Anyone moved from Bridge to Lightroom?

I read Adobe's product info and some topics in this forum. However I wonder if anyone has used Bridge a lot for photography and has now moved to Lightroom (or tried and went back) and why. I'd rather hear a short review from you than from Adobe (pro, contra compared to Bridge). Also how do the two work together, I'm reading a lot about lost Camera RAW adjustments.
Thanks and if you have a good link to a topic that already covers this, could you post it? I couldn't find much. Sorry if this is asked frequently.
What I understood so far is that Lightroom is better as a database for lot's of photos because it copies them to the hardrive. It also seems to be better for presenting pictures to a client because it can be costumized visually (logo etc) and doesn't have non-photo features clustering up the screen. But is that all? Are the metadata features identical?

Hello T-
The thing to understand about Lightroom is that, rather than trying to be a total replacement for Bridge/ACR/Photoshop, it's a new approach to managing your photographic workflow, especially to those of us who primarily shoot in a RAW format. I specify that, because there are many programs that do what Lightroom does for jpeg and tiff files, but Lightroom shines among RAW processors and the concept of non-destructive adjustments to RAW files. It also does non-destructive adjustments to jpeg, tiff and psd files, but at first look, I think most people using those formats will likely think "I can do more in Photoshop". In fact, though, Lightroom incorporates more "image management" tools than Bridge, such as collections, that might make it more attractive to many users.
Bridge has a more "seamless" connectivity with Photoshop and other Adobe apps, but for most of your work Lightroom's Export and PS Edit functions work just fine. The two functions that you might resort to Bridge for regularly are Bridge's HDR handshaking with Photoshop and Bridge's Panoramic stitching handshaking. Lightroom at this time doesn't manage those operations and, in fact, can't deal with panorama pictures with dimensions of greater than 10MP in either dimension.
Other than those specialized functions, Lightroom is great for organizing and basic processing of your images. For RAW, I don't know of any other program that has so much functionality, although I gather Apple's Aperture is similar (I'm not a Mac user).
The main complaints about Lightroom are 1) as a new application it has noticable bugs and 2) it lacks some important features, requiring a lot of users to resort to Photoshop or some other external application to "get it right". Yes it's a new application, both issues are valid, but still it is well worth delving into and learning the workflow. You will find yourself turning to Bridge less and less, and the Adobe team will provide us with updates as they are able that address pressing issues.
Tony

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Moving from Bridge to Lightroom, when adding existing files on hard drive, will metadata transfer? Should I choose embed sidecar in file handling or will it automatically happen if I choose standard?

Moving from Bridge to Lightroom. Will metadata in existing files be recognized by Lightroom, and should I select embed+sidecar when adding files to library for the first time.

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.
CHRIS - you are exactly right about my FUTURE workflow. What I'm trying to figure out now is how to best handle images already processed. My import should be OK based on the way I have duplicates in separate directories, BUT I'm wondering how to avoid seeing all of these duplicates in LR when I search by keyword, etc.? I guess I can somehow flag the RAW files and only get them in my results.
One question though - Stacks, etc. sounds great for the LR processed images. But what about variations based on processing in Photoshop after the LR Develop stage? I guess in this case I will just have to keep duplicate images if I have multiple versions from my PS work?
ISAAC - Thanks for clarifying that LR will recognize my XMP files from Bridge. What about the opposite direction . . . if I edit something in LR and capture this via XMP, it won't prohibit Bridge from recognizing XMP info if I access a file via Bridge, will it?
ALSO - Do you know where I can find info about tracking via XMP vs. the central database? You mentioned a couple of valid points, but I'm not sure I have a full handle on the pros/cons of these options.
Thanks!
Mark

Is a way to send photos from bridge to lightroom ?

hi
is there a way to send photos from bridge to lightroom?
i know only to drag and drop
but is there a script or other ways to send photos to my lightroom catalog
w7 64bit
thanks

i know only to drag and drop
Which to my knowledge is the fastest way because you already have selected the files or folder anyway. Since Bridge is a browser showing the content of your disks and Lightroom puts files (often in different versions) in a library you can't combine both to a suitable workflow, at least that is my opinion.
However if you want them in LR the best way I would know is to use the import option in LR itself.

Adapting workflow from Bridge to Lightroom

Migrating from Bridge to Lightroom and looking for suggestions on organizing RAWs/jpgs to optimize transition? My files are a mess with many duplicates as well as jpgs and RAWs in the same folders. Thanks!

