Video: Adobe Bridge (plus ACR?) free for everyone (plus a bit on Affinity Photo, which isn't free)

[myotis]

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IMPORTANT EDIT: I am sorry to say that in in spite of what is shown in this video it seems that ACR is NOT included in the free download of Bridge. If you watch the video the presenter downloads Bridge onto her husbands computer, as he doesn't have a paid for Adobe sub, and then proceeds to use ACR along with Bridge as part of her demo.

However, after it being raised by Droj, and doing some googling, it seems that my original thoughts about ACR were correct (it isn't free) and I was misled by the video (or misunderstood). Bridge is still a worthwhile file browser, but doesn't include raw file processing. Sorry for the confusion.

I have left my original post unedited, so subsequent posts still make sense.
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Adobe Bridge has always seemed to be a bit of an unsung hero in the photo management world, it's far more powerful as a file manager and DAM, than many people realise.

Although I knew Bridge was a free download, what I didn't realise was that it came with a free copy of ACR.

The video linked below gives step by step instructions of how to download Bridge + ACR, which is useful as its links to Adobe Creative Cloud means downloading isn't as straightforward as it could be.

The presenter is an ex Adobe trainer, but now teaches the Affinity suite so there is also some information of using Bridge as a File manager DAM with Affinity Photo.

The video is two and a half hours, so it’s a bit of a marathon, and it could have been a bit more tightly produced, but but if you are looking for a powerful and free, file manager come DAM, its probably worth wading through.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTloT3h3zT8


Pedantically, Adobe Bridge isn't considered a DAM as it relies on access to the original files, but it still builds previews and generates indexes of metadata and file names which allows for sophisticated and quick searches, smart folders etc

 

[ancient_mariner]

I did read about it a while back, but when the download installed creative cloud I immediately binned it and waled away. Interesting that it might be useful after all, if it really doesn't have strings attached.

 

[SsSsSsSsSnake]

What editing does it allow ,the same as the basic panel in LR?
thanks for the link

 

[Retune]

I did read about it a while back, but when the download installed creative cloud I immediately binned it and waled away. Interesting that it might be useful after all, if it really doesn't have strings attached.

Deals with the Devil in popular culture - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[myotis]

I did read about it a while back, but when the download installed creative cloud I immediately binned it and waled away. Interesting that it might be useful after all, if it really doesn't have strings attached.

The instructions for installing were part of why I posted it, as like you I would probably have stopped at the Creative Cloud part, in fear of getting entangled with the CC subscriptions. I have a CC subscriptions, so I've never checked out what was involved in getting the free copy.

And while you do need to log into CC, with no subscription entanglement, and free access to Rush, which I understand, is a fairly competent video editing tool aimed at Vloggers, youtubers, home users etc., it seems a pretty good offering from Adobe.

 

[myotis]

What editing does it allow ,the same as the basic panel in LR?
thanks for the link

I think you probably need to google differences between Lightroom and ACR, as far as I am aware the actual editing tools are identical. The differences lie in the additional tools, but with Bridge providing many of the additional tools that LR provides.

But Bridge isn't designed to work with multiple files, its great at browsing or searching a folder of files, plus some sub folders, but I found it unusably slow with a large collection of files that Lightroom could search almost instantly.

 

[myotis]

Deals with the Devil in popular culture - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Well, it seems safe to assume it’s a marketing tool to encourage people to sign up to an Adobe CC subscription, but it still seems a pretty generous, and useful one, especially as it also includes a video editing program in the package. But there is always a risk with anything that's free of them deciding to charge or pull the plug on it.

But for someone using Affinity Photo, it gives the file management tools that AP lacks, and probably a better raw processing engine. The latter based only on what I've read as I've never processed raw in Affinity Photo.

 

[droj]

I'm puzzled by your claim about the ACR component. I'm not an Adobe subscriber, & if I try to invoke ACR from Bridge CC, it tells me that a qualifying product must be licensed.

Bridge however is an invaluable image browser, classy in a way that Faststone isn't, & I use it all the time, but in the knowledge that it being available free could cease at any time.

 

[myotis]

I'm puzzled by your claim about the ACR component. I'm not an Adobe subscriber, & if I try to invoke ACR from Bridge CC, it tells me that a qualifying product must be licensed.

Well, that is what I also thought, hence my post and the link to the video, as she installed Bridge on her husbands computer (as he wasn't a paid subscriber, but she is) and ACR seemed to be installed along with Bridge. There was a screenshot of the Adobe CC window showing just Bridge and ACR installed.

