Aperture Performing Image Adjustments K Apple Computer, Inc. © 2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Aperture software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or clerical errors. Because Apple frequently releases new versions and updates to its system software, applications, and Internet sites, images shown in this book may be slightly different from what you see on your screen. The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the "keyboard" Apple logo (Option-Shift-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Aperture is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. 1 Contents Chapter 1 5 6 9 11 12 13 15 19 19 22 23 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 44 46 49 54 54 55 An Overview of Image Adjustments An Overview of Adjustments in Aperture Using the Adjustment Controls Working with Tools in the Toolbar Performing Adjustments in Full Screen Mode Applying Adjustments to a Group of Images Working with Adjustment Presets Remove All Adjustments from Selection Command Using the Color Meter Using an External Editor Understanding How to Read Histograms Making Image Adjustments Working with Automatic Adjustments Using the Auto Exposure Button Using the Auto Levels Combined Button Using the Auto Levels Separate Button Setting the Auto Levels Options Resetting Auto Levels Adjustments Working with the Red Eye Correction Controls Reducing Red-Eye Using the Red Eye Tool Adjusting the Size of Red Eye Target Overlays Adjusting the Sensitivity of Red-Eye Target Overlays Viewing the Corrected Image Without Red Eye Target Overlays Moving Red Eye Target Overlays Deleting Red Eye Target Overlays Working with the Spot & Patch Controls Spotting Your Images Patching Your Images Using the Spot & Patch Controls Viewing the Corrected Image Without Spot & Patch Target Overlays Moving Spot & Patch Target Overlays Deleting Spot & Patch Target Overlays Chapter 2 3 56 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 64 65 67 69 71 78 78 81 81 82 86 86 87 88 94 95 96 97 98 104 104 106 107 108 109 111 112 115 Index 117 Working with the Straighten Controls Rotating Images with the Straighten Tool Rotating Images with the Straighten Controls Working with the Crop Controls Cropping Images with the Crop Tool Displaying the Cropped Image Without the Crop Overlay Cropping Images with the Crop Controls Working with the Exposure Controls Correcting Exposure in the Image Adjusting Saturation in the Image Adjusting Brightness in the Image Adjusting Contrast in the Image Setting the Tint of the Black, Gray, and White Values in the Image Working with the Levels Controls Adjusting the Luminance Levels in an Image Showing Quarter-Tone Levels Controls Adjusting the Brightness of an Image with the Brightness Levels Sliders Using Levels for Color Correction Working with the Highlights & Shadows Controls Adjusting Brightness Values in the Highlight Areas of the Image Adjusting Brightness Values in the Shadow Areas of the Image Using the Highlights & Shadows Advanced Settings Working with the White Balance Controls Adjusting White Balance in the Image with the White Point Eyedropper Adjusting the Color Temperature of the Image with the Temp Controls Adjusting the Tint of the Image with the Tint Controls Working with the Color Controls Working with the Monochrome Mixer Controls Choosing a Monochrome Mixer Preset Using the Monochrome Mixer Controls Working with the Color Monochrome Controls Working with the Sepia Tone Controls Working with the Noise Reduction Controls Working with the Sharpen and Edge Sharpen Controls Working with the Edge Sharpen Controls Working with the Sharpen Controls 4 Contents 1 An Overview of Image Adjustments 1 Aperture provides adjustment controls to help you improve the appearance of your images. You can make image adjustments using the Adjustments Inspector or the Adjustments HUD. This chapter provides basic information about making adjustments to images, such as correcting red-eye and adjusting exposure, levels, and white balance. This chapter covers: Â An Overview of Adjustments in Aperture (p. 6) Â Using the Adjustment Controls (p. 9) Â Working with Tools in the Toolbar (p. 11) Â Performing Adjustments in Full Screen Mode (p. 12) Â Applying Adjustments to a Group of Images (p. 13) Â Working with Adjustment Presets (p. 15) Â Remove All Adjustments from Selection Command (p. 19) Â Using the Color Meter (p. 19) Â Using an External Editor (p. 22) Â Understanding How to Read Histograms (p. 23) 5 An Overview of Adjustments in Aperture Adjustment controls are found in the Adjustments Inspector and the Adjustments HUD. The controls are the same in each. The Adjustments Inspector is shown on the right side of the screen. The Adjustments HUD is a floating version of the Adjustments Inspector that can be placed anywhere onscreen, allowing you the most flexibility in how you use your screen workspace. You can make the following adjustments to images in Aperture: Adjustment Red Eye Correction Spot & Patch Straighten Crop Exposure Levels Highlights & Shadows White Balance Color Monochrome Mixer Color Monochrome Sepia Tone Noise Reduction Sharpen Edge Sharpen Function Reduces red-eye in the eyes of the subjects in your images. Used in conjunction with the Red Eye tool. Retouches imperfections in an image, such as sensor dust. Used in conjunction with the Spot & Patch tool. Levels the image's horizon. Used in conjunction with the Straighten tool. Trims the image. Used in conjunction with the Crop tool. Adjusts exposure, saturation, brightness, and contrast, as well as black, gray, and white tints. Selectively adjusts the tonal range of an image. Selectively adjusts the exposure in the shadows and highlights of an image. Sets an image's white balance by adjusting its color temperature and tint. Adjusts hue, saturation, and luminance on a color-by-color basis, as well as chromatic range. Selectively controls the source red, green, and blue color channels when a color image is converted to grayscale. Desaturates the image and applies a color tint of your choosing to the midtones. Changes a color image to sepia. Allows you to desaturate the color image to the level of sepia coloring you want. Reduces digital noise in an image. Sharpens the image. Sharpens the image based on luminance using multiple sharpening passes. 