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Adobe Bridge

Page history last edited by Ariana Berdy 9 years, 2 months ago

Adobe Bridge Review

by Ariana Berdy

Description

Adobe Bridge is a digital content management application. Bridge allows users to group, edit, star, and label image files. The program runs on its own, however it does have the ability to support additional plugins for customization. Because Bridge is a file management program, files do not have to be imported before they can be edited.

As an image tool, the most useful feature of Adobe Bridge is the Camera Raw photo editing function, which is a part of Photoshop. Camera Raw allows users extensive editing opportunities in a way that is more applicable to photos. It was created especially to work with Photoshop.

For a more robust description visit the product page: http://www.adobe.com/creativesuite/bridge.html

Access

Adobe's Creative Cloud offers many ways to get this software. The entire cloud package is advertised to be as low as $29.99/month. Unfortunately it does not have a "buy now" option on the could catalog, although a free demo is available. Previously Adobe Bridge came as part of Adobe's Creative Suite (CS). The creative suite varies in price based on if you buy an older version (CS5 and below). Because of the switch to Cloud, finding a current student price of the suite is difficult, but know that is is in the hundreds of dollars.

Once you have bought or downloaded the tool it is located in your programs/ applications. It is available for both Windows and Mac. If you are a Linux or other user research your software compatibility options.

Sample Usage

Photo taken by Ariana Berdy on November 21, 2012 at the Dallas Arboretum Chihuly Exhibit.

Tips, tricks, and tutorials

This program is primarily a file managing software. The Camera RAW photo editing function is quite extensive. For an overview visit http://tv.adobe.com/watch/understanding-adobe-photoshop-cs6/camera-raw-interface/

Because this software comes as a part of the Creative Suite, it has cross compatibility with programs such as Photoshop.

When editing photos, RAW image files offer more editing options than other files such as JPEG. While photo hosting sites do not support RAW files, it is good practice to keep the original file even after editing and exporting to a new file type.

Plenty of other online resources are available detailing why Bridge is useful and how to use it.

What the Tool Does Well

Bridge was created as a file management software to edit photos in conjunction with Adobe Photoshop. It does this well. Because the interface is very visual the program is more user-friendly.

The Camera RAW editing function is pretty extensive and comprehensive. For many Photographers, Bridge is their dedicated photo editing and management program.

Because Bridge is a file management software, photos do not need to be imported to be edited.

What it Does Poorly

It is worth noting that the more you use this program the longer it takes to open. Additionally, when saving your edited photographs Bridge creates one XMP file per edited photo that contains all of the associated information about your new edits. If the XMP file is deleted or not stored in the same location as your original file, the edits will not be applied and remembered. Additionally, Bridge runs much more slowly when editing a large number of photographs or when background programs are running.