Along the multitude of updates recently issued by Apple, the company also released an update for RAW camera support for Mac OS X Leopard, Aperture 2, and iPhoto '08. The update extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2 and iPhoto '08 for a series of commonly used cameras.

Apple's support page reveals that its Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.1 "extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2 and iPhoto '08 for the following cameras:


Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/Kiss Digital x2/450D
Epson R-D1
Leaf AFi 7
Leaf AFi 6
Leaf AFi 5
Pentax K200D
Pentax K20D"

Apple's Aperture, designed to assist professional photographers in post-production work, currently at version 2.1, now introduces an open plug-in architecture allowing users to employ third-party imaging software right from within the program. Aperture 2.1 also includes the in-house-developed plug-in Dodge & Burn, which adds brush-based tools for dodge (lighten), burn (darken), contrast, saturation, sharpen and blur.

With the release of Aperture 2.1, Apple also confirmed that more third-party software will be available for integration with Aperture, delivering image editing plug-ins for "localized editing, filters and effects, noise analysis and reduction, fisheye lens correction" and others. As of March 28, 2008, owners of previous versions of Aperture can upgrade to Aperture 2.1 for free.

Part of the iLife suite of applications, iPhoto '08 comes bundled with every new Mac. The software can import, organize, edit, print and share digital photos and is often compared to Google's Picasa and Adobe's Photoshop Album. iPhoto automatically organizes your library by Events based on dates and lets you create new hardcover photo books with customized dust jacket and large-format calendars.

The latest tools found within iPhoto '08 allow users to edit and paste a set of adjustments from one photo onto another, to be able to ultimately build stunning online galleries using Mac, where others can view and download their work.

Click HERE to download the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.1.