How to use Adobe Bridge: Because of difficulty with importing photos into Lightroom (see discussion on that subject on UHH), and needing these photos to be cataloged and keyworded, the...

mvetrano2 Loc: Commack, NY

Because of difficulty with importing photos into Lightroom (see discussion on that subject on UHH), and needing these photos to be cataloged and keyworded, the Adobe agent suggested that I start using Bridge for those proposes. Are there any hoggers that use Bridge for cataloging and/or keywording that can shed some light for me? I think I will check out some tutorials in Youtube today to see if I can grasp the functionality. Either that, or shitcan Adobe altogether and seek another software for editing, cataloging and keywording.

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

Why not try reinstalling Lightroom? This won’t affect your catalogue; and if the photos are not corrupted and viewable from a different browser it seems to be Lightroom is screwed up.

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

While I have not read about your issue with LRC, I do use Bridge but very limitedly. I have just come in from a 3 day mustang shoot with about 1,500 images. I upload via Photo Mechanic from chip to a newly created subfolder main folder called "Upload" which includes renaming and keywording. Using LRC, I then import from the subdirectory in Upload to a created "My Lightroom" sub-directory. Ultimately, everything under Upload is deleted without review. The mission is to make sure there are a minimum of two copies independent of the camera chip. Hope this helps.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Bridge is not your LR catalog. It's a 'browser like' tool that navigates over your image files, or any type of file on your system. Bridge is more useful for the Luddites that refuse to use Lightroom, and only use PhotoShop & ACR.

Alas, you joined Adobe right as they made a major release while using Apple-based equipment. That's no excuse for Adobe, but they seem to know less about Apple equipment & software, than Windows-based systems. When dealing with Adobe, seek to have your multi-day issue 'escalated'. Their internal reporting numbers compel the Adobe support team to resolve these issues.

If LR worked previously on the same equipment, seek an Adobe support member that will help restore that prior LR version and keep them on the line through a successful reboot and verification.

kavitykid Loc: Maryland

When Lightroom did an update I lost access to about 4000 photos probably because I went from Aperture to Adobe earlier. I took Rick Burress's courses on Bridge and ACR through Bryan Peterson's school and it was an eye opener. The biggest problem I encountered was that in order to print you have to export the photo out of Bridge whereas in Lightroom one can print within. I much preferred Aperture as I could do everything I wanted in one program but Bridge is much more sophisticated than Aperture and I like that. My computer skills are no where near those of other members so Bridge works for me. Keywording in Bridge is carryed over to Lightroom.

mvetrano2 Loc: Commack, NY

CHG_CANON wrote:

Bridge is not your LR catalog. It's a 'browser lik... (show quote)

Thank you Paul, I was hoping you would respond. On the second call, the agent restored LR to a prior version with the same results. I will contact Adobe yet again today to try and resolve this issue. The agents that I've spoken to thus far are reluctant to escalate the issue to someone more knowledgeable, but I will push for someone more knowledgeable on the Mac today. Is there a way to use Bridge as an alternative to Lightroom for cataloging and keywording in the event that I stil not get the issue resolved.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

CHG_CANON wrote:

Bridge is not your LR catalog. It's a 'browser like' tool that navigates over your image files, or any type of file on your system. Bridge is more useful for the Luddites that refuse to use Lightroom, and only use PhotoShop & ACR.

There you go again, insulting those that don' t do what you think they should do. You, who use old equipment and Adobe products.

As a note, even some professionals that teach Adobe products, lightroom and bridge, photoshop, use Bridge instead of lightroom.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

[quote=mvetrano2]Because of difficulty with importing photos into Lightroom...

You might also want to look into Excire Foto. I didn't want to use Lightroom's cataloging feature and found Excire easy to use and it worked perfectly.

There is a trial version available so you can check it out at no cost.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

ronichas wrote:

There you go again, insulting those that don' t do what you think they should do. You, who use old equipment and Adobe products.

As a note, even some professionals that teach Adobe products, lightroom and bridge, photoshop, use Bridge instead of lightroom.

Go wave your pacifier at someone else.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

CHG_CANON wrote:

Go wave your pacifier at someone else.

You can make your point without insulting those that do something different.
Grow up and be kind.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

ronichas wrote:

There you go again, insulting those that don' t do what you think they should do. You, who use old equipment and Adobe products.

As a note, even some professionals that teach Adobe products, lightroom and bridge, photoshop, use Bridge instead of lightroom.

There are currently something like 4 topics here dealing with the problems with the crummy database in Lightroom.

Bridge is constantly being updated, just like any other Adobe program, and has a myriad of features that I have never even explored. For keywording, collections, organizing, etc. Bridge is excellent, and has no database that loses your files every time you make a change to something.

And Adobe Camera Raw is what drives the editing function in Lightroom, so that is all you need anyway.

Unfortunately there will always be those whose opinions of their own expertise outweigh the reality of it all. Just ignore them and their cheap insults. "You don't do it my way, so you're doing it wrong and you're stupid," tells me right away that they can't defend their biases without name calling and put downs, so I have chosen to just move along.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

terryMc wrote:

There are currently something like 4 topics here d... (show quote)

You present this perfectly!!!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

mvetrano2 wrote:

Thank you Paul, I was hoping you would respond. On... (show quote)

I watched part of this yesterday and thought it was a pretty good explanation of Bridge.

On edit: I forgot to put in the link!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES73_YS-SpA&t=116s

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

mvetrano2 wrote:

I think I will check out some tutorials in Youtube today to see if I can grasp the functionality. Either that, or shitcan Adobe altogether and seek another software for editing, cataloging and keywording.

I think that might be a rather drastic solution, when you have Camera Raw which you are already familiar with as Lightroom, and Bridge can very competently do all the organizing that you need. Learning to use Bridge, which seamlessly integrates with the other Adobe products like Photoshop and has all the familiar Adobe keyboard shortcuts, etc. would seem to be less trouble than going to an entirely new system.

One question that I have that you have not discussed, or perhaps I missed it, is: Can you open the files directly in Photoshop or another program or viewer? Can you navigate to the folder in Bridge and open the files there? If so, that would seem to mean that the files are fine. If Photoshop can't open them, then I would guess that file is probably bad.

mvetrano2 Loc: Commack, NY

terryMc wrote:

I think that might be a rather drastic solution, w... (show quote)

I do not use Photoshop, and have not, as yet, ever used Bridge or Camera Raw, so the answer there is no. I can open the photos in Photos, Preview, and Quick Look on my Mac. Therefore, I do not believe that the photos are corrupt.