Aperture 3 Adds Faces Support, More [Updated]

Apple introduced Aperture 3 on Tuesday, adding an enhanced version of iPhoto 09's Faces and Places features to the professional digital image management and editing application. According to Apple, Aperture 3 offers over 200 new features.

Version 3 gained a Brushes tool that lets users paint adjustments onto photos, a Projects feature for organizing images, and new Adjustments Presets for applying image effects with a single mouse click. 15 Quick Brushes are included, such as Dodge, Burn, Polarize and Blur, and brushes can auto-detect edges in images so users don't have to makes masks before selectively applying effects.

The new version also gained an improved slideshow feature that lets users include photos, audio, text and HD video.

Aperture 3 includes 64-bit support for Core 2 Duo-based Macs running Snow Leopard. It is priced at US$199. Upgrades from earlier versions cost $99.

[This article has been updated with additional information about Aperture 3]