The best advice I can give you is that Lightroom is different than Bridge. If you followed a sequence of steps in Bridge, do NOT insist on following the same sequence of steps in Lightroom. Lightroom offers you many paths to get to the end result, and often these paths are simpler and more powerful than getting to the same result in Bridge.
looking for suggestions on organizing RAWs/jpgs to optimize transition?
In my opinion, this is extremely simple. Your RAWs and JPGs should stay exactly where they are now. Do not move them even one millimeter, or to another folder. Import into Lightroom using the ADD option.
My files are a mess with many duplicates as well as jpgs and RAWs in the same folders.
Lightroom should be able to weed out the duplicates (if they are true duplicates).
JPGs and RAWs in the same folder????? This is HORRIBLE, I tell you, HORRIBLE. You should be shot!!!!! (This is sarcasm, of course) Leave them alone. Don't worry about it. Lightroom doesn't care. You can achieve organization even if you leave things the way they are now. Everything works fine the way I do it, which is JPGs and RAWs and TIFs and maybe even a PSD and a video in the same folder.
Use Lightroom tools from now on to organize and search. These tools are keywords, captions and other metadata. Put your energy into using these Lightroom tools, and not a single drop of energy into re-arranging and re-organizing your folders. The Lightroom tools are specifically designed for photos, and result in a much more powerful organization than anything you could develop by re-organizing your folders. Folders are no longer an organizing tool, they are simply the place where your photos are stored.

Importing stacks from Bridge to Lightroom

Hi all. I am looking to convert and import my photos from Adobe Bridge to Lightroom. In doing so however I haven't been able to maintain the stacks that I've created in Bridge (i.e. have the stacks show in Lightroom). Is this simply not possible? Can I get Lightroom to import the Bridge catalogue information some how?

There's really no benefit to using two different photo management programs, Bridge and Lightroom. Furthermore, if you are using Lightroom, you ought NOT to be moving or rating or managing your photos in Bridge in any way. Lightroom is not a file browser, it does not know when you move photos in another program.
You assign stars in Lightroom; you manage/organize photos in Lightroom preferably by assigning keywords and other metadata, but if you absolutely must move them to a different folder (which I don't recommend), you do that in Lightroom too. Specifically in this case, the Filter Bar in Lightroom allows you to find any photos with a specified number of stars (for example, all 5 star photos) without you actually having to move them to a different folder.
To fix the existing problem, each photo that has been moved has either a question-mark icon or an exclamation point icon. The way you fix the problem is to point at the question-mark or exclamation point icon and then a dialog box will ask you to find the photo in your folder hierarchy. More details are here: Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders

Transitioning from Bridge to Lightroom

I have been using Bridge and Photoshop for years, but yesterday installed Lightroom through CC. I would like to maintain my existing naming convention and file structure for my images. Does this involve anything other than importing my existing files into the Lightroom catalog? Thereafter, can I continue to import images from my memory card into my existing file structure with them appearing both in Lightroom and Bridge correctly named and filed? Does it matter whether I use Bridge or Lightroom to import my images from a memory card? Thanks.

Anything you do in Bridge before the photos are imported into LR will be read by Lightroom and used properly.
Then, after importing a photo into Lightroom, you go back into Bridge and perform an edit on this same photo, and Lightroom doesn't know about it. The situation is easy to rectify, by again, why are we talking about using both programs? You are only setting up the opportunity for confusion and extra work, and the probability that your edits and metadata will be out of sync, where one program has one set of edits and the other program has a different set of edits!
As far as the disadvantages to automatically writing to xmp, I would say they are minor, but others disagree and I'd probably want to let those individuals speak for themselves. In the Lightroom forum (not the Lightroom for Beginners forum), Rob Cole has spoken many times about why he doesn't like this option. You should probably search for his comments.

From bridge to lightroom

I used Bridge to help a friend sort through photos. I marked them with using the star rating then moved the desirable photos to a new folder. Now she cannot open the raw files in Lightroom. Help please!

There's really no benefit to using two different photo management programs, Bridge and Lightroom. Furthermore, if you are using Lightroom, you ought NOT to be moving or rating or managing your photos in Bridge in any way. Lightroom is not a file browser, it does not know when you move photos in another program.
You assign stars in Lightroom; you manage/organize photos in Lightroom preferably by assigning keywords and other metadata, but if you absolutely must move them to a different folder (which I don't recommend), you do that in Lightroom too. Specifically in this case, the Filter Bar in Lightroom allows you to find any photos with a specified number of stars (for example, all 5 star photos) without you actually having to move them to a different folder.
To fix the existing problem, each photo that has been moved has either a question-mark icon or an exclamation point icon. The way you fix the problem is to point at the question-mark or exclamation point icon and then a dialog box will ask you to find the photo in your folder hierarchy. More details are here: Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders

Has anyone moved from mobileme to icloud?

