Is there a need for Bridge? I have PS and LR by subscription. I also have Bridge but wonder if there is a need for it with the other two? Does it do anything that PS and LR can't?

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

I have PS and LR by subscription. I also have Bridge but wonder if there is a need for it with the other two? Does it do anything that PS and LR can't? Thanks!

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

I use it to open a jpeg in to CS6 raw editor. Sine use it to organize their photos. Not sure of other uses.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

No, Bridge does nothing more, and several things less, than Lightroom.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Bridge can be used to organize your photos using keywords, similar to LR. However LR goes through a database, while Bridge is more like a folder listing. The database allows you to generate collections, and since the entries to the collections are virtual, you can place an image in several collections without duplicating the image. In bridge, since you're looking at a folder, you will have to duplicate an image if you want it to appear in a different folder as well as the first one.

Since LR uses a database, only one user can access that database at a given time. Since Bridge is looking at folders, it is possible for more than one person on a network to access that folder, so more than one person can work on images in a given folder at any one time. That makes Bridge a possibility for groups to use a common set of images, while LR is limited to one person at a time.

Bridge has no editing functions, where LR has pretty basic editing capability.

So Bridge is a bit less than LR, but it still has some utility.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Personally I'm old school so don't like Lightroom. I want to manipulate my photos in folders and move them around in the PC without having to let LR Control my computer.
I use Bridge and Photoshop and those two cover all my needs.
Once I got used to using multiple layers in PS it was a regression to only use the one layer in LR.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I use Bridge and PS and find Bridge to be indespensible.
--Bob

dat2ra wrote:

I have PS and LR by subscription. I also have Bridge but wonder if there is a need for it with the other two? Does it do anything that PS and LR can't? Thanks!

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

CPR wrote:

Personally I'm old school so don't like Lightroom. I want to manipulate my photos in folders and move them around in the PC without having to let LR Control my computer.
I use Bridge and Photoshop and those two cover all my needs.
Once I got used to using multiple layers in PS it was a regression to only use the one layer in LR.

Personally, I am old school so love Lightroom. If I move a picture in the operating system, then to find it in LR, I have to remember where it is now and relink it in LR or delete it in LR and import it again into LR. I just cannot see why that is better than just moving it in LR. LR moves it in the operating system too so you do two things at once. And if you use keywords, you do not have to reenter them.

Perhaps this old dog can learn one new trick today.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

dat2ra wrote:

I have PS and LR by subscription. I also have Bridge but wonder if there is a need for it with the other two? Does it do anything that PS and LR can't? Thanks!

I use LR & PS all the time. No use for Bridge, though.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

I use Bridge as an initial screening tool, e.g., 63 shots, only 5 make it to Photoshop, where I edit and place in a folder that I have in LR. Import those into LR for keywording, organizing, publishing.

jcolton

Bridge has the exact same editing capabilities as Lightroom. But not the other modules in Lightroom. And not the database. I use bridge for quick jobs where I don’t plan to keep the result but just send it to someone else. This avoids having to import/export in LR.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

jcolton wrote:

Bridge has the exact same editing capabilities as Lightroom. But not the other modules in Lightroom. And not the database. I use bridge for quick jobs where I don’t plan to keep the result but just send it to someone else. This avoids having to import/export in LR.

Are you talking about Bridge or ACR?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

dat2ra wrote:

I have PS and LR by subscription. I also have Bridge but wonder if there is a need for it with the other two? Does it do anything that PS and LR can't? Thanks!

Bridge is for those people that don't like or want Lightroom. There are some people out there that have been using Adobe Photoshop for a "long" time and they are used to Bridge and want to stay with Bridge. I don't blame them even though I am a fan of Lightroom. It has to do with what you are used to.

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

Good deal of variety in responses. Thank you all!

jimbuckley Loc: Arizona

jeep_daddy wrote:

Bridge is for those people that don't like or want Lightroom. There are some people out there that have been using Adobe Photoshop for a "long" time and they are used to Bridge and want to stay with Bridge. I don't blame them even though I am a fan of Lightroom. It has to do with what you are used to.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I haven't used it since LR 4
I can personally see using one or the other based on personal preference, but don't see a good reason to use both?