emagic (Logic).
Photoshop is one of those "don't compete against" products like Microsoft Word and Excel but digital photography is a market that needs better Mac software and core image is the foundation to build it on.
There is a need for Pro level photography software for the Macintosh, and who would do a better job of it than Apple? Note that this software does not replace Photoshop, or even compete directly with it.
If you would take the time to follow jaslu81's link to PhaseOne software you will see what he is talking about. I have a Nikon D100 that produces 17.3 MB TIFF images and managing a portfolio of these images, especially those that have been to Photoshop for editing could be a strain for iPhoto.
The ability to work with RAW files is essential for any pro-level photography software. iPhoto doesn't do it so it doesn't cut it. Apple could, and hopefully will, offer RAW support in a future version of iPhoto. Adding a "ProPhoto" version for say $299 would be a slam dunk for anyone shooting with any of today's high end digital cameras.
Another Pro photo software of this type is from BibbleLabs check it out.
But if iPhoto was capable of it for free why bother? I think it's not that big of a step, and adding a $250.00 price tag to an iPhoto + 1.0 upgrade seems unnecessary.
Sure if they were to buy it, and integrate it that would be fine, but I still don't see this as a big step for Apple's future.
iPhoto is an excellent application for its intended purpose... people who do not take a lot of photos and who just want to plug in their point and shoot camera (JPEGs) and let the software do most of the work. It provides basic photo management and (non-RAW) image editing. The albums and smart albums features are very nice as are features like batch changes. I'm sure that there's a lot of small enhancements that Apple will make each year.
Pro-level software needs to deal with large numbers of photos since pro's often take 1,000+ photos per day. For example, it's not unusual for threads on photography boards to talk about RAID systems. Apple should target photographers with advertisements about their Xserve RAID product.
Such software would need to operate with a normal filing system... a folder for "sports" could contain a folder for "high school football" which could contain a folder for "fall 2004 games". The iPhoto "film roll" approach does not work for users with many thousands of rolls. The performance of the software would need to be significantly improved since it bogs down with large files.
It also needs RAW image processing. JPEGs and other similar formats are basically images. A RAW file is the actual data that is used to produce the image. That allows photographers to changes important variables such as exposure and color balance that you just can not do with JPEGs. "Conversion" is the process where the RAW image is converted to the format of your choice (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, PSD, etc.).
Workflow would also be important and the comment about Automator is right on since this could help immensely. Easy to use automation of batch adjustments (e.g., all exposure levels +0.2) would be outstanding.
If Apple wants to make these improvements to iPhoto, there will be many people with digital SLRs that will be quite happy. I doubt that they will since iPhoto is not really aimed at the market I am talking about. And this market needs some help with software ease of use.
Comments
Originally posted by onlooker
This is how I see it.
Video: iMovie - FCP Express - FCP
Music: Garageband - Logic Express - Logic
Photography: iPhoto - Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 - Adobe Photoshop CS.
I don't think Apple will venture far past enhancing iPhoto. But it will probably never reach the level of PS LE 3.0
the photo market on the mac is very good at the mo, there's no need to develop iPhoto further, it does more than windows picture viewer, it is already competing with Photoshop because the adobe version of elements doesn't include the album.
iPhoto is for casual home users shooting JPEGs. It can't even read RAW format and would choke on huge TIFFs generated by pro cameras like the 16.7 MP Canon 1Ds-II. I know this because it chokes on my moderate size TIFFs generated from my Canon 20D and processed through Photoshop.
Since I actually use the equipment and software maybe you can take my word for it. Do you guys use digital SLRs and Photoshop for RAW conversion?
BTW, pro camera and lenses usually exceed $10K so these people can afford a nice $499 application that makes their lives easier.
Originally posted by jaslu81
Guys, I am talking about software for PROFESSIONAL photographers, not graphic artists or casual home users. These people take 1,000+ images per day in RAW format and need an efficient workflow to review, adjust and convert those images.
iPhoto is for casual home users shooting JPEGs. It can't even read RAW format and would choke on huge TIFFs generated by pro cameras like the 16.7 MP Canon 1Ds-II. I know this because it chokes on my moderate size TIFFs generated from my Canon 20D and processed through Photoshop.
Since I actually use the equipment and software maybe you can take my word for it. Do you guys use digital SLRs and Photoshop for RAW conversion?
BTW, pro camera and lenses usually exceed $10K so these people can afford a nice $499 application that makes their lives easier.
Ok I'm confused. You want Apple to develop a semi-professional app that is basically an upgrade for iPhoto, but yet you complain that photoshop is not good enough, surely nor would the iPhoto Pro?
How about using automator, photoshop and a G5?
Originally posted by jaslu81
Games would be a new market for Apple but I'd rather see them fill in some holes in their lineup. They do not have intermediate and pro-level photography software and that's something that is really needed. With core image, maybe they would rather build something from the ground up. Otherwise, they would gain instant credibility if they bought someone like PhaseOne that would be quite similar to their purchase of Emagic (Logic).
Phase One Pro Photo Software
Photoshop is one of those "don't compete against" products like Microsoft Word and Excel but digital photography is a market that needs better Mac software and core image is the foundation to build it on.
There is a need for Pro level photography software for the Macintosh, and who would do a better job of it than Apple? Note that this software does not replace Photoshop, or even compete directly with it.
If you would take the time to follow jaslu81's link to PhaseOne software you will see what he is talking about. I have a Nikon D100 that produces 17.3 MB TIFF images and managing a portfolio of these images, especially those that have been to Photoshop for editing could be a strain for iPhoto.
The ability to work with RAW files is essential for any pro-level photography software. iPhoto doesn't do it so it doesn't cut it. Apple could, and hopefully will, offer RAW support in a future version of iPhoto. Adding a "ProPhoto" version for say $299 would be a slam dunk for anyone shooting with any of today's high end digital cameras.
Another Pro photo software of this type is from BibbleLabs check it out.
Sure if they were to buy it, and integrate it that would be fine, but I still don't see this as a big step for Apple's future.
Pro-level software needs to deal with large numbers of photos since pro's often take 1,000+ photos per day. For example, it's not unusual for threads on photography boards to talk about RAID systems. Apple should target photographers with advertisements about their Xserve RAID product.
Such software would need to operate with a normal filing system... a folder for "sports" could contain a folder for "high school football" which could contain a folder for "fall 2004 games". The iPhoto "film roll" approach does not work for users with many thousands of rolls. The performance of the software would need to be significantly improved since it bogs down with large files.
It also needs RAW image processing. JPEGs and other similar formats are basically images. A RAW file is the actual data that is used to produce the image. That allows photographers to changes important variables such as exposure and color balance that you just can not do with JPEGs. "Conversion" is the process where the RAW image is converted to the format of your choice (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, PSD, etc.).
Workflow would also be important and the comment about Automator is right on since this could help immensely. Easy to use automation of batch adjustments (e.g., all exposure levels +0.2) would be outstanding.
If Apple wants to make these improvements to iPhoto, there will be many people with digital SLRs that will be quite happy. I doubt that they will since iPhoto is not really aimed at the market I am talking about. And this market needs some help with software ease of use.