Hi
Am a bit worried about mopving from mobileme to icloud as I dont want to lose my iweb site. Im aware that Ill have to change it by next June, but has anyone moved over and if so are your iweb sites still working in the meantime.?
many thanks

To add to Ethmoid's post: it is now confirmed that iWeb, and iDVD, has been discontinued by Apple. This is evidenced by the fact that new Macs are shipping with iLife 11 installed but without iWeb and iDVD.
On June 30, 2012 MobileMe will be shutdown. However, iWeb will still continue to work but without the following:
Features No Longer Available Once MobileMe is Discontinued:
◼ Password protection
◼ Blog and photo comments
◼ Blog search
◼ Hit counter
◼ MobileMe Gallery
All of these features can be replaced with 3rd party options.
I found that if I published my site to a folder on my hard drive and then uploaded with a 3rd party FTP client subscriptions to slideshows and the RSS feed were broken. If I published directly from iWeb to the FPT server those two features continued to work correctly.
There's another problem and that's with iWeb's popup slideshows. Once the MMe servers are no longer online the popup slideshow buttons will not display their images.
Click to view full size
However, Roddy McKay and I have figured out a way to modify existing sites with those slideshows and iWeb itself so that those images will display as expected once MobileMe servers are gone. How to is described in this tutorial: #26 - How to Modify iWeb So Popup Slideshows Will Work After MobileMe is Discontinued.
It now appears that the iLife suite of applications offered on disc is now a discontinued product and the remaining supported iApps will only be available thru the App Store from now on. However, the iLife 11 boxed version that is still available at the online Apple Store (Store button at the top of the page) and those still on the shelves of retailers will include iWeb and iDVD. Those two apps were listed in small, gray text on the iLife 11 box that I bought.
Personally, if I didn't already have a copy I would purchase one to have it for reinstallation purposes if ever needed.
This may be of some interest to you: Life After MobileMe.
OT

Has anyone moved from Sky to BT Vision - opinions ...

Hi. My Sky contract is up at the end of July and I want to move to BT vision.
I'm wondering has anyone gone through this process and what are your thoughts on the new service?
How did the transition go? How much are you saving? What are the call centres like (I know they have Indian call centres like Sky I've heard that you need to keep the STB on all the time. Is this true?
Also, does the router need to be near the tv? This wouldn't be possible in the place I live at the moment. Would a wireless bridge work?
Basically all I'm watching is Sky Sports 1 and 2 (I also have SS3 and 4 which I don't watch) and Freeview, plus I've got BB,HD + 2 pack, and I'm paying £63.50. Its just too much.
I'm hoping moving to BT Vision I could cut my bill in half.
Cheers.

Many thanks for everyones replies they have been most helpful
I cancelled Sky last night and got my MAC code! Should be disconnected at the end of July.
How long will it take from placing an order with BT to getting package and STB in the post? I'm thinking of ordering at the beginning of July.
About the STB issues I wold rather turn it off. It will be connected to an 8 way power adapter with amps and 50 inch tv etc all connected. I really don't want to leave all that on standy when I'm out. I never schedule record never and I don't mind waiting to for the box to boot up, even if it takes 5 minutes.
Cheers.

How do I import GPS information for all of my images from Bridge into Lightroom 5.3?

After importing my images into Lightroom 5.3, I discovered that the GPS location data was imported for some images, but not for others. When I checked the metadata files for the same images in Bridge, the location data was present for all of my recently downloaded images.
Why would Lightroom import the GPS data for some images and not others?
Is there any way to import the location data from the Bridge metadata files into Lightroom?

Tony,
Thank you for your suggestion. I had already tried several approaches along those lines without success. In the end, the GPS data was still present in Bridge metadata file for each image, but not in the Lightroom metadata files for the same images.
So, I went back to Lightroom, and did some further exploring on the internet for solutions. Just as I was wondering whether or not the problem might be rooted in my download presets (i.e., setting copyright into, etc.), I stumbled across a reference by a Pentax owner that identified the same problem. Here's the link:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/115-pentax-k-5/203274-gps-data-not-importing-into-light room-4-2-a.html
In a nutshell, I can download all of the metadata, including the GPS location information, but only if I do NOT use any metadata presets. If I use a metadata preset when downloading my images, no GPS data can be seen in the Lightroom metadata files, but it does import into Bridge's metadata files. I've now tried this both ways, several times now, and have verified this result.
I also tried re-downloading images with no presets, and replacing (copying over) the image from my original download. This did not solve the missing GPS data in the Lightroom metadata. From this point, all that I could think of doing was removing all of my recent downloads from Lightroom, and starting over. However, I'd already started editing my images, and I didn't want to lose that time.
So, I re-downloaded all of my recent images from my memory cards as a copy into each file without any metadata presets. Then, after selecting the copy first, followed by selecting the original (order is important), I toggled 'Sync Metadata' under the Metadata tab in Lightroom. Voila, the GPS data appeared in the original metadata. When this is done for all of my images, I will delete the second copies in my files. Once I am satisfied that everything is okay, and my images are backed up satisfactorily, and only then, will I reformat my memory cards.
This whole experience has surfaced an interesting quirk in Lightroom, or in my Lightroom settings that I don't understand. It may be something that Adobe might want to look into further, if others are finding a similar problem.