6 Chapter 1 An Overview of Image Adjustments Showing the Adjustment Controls You can use menu commands, keyboard shortcuts, or the buttons on the right side of the toolbar to show and hide the Adjustments Inspector. Adjustments Inspector button To show the Adjustments Inspector, do one of the following: m Choose Window > Show Adjustments (or press Control-A). m Click the Adjustments Inspector button in the toolbar. Adjustment Action pop-up menu Add Adjustments pop-up menu Histogram (set to show luminance) Available adjustments (Click a disclosure triangle to view the controls for an adjustment.) Double-click the top of the adjustment to show and hide the adjustment's controls. Each adjustment contains individual properties, called parameters, for which you can specify a range of values. You click an adjustment's disclosure triangle, or double-click the top of the adjustment, to view the parameters for the adjustment and the controls you use to change parameter values. For more information about using the adjustment controls to change parameter values, see "Using the Adjustment Controls" on page 9. You can use menu commands and buttons in the Full Screen mode toolbar to show or hide the Adjustments HUD. Chapter 1 An Overview of Image Adjustments 7 To show the Adjustments HUD, do one of the following: m Choose Window > Show Adjustments HUD (or press H). m Click the Adjustments HUD button in the Full Screen mode toolbar. For more information about Full Screen mode, see "Performing Adjustments in Full Screen Mode" on page 12. Adjustment Action pop-up menu Add Adjustments pop-up menu Histogram (set to show red, green, and blue channels) Available adjustments Choosing a Histogram View for Adjustments When you show the Adjustments Inspector or the Adjustments HUD, a histogram of the selected image's luminance or color channels appears. The histogram displays a graph of the brightness values in the image, from the blackest point to the whitest point. You can adjust the histogram to show luminance; red, green, and blue (RGB) channels displayed together; or separate red, green, and blue channels. To choose a histogram view: m Choose a view option from the Histogram Options section of the Adjustment Action pop-up menu. Note: The histogram updates in real time in the Viewer and in Full Screen mode, but it is slightly delayed in the Book Layout Editor, the Webpage Editor, and the Light Table. For more information about how to interpret a histogram, see "Understanding How to Read Histograms" on page 23. 8 Chapter 1 An Overview of Image Adjustments Showing Additional Adjustment Controls The first time you show either the Adjustments Inspector or the Adjustments HUD, only the Exposure, Levels, Highlights & Shadows, White Balance, and Color adjustments are available. To add additional adjustments: m Choose a type of adjustment from the Add Adjustments pop-up menu at the top of either the Adjustments Inspector or Adjustments HUD. Add Adjustments pop-up menu The new adjustment appears highlighted in both the Adjustments Inspector and the Adjustments HUD, if both are shown. Using the Adjustment Controls Whenever an image is selected and displayed in the Viewer or in Full Screen mode, you can adjust it using the adjustment controls in the Adjustments Inspector and Adjustments HUD. You can also adjust images in the Book Layout Editor, Webpage Editor, and Light Table. Note: The Crop, Straighten, and Spot & Patch tools and adjustment controls are not available for use in the Book Layout Editor, Webpage Editor, and Light Table, but you can easily switch to the Viewer to make your changes. Chapter 1 An Overview of Image Adjustments 9 To switch to the Viewer from the Book Layout Editor, Webpage Editor, or Light Table, do one of the following: m At the top of the Browser, click the Show Viewer button. Show Viewer button When you have finished making the adjustment, click the Show Viewer button again to return to the previous view. m If you have a system with more than one display, choose Alternate from the Viewer Mode pop-up menu in the control bar, then perform the adjustments on the second display. For more information about the Show Viewer button and the Viewer Mode pop-up menu, see the Aperture User Manual, available in the Aperture Help menu. Using Sliders There are two types of slider controls for changing parameter values--sliders and value sliders. Slider controls have varying value ranges depending on the parameter. Â Sliders: Drag the slider left or right to set a value. Drag this slider to change the value for the Exposure parameter. Use this value slider to change the value for the Contrast parameter. Â Value sliders: Double-click the value and type a specific number in the value field, click the left or right arrow, or drag inside the value field to set a value. Often, you can type a much higher number in the value field than can be achieved by dragging the normal sliders. When using value sliders, you can use a modifier key to make value adjustments in small or large increments. To change values in small increments: m Option-drag in the value field. To change values in large increments: m Shift-drag in the value field. 10 Chapter 1 An Overview of Image Adjustments Resetting Parameter Values You can reset all of the parameters for an adjustment to their default values. To reset all parameter values for an adjustment: m Click the Reset button to the right of the adjustment name. Reset button Turning Adjustments On and Off Use checkboxes to turn adjustments on and off. Turning adjustments on and off is a good way to verify the cumulative effect of adjustments on your image. Turn an adjustment on or off by selecting or deselecting the checkbox. Working with Tools in the Toolbar The center-right side of the toolbar contains tools for working with your images in the Viewer and Browser. Many of the tools also work in conjunction with adjustment controls. For information about the individual ...