Chapter 3. Bridging the Gap


When it comes to managing the digital workflow, and especially your files, Bridge is the digital asset management answer where Photoshop CS2 is concerned. In fact, it's the DAM answer for the whole Adobe CS2 Suite.

Bridge Is Your Command Center

Bridge is the replacement for what was called "The Browser" in Photoshop CS. However, Bridge is a standalone application that can be used to catalog, manage, and open files for any of the Adobe Creative Suite programs.

Bridge is the best tool to use for locating and opening RAW and Photoshop files. Using the same imaging pipeline as Adobe Camera Raw, it reads virtually every RAW file format. Occasionally, when new formats are introduced, it may take Adobe a few weeks to catch up, but the reality is that no manufacturer can afford to use a RAW file format that can't be read by Photoshop, no matter how hard they try to resist. Not only does it read virtually any format (RAW or not) in which you're likely to receive an image, but it instantly lets you size the thumbnails to virtually any size you like. You can also size the Preview window to use as much or as little of the screen as necessary.


Bridge is the key to winnowing and organizing the images from all your shoots. It is the very first tool you should use with Photoshop and the key to digital asset managementeven though you have the option of adding other, more powerful tools as you get the files organized and the metadata entered for your photos as you create them. Figure 3-1 shows the screen for Bridge and points out the key Bridge features.

Figure 3-1. The Bridge interface, with all its windows opened and all its features showing. You must use screen resolution of at least 1024x768 to see all these features.

NOTE

I'm approaching this phase of the workflow with an eye toward helping you do your work with the tools you probably already have. Alternates to the Bridge/Photoshop workflow are discussed in the Appendix, including Apple's Aperture and Adobe Lightroom.




Digital Photography(c) Expert Techniques
Digital Photography Expert Techniques
ISBN: 0596526903
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 124
Authors: Ken Milburn

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