Adobe Bridge CS3 is much more than a data file web browser , but much less than Adobe Photoshop Lightroom ( ) . The new version of the Creative Suite ’s command and control center provide far more feature of speech for managing photos and other digital asset , and give you lots of flexibleness for viewing and organizing data point , but it stops short of being a full - mature photo - management tool , such as Apple ’s Aperture ( ) or Lightroom .
Of naturally , Bridge is n’t intended to be a arrant photo workflow and data - base - elan subroutine library - management programme . But because it does provide some similar feature , some compare are appropriate . And although Bridge bring benefits to each member of the CS3 kin , it ’s most utilitarian to Photoshop users .
New ways to browse
bridge deck ’s improvements start out with a newfangled look : the Bridge window is dark and muted , like that of Aperture or Lightroom , to cater better line from your images . you’re able to customize the windowpane ’s shading , and as with Bridge CS2 , you’re able to rearrange panels and create workspace configurations that configure Bridge ’s windowpane for specific task — such as look back photo , assigning metadata , crop folders , and so on .
Adobe has also added new watch modes that lease you browse asset in various ways . A new Vertical Filmstrip view , for example , displays a vertical row of look-alike thumbnails . New controls in the grim right recess of the Bridge window allow you quickly switch between your favorite views .
A new Filter gore let you quickly narrow down the list of items that appear in the Bridge window . Adobe has ply an telling pick of criteria by which you could display epitome . Of of course , you could show only picture taken or modified on specific dates or to which you ’ve assigned keywords . But you’re able to also filter the display grant to ISO ( ISO 400 barb , for example ) , predilection ( say , horizontal shots ) , and even aspect ratio ( for instance , shots cropped to 4:3 proportions ) . The criteria that appear in Filter panel variety depend on what kinds of file are exhibit in the Content panel .
you’re able to expose up to nine images in Bridge CS3 ’s Preview control board — handy for comparing multiple versions of a snapshot . Bridge CS3 also allow a raw Loupe tool that , like its vis-a-vis in Aperture , allow you magnify part of an effigy . I opt to just whizz in on photo for a closer look , and do n’t previse using Bridge ’s loupe any more than I use Aperture’s — which is very little .
Importing, stacking, and viewing
Bridge CS3 have you do more than just browse — you may also import pic . A companion public utility company , call Photo Downloader , let you bring in photos from a camera or medium proofreader . An impressive solidifying of importing options countenance you mechanically convert import photos to Digital Negative ( DNG ) data format , apply metadata , rename file , and even save transcript to another pamphlet or heavy campaign . you’re able to also take to import only some images from a photographic camera or computer storage identity card . You ca n’t , however , impute keywords at import time — an organisational convenience that Lightroom provides .
Like Aperture and Lightroom , Bridge CS3 lets you group related to shot into push-down store to unclutter your display . But Bridge ’s stacking organisation is n’t as advanced as Aperture ’s or Lightroom ’s : you could stack photos manually by selecting them and choose the Group as Stack command , but you ca n’t have Bridge heap them for you based on the time interval between photo .
If a stack contains 10 or more images , Bridge CS3 adds a mastery to the push-down list that lets you play back its figure of speech at a material body rate that you’re able to specify . It ’s great for energiser and video artists , but it ’s also a ready to hand way to see the images within a mickle without take to start the deal .
Adobe also greatly enhanced Bridge ’s Slideshow modal value , adding a selection of image transition ( Bridge CS2 offer none ) and an robotlike pan / rapid climb display via the Zoom Back And Forth checkbox ( intimately known as a Ken Burns impression ) . Cinematically speaking , the pan / zoom show fall curt : an image should go on zooming through a dissolve transition , but in Bridge slide shows , zooming simply stop when the dissolve begin . This give the slide show a somewhat maudlin looking at .
Like its herald , Bridge CS3 provides a Tools menu that rent you quick send assets to various penis of the CS3 family — for case , you could select a set of photos and then send them to Photoshop for Photomerge stitching or batch processing . Bridge CS3 also provides a home base for browsing and purchasing from the Adobe Stock Photo service , and add Bridge Home , a novel CS3 portal that Adobe has created containing links to tutorial and more . you’re able to also practice a newfangled function called Start Meeting for veridical - clip mathematical group conferencing .
In all , Bridge CS3 is a Brobdingnagian improvement on Bridge CS2 . It ’s faster and more responsive , its photo - spell features are splendid , and stacks and filters make managing large numbers of photos well-heeled . But Bridge is still just that — a bridge between the CS3 program program , not a start - to - finish work flow program like Aperture or Lightroom . It ’s best for Photoshop substance abuser to think of Bridge as a place to browse assets and perform basic cataloging and automation functions — and , perhaps , as a bridge to Lightroom or Aperture .
[ Senior Contributor Jim Heid narrow down in digital medium and is the author ofThe Macintosh iLife ‘ 06(Peachpit Press , 2006 ) and its companionWeb site . ]
