MacRumors.com

Apple announced the immediate availability of the Aperture 2.1 update which is available as a free download for existing Aperture 2.0 customers. Version 2.1 introduces an open plug-in architecture that makes it easy to use 3rd party imaging software within Aperture itself:

Aperture 2.1 includes the Apple-developed plug-in, Dodge & Burn, which adds brush-based tools for dodge (lighten), burn (darken), contrast, saturation, sharpen and blur. Over the coming months, third party software developers will deliver image editing plug-ins for localized editing, filters and effects, noise analysis and reduction, fisheye lens correction and more.

Apple is working with a number of 3rd party developers to bring their plug ins to Aperture. This list of 3rd party plug-ins include: Nik Software's Viveza plug-in, PictureCode's Noise Ninja plug-in, Digital Film Tools' Power Stroke plug-in, The Tiffen Company's Dfx plug-in, dvGarage's dpMatte plug-in and HDRtoner plug-in, and Image Trends' plug-ins: Fisheye-Hemi, ShineOff, and PearlyWhites.