And the whole point of the video seemed to be showing Affinity users what you could do with Bridge for free. I might have misunderstood this, but not sure if I could stand watching it all again.

And yes, I made the same point about free access ending at any time in the post before yours.

 

[Retune]

Well, it seems safe to assume it’s a marketing tool to encourage people to sign up to an Adobe CC subscription, but it still seems a pretty generous, and useful one, especially as it also includes a video editing program in the package. But there is always a risk with anything that's free of them deciding to charge or pull the plug on it.

But for someone using Affinity Photo, it gives the file management tools that AP lacks, and probably a better raw processing engine. The latter based only on what I've read as I've never processed raw in Affinity Photo.

Joking aside, one thing that might be an issue is if you already have or later install a pre-CC product, and CC messes with it, because Adobe assumes (of course) that you'll want to 'upgrade' (which I've seen threads about before). Proceed with caution if you have CS4 or earlier, which can no longer be activated if things go wrong and you attempt to re-install.

 

[myotis]

IMPORTANT CORRECTION:

I am sorry to say that in in spite of what is shown in this video it seems that ACR is NOT included in the free download of Bridge. If you watch the video the presenter downloads Bridge onto her husbands computer, as he doesn't have a paid for Adobe sub, and then proceeds to use ACR along with Bridge as part of her demo.

However, after it being raised by Droj, and doing some googling, it seems that my original thoughts about ACR were correct (it isn't free) and I was misled by the video (or misunderstood). Bridge is still a worthwhile file browser, but doesn't include raw file processing. Sorry for the confusion.

I have also edited my original post with this correction.

It does however seem to be a source of some confusion as some people (including someAdobe reps) seem to think ACR is part of Bridge and promoting i as being free.

But the official Adobe help page says

"To enable Camera Raw editing in Bridge, you need an active subscription of Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC. If you have an active subscription, launch either one of these apps once to resolve the issue.

Perform these steps:

Launch Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC.
Quit Adobe Bridge.
Relaunch Adobe Bridge.
Camera Raw editing is now enabled in Adobe Bridge."

https://helpx.adobe.com/bridge/kb/camera-raw-editing-not-enabled.html

 

[droj]

ACR seemed to be installed along with Bridg

You can install ACR, free, and it will be present on your machine, but unless you're a subscriber you can't invoke it. It's prime function I guess is as a plugin for PS, with the ability to invoke it from Bridge as an extra.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Thanks for the correction. If ACR really had been included foc then bridge would have been acceptable. Without it, for me there's absolutely no reason to have it, and I would think affinity only owners would be better off without Adobe on their system that might suddenly become unusable.

 

[ancient_mariner]

You can install ACR, free, and it will be present on your machine, but unless you're a subscriber you can't invoke it. It's prime function I guess is as a plugin for PS, with the ability to invoke it from Bridge as an extra.

So are you saying ACR DOES work from bridge alone?

 

[myotis]

You can install ACR, free, and it will be present on your machine, but unless you're a subscriber you can't invoke it. It's prime function I guess is as a plugin for PS, with the ability to invoke it from Bridge as an extra.

Yes, but she included using ACR as part of her tutorial which was aimed at people without a paid subscription to CC (Affinity users).

 

[Retune]

IMPORTANT CORRECTION:

I am sorry to say that in in spite of what is shown in this video it seems that ACR is NOT included in the free download of Bridge. If you watch the video the presenter downloads Bridge onto her husbands computer, as he doesn't have a paid for Adobe sub, and then proceeds to use ACR along with Bridge as part of her demo.

However, after it being raised by Droj, and doing some googling, it seems that my original thoughts about ACR were correct (it isn't free) and I was misled by the video (or misunderstood). Bridge is still a worthwhile file browser, but doesn't include raw file processing. Sorry for the confusion.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MevIQrKEsSI&t=98s

 

[myotis]

Thanks for the correction. If ACR really had been included foc then bridge would have been acceptable. Without it, for me there's absolutely no reason to have it, and I would think affinity only owners would be better off without Adobe on their system that might suddenly become unusable.

Bridge is still a very useful file manager/DAM, something Affinity lacks - at the moment.

I'm not sure what you mean by "...suddenly become unstable".

 

[myotis]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MevIQrKEsSI&t=98s

Yes, it did seem a bit too good to be true :-(

 

[droj]

So are you saying ACR DOES work from bridge alone?

It can be invoked from Bridge, which is itself free to all (at the moment), but only if you're a paid Adobe subscriber with a qualifying product. Despite this, it is available for free download and installation! Which seems strangely pointless ... but the whole CC edifice is a lumbering behemoth ....

