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If you have spent anytime working in Photoshop or Illustrator, you’ve probably accidentally clicked on “Browse in Adobe Bridge” at some point. After waiting for the program to open just so that you can close it, you may have found yourself wondering, “does anyone actually use Adobe Bridge?”
Adobe Bridge is an asset management tool used by photographers, graphic designers, and creative professionals to preview, organize, and publish multiple visual assets quickly and efficiently.
Adobe Bridge is one of those programs that everyone has, but not many people know what it does or how to use it. Below you’ll find out who exactly uses Adobe Bridge, and what it is used for.
Does Anyone Use Adobe Bridge?
When you sign up for any of the Adobe Creative Cloud services, Adobe Bridge is usually bundled into the package.
If you’re using Photoshop or Lightroom here and there for simple edits or creative designs, the idea of using the complimentary management program as probably never crossed your mind. However, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t get its fair share of use.
Adobe Bridge is commonly used as a media manager by creative professionals who work with visual assets. This generally includes photographers, graphic designers, animators, marketing teams, and more.
But the program’s use isn’t only for professional creatives and those working in teams. Individuals freelance professionals and hobbyist could also benefit from using Adobe Bridge.
What Is Adobe Bridge?
Adobe Bridge is a free creative asset management tool that is included in all subscriptions of Adobe’s Creative Cloud. It is a companion application that allows users to organize, preview, batch edit, and publish files efficiently with the use of metadata, tag, and keywords.
On top of that, the program doesn’t just manage photos. It can work with various file formats and is meant to be used alongside all of Adobe’s programs. This includes:
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Lightroom
- InDesign
- Acrobat
- Premiere Pro
- Adobe Express
While many of the features are geared toward professional use, there are several benefits for individual and at home use as well.
What Does Adobe Bridge Do?
Though Adobe Bridge is considered an asset manager, it does so much more than that.
The program’s main purpose is to aid in the organization of work by finding assets in various storage locations. It also supports file attribute searches, allowing items to be found by characteristics such as rating, file format, or camera settings.
There are also various features that help creative teams and individuals speed up workflow and streamline processes. Some of the features include:
- Preview native Adobe Files
- Group assets together via filters
- Tag images with labels for easier searching
- Apply ratings to assets for organization and prioritization
- Assign metadata info such as resolution, author name, etc.
- Describe assent content with the use of keywords
- Apply advanced filters for easier searching across sub-folders
- Make non-destructive edits with the use of Adobe Camera Raw plugin
- Preform batch edits to speed up workflow
- Export multiple images to save time
- Publish to Adobe Stock, Adobe Portfolio, or Behance
Even if you’re not part of a professional team, Adobe Bridge is an extremely underrated tool that can help with file organization and management. Uploading and deleting multiple files is useful for even those who play with Adobe as a hobby.
Not to mention, the ability to edit right within the program can save you from having to open multiple programs such as Lightroom or Photoshop.
Is Adobe Bridge Worth Using?
While Adobe Bridge isn’t always necessary, many users find it useful to have. Let’s say you’re working on a mockup in a program like Placeit. Adobe Bridge would allow you to search for all of the necessary files by keyword or filter, and them preview them in advance before you uploaded them to the site.
You could also make minor changes to the images without having to open a separate program.
However, not all the features are generally utilized. Some of the most popular uses of the program are:
- Batch renaming files
- Searching for specific folders of filetypes
- Making contact sheets for large numbers of images
- Previewing documents without having to open the corresponding program
So, whether or not Adobe Bridge is worth using is going to boil down how important organization and file management is to you. If you’re already happy with your file management system, then you probably won’t find much use in the program.
Final Thoughts
You should now have a better understanding of who uses Adobe Bridge. If you’ve had Adobe programs for years and never touched Adobe Bridge, it’s easy to assume that the program doesn’t get much use. However, it’s one of the most easily underestimated programs that really brings all the Creative Cloud applications together.