Anyone moved from e71 to n97 mini?

Hello,
I've been a faithful fan of the Eseries line for several years (E61i->e71). The phones are rock solid except for some issues with VOIP. The e72 isn't getting much love these days on the Nokia Discussion pages or on in the Amazon Reviews. Sure some people love it but way too many "Don't buy it posts" out there from e71 owners.
So, have any of you Eseries fans moved over to the N97 mini? The N97 (Big Brother) doesn't get much good press but several people have mentioned the N97 mini is great and as good as an Eseries phone. I need something small since I use my e71 with Sportstracker while running and biking. Anyone out there switch from a e71 or Eseries to the n97 mini and love it?
Thanks

Just do it, you won't regret it, check out Steve Litchfield on AAS or the phone show !
http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/sshow/ss99.html
have used, but not owned an E-Series, and no-one else has replied yet so do a bit of research and take a chance, it's a completely different experience, but will do your 'E' stuff and a LOT more
Good Luck
If I have helped at all, a click on the White Star is always appreciated :
you can also help others by marking 'accept as solution'

Finally switched from Bridge to Lightroom...how do I do this???

Okay, things that were cake in Bridge and now not so much....
How do I Batch multiple images using Presets in Lightroom?
How to I save my raw images as JPEG in Lightroom?
How do I open multiple images at once to edit and/or in Photoshop?
And finally, CS 5 will not upload raw images and will not update the raw profiles to include my new camera so I am "rendering with photoshop" which saves my images as TIFF files. Is this negative in anyway?
Thanks in advance. Lightroom is making this Bridge lover feel a little bit dumb!

It depends whether or not you purchased a mixed platform license. If you purchased a Windows-only license you will need to contact Support to see if an exchange/swap is possible.
Chat support - For the link below click the Still Need Help? option in the blue area at the bottom and choose the chat option...
Make sure you are logged in to the Adobe site, have cookies enabled, clear your cookie cache. If it continues to fail try using a different browser.
http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/service-b.html ( http://adobe.ly/1d3k3a5 )
Download and Installation Help -
https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install.html
Lightroom - all versions
Windows
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=113&platform=Windows
Mac
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=113&platform=Macintosh

Migrating from Bridge to Lightroom, keeping ratings?

I am more and more convinced to exclusively use Lightroom and wish to import folders that was tagged with Bridge into LR catalogs.
Many photos are rated using Bridge and I wish to keep those ratings when importing them into LR.
Any capability of doing that?
Thanks

Go ahead and give it a try. Unless you tell Lightroom specifically to move the photos, they will simply be imported into the Lightroom catalog/database but remain unchanged otherwise. Some people seem to think that Lightroom somehow "absorbs" their images, thus making them unavailable anywhere else. That simply isn't true. The images should still be in the same place after the Lightroom import. If you go to Bridge you should find them in the same place with the same ratings as before.

I'm moving from Aperture to Lightroom ...

I have used Aperture for the last few years and really liked storing a lot of photos on an external disk, but having them categorized within aperture folders or albums or projects. I have a very large collection on an external hard drive and they are sorted by date, but within Aperture I can find them under various categories. That way I can look at the albums, and find the photo I want and then connect the external drive and work on it.
If I am able make collections on that external drive of the photos in the places I want them (say with folders which say things like "AbbeyFirstYear", "JoshGradeSchool") and then managed them with Lightroom do I choose "Copy" or "Move" when I bring them into Lightroom? I'd like to keep the actual files off my hard drive (this is a space issue) and just want references.
Separately, I backup that external drive to another external drive. If something should happen to the original one can I easily tell Lightroom to relink the images to the backup external drive?

Hi Pamela!
Lightroom is excellent at referencing images on external drives. If the drive is offline Lightroom will indicate that in the Folders panel. Once your images are added to the Catalog you can view, rate, tag, etc even with the drive offline. If you want to work on an image then you would need to connect the drive