 

[ancient_mariner]

Bridge is still a very useful file manager/DAM, something Affinity lacks - at the moment.

I'm not sure what you mean by "...suddenly become unstable".

Unusable - spill chucker.

 

[droj]

Bridge is still a very useful file manager/DAM

I find that it has an interface that's cleaner and more polished and functional than any of the other free alternatives. And you can search folders without 'importing' anything.

I haven't managed to find a satisfying alternative.

 

[ancient_mariner]

It can be invoked from Bridge, which is itself free to all (at the moment), but only if you're a paid Adobe subscriber with a qualifying product. Despite this, it is available for free download and installation! Which seems strangely pointless ... but the whole CC edifice is a lumbering behemoth ....

So to be clear, ACR is not free to use without being a cc subscriber?

 

[droj]

So to be clear, ACR is not free to use without being a cc subscriber?

Exactly!

 

[myotis]

So are you saying ACR DOES work from bridge alone?

Going back to what I thought was the situation, before I watched the video.

Assuming you have a "paid" subscription to Lightroom/Photoshop, ACR is seamlessly integrated into Bridge. But the its only the Bridge part that is free.

You can open a file in ACR from Bridge, edit it (including HDR and stitching) , and then, back in Bridge, export it as JPEG, TIFF and print it, without ever opening Photoshop.

As far as I know, it's the only way of invoking ACR (very fast to load) without also opening Photoshop. With Photo Mechanic for example, opening a raw file, first opens Photoshop, and then loads the raw into ACR.

 

[myotis]

I find that it has an interface that's cleaner and more polished and functional than any of the other free alternatives. And you can search folders without 'importing' anything.

I haven't managed to find a satisfying alternative.

My main browser is Photo Mechanic, and its very fast, and very powerful, but Bridge is still an overall nicer experience for browsing and if you use ACR/Photoshop makes for a pretty seamless integration between these programs.

If you don't need the cataloging tools of Lightroom, Bridge+Photoshop is a much more pleasant working experience (at least for me). And in theory you should be able to right click on a file in Bridge and open it in Affinity.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Thanks gents. ACR was of interest because it would handle A7III raw files, which LR6 does not. I have no use for bridge without ACR. Presently looking for an image editor that doesn't require conversion first, but offers everything else that LR6 gives me.

 

[droj]

And in theory you should be able to right click on a file in Bridge and open it in Affinity.

Go to Bridge prefs & then 'file type associations' - & yes you can choose Affinity or anything you want.

 

[droj]

Presently looking for an image editor that doesn't require conversion first, but offers everything else that LR6 gives me.

Well, you know what all the main contenders are called ....

 

[myotis]

Thanks gents. ACR was of interest because it would handle A7III raw files, which LR6 does not. I have no use for bridge without ACR. Presently looking for an image editor that doesn't require conversion first, but offers everything else that LR6 gives me.

I assume you have tried the free version of Capture One? I only have experience of the Pro version, but it works pretty seamlessly with Photoshop (CC).

You are stuck with catalogues using the free version, but after basic raw tweaking, you can right click on a file in C1 to open it in Photoshop, as a PSD or TIFF. C1 first creates the PSD/TIFF in its catalogue, and then opens it in Photoshop, so once you have finished editing in PS you just save the file. You may also be able to round trip DNGs, but I would need to check.

With the catalogue, you will need to re-sync the C1 folder you have been working in for the PSD to be visible (with C1 sessions, not available in the free version, you don't need to do this last part).

Round tripping from C1 to Photoshop is my primary workflow and it works well, and assuming there isn't something broken with the free version, it feels as if it would be a lot easier than converting files to DNG (I assume that is what you are doing) before opening in PS.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Well, you know what all the main contenders are called ....

I assume you have tried the free version of Capture One? I only have experience of the Pro version, but it works pretty seamlessly with Photoshop (CC).

You are stuck with catalogues using the free version, but after basic raw tweaking, you can right click on a file in C1 to open it in Photoshop, as a PSD or TIFF. C1 first creates the PSD/TIFF in its catalogue, and then opens it in Photoshop, so once you have finished editing in PS you just save the file. You may also be able to round trip DNGs, but I would need to check.

With the catalogue, you will need to re-sync the C1 folder you have been working in for the PSD to be visible (with C1 sessions, not available in the free version, you don't need to do this last part).

Round tripping from C1 to Photoshop is my primary workflow and it works well, and assuming there isn't something broken with the free version, it feels as if it would be a lot easier than converting files to DNG (I assume that is what you are doing) before opening in PS.

My present workflow uses FRV to screen/cull (although with the PC I just built, culling in LR6 is almost as fast) then Raw converter & into LR. Images go to Silver Efex for mono conversion and sometimes in On1 Photoraw for the kind of changes most use Photoshop to make, then back to LR. The only thing ACR/CC would offer me is the ability to open A7III ARW files directly in Lightroom.

I've run verious versions of DXO & last year downloaded & tried Photolab. I also tried Capture1 express for Sony and have a full copy of PhotoRaw 2020 & Afinity. None of these really do what I want as well as LR does, each having their own weaknessess & strengths. If C1 were more reasonably priced* then I'd consider the full version. DXO has never been tremendously impressive *for me*. I could use any of these solutions (except possibly Affinity, which is deeply unintuitive for me). I'd planned to more across to PhotoRaw with my new computer, but when I started editing with it this time round didn't really like the results, so haven't made the change (and imported/converted the images from LR) as originally planned.

*Just completed a questionnaire for C1 regarding pricing. They asked what price their software would be for me to consider it a bit on the expensive side & at which I would not purchase it - my answer was £150 and £180.

 

[myotis]

*Just completed a questionnaire for C1 regarding pricing. They asked what price their software would be for me to consider it a bit on the expensive side & at which I would not purchase it - my answer was £150 and £180.

So you have the options well covered

I've never had a questionnaire about pricing, but I've automatically upgraded since V6, so maybe they think I'm happy with the pricing.

C1 does seem to be a very high price, especially in comparison to the Adobe annual subscription, given what the Adobe sub includes.

With the perpetual license now meaning an annual upgrade, and with C1s announcement earlier this year that this years upgrade will be £200, it's become an incredibly expensive option. It always was a lot dearer than Lightroom (stand alone), but at £300 to buy, plus £200 a year to keep it up to date it feels a tremendous amount of money.

I find it so much better than LR that I'm not quibbling about the "value for money" though I understand why some might not, it's just that £200 is a lot of money for me to find now a days, and it needs to be carefully budgeted for.

 

[ancient_mariner]

As with LR, I would only upgrade when a new feature I needed had been added, like compatibility with a new camera. Otherwise if it keeps working like it always did then that's ideal.

 

[myotis]

As with LR, I would only upgrade when a new feature I needed had been added, like compatibility with a new camera. Otherwise if it keeps working like it always did then that's ideal.

I find with C1, that the tweaking (small changes and speed improvements) are the things I feel are the best things I get out of an upgrade, even though the new features are often also very nice to have.

An issue with C1 is that once a new release comes out, which as I said, is now annually, the support for the previous version pretty well stops dead. With Adobe CC, even though I can't run the latest release because of my OS, I still get regular updates for the release I am running.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I find with C1, that the tweaking (small changes and speed improvements) are the things I feel are the best things I get out of an upgrade, even though the new features are often also very nice to have.

An issue with C1 is that once a new release comes out, which as I said, is now annually, the support for the previous version pretty well stops dead. With Adobe CC, even though I can't run the latest release because of my OS, I still get regular updates for the release I am running.

The Adobe model seemed to be a release every 2 years, roughly, so there would be 18 months of support/updates. I notice that On1 also provide updates with their software even when the next release is pending if there are serous bug-fixes to be done.

 

[myotis]

The Adobe model seemed to be a release every 2 years, roughly, so there would be 18 months of support/updates. I notice that On1 also provide updates with their software even when the next release is pending if there are serous bug-fixes to be done.

I's an odd situation because C1 do a perpetual and a subscription option, with both continuously updated, even with features that you might think they would "save up" for a new release number. So for V21, we have had style brushes added, a (controversial) new export system and magic brush. And some minor, but very important changes to the catalogue tools.

Style brushes are just as you would expect, you can apply adjustments to a layer, and then save those adjustments as a brush. so you can brush them onto other images. This was something I did with a style, which I would apply across an entire layer, invert. and then brush in the effect locally. Style brushes made this a lot easier and quicker.

Magic brush adds to the existing masking layer options, which are based on luminance or colour, by combining the two. It matches at a pixel level both colour and luminance values and I've found it incredibly useful at finding edges that neither of the earlier methods could find. The other day I was masking green leaves that were lying on green fern fronds, and was amazed at how well the Magic Brush was doing.

The new export system replaced a versatile but complex method, but in doing so they messed some aspects up, and although they only made the change a few weeks ago, based on user feedback they are redesigning it again, with a new release promised in September. The next, new, full release is due in December.

Getting new features as they are developed is good for users, but bad for C1 when it comes to marketing a new release, as it dilutes the number of new features they can announce with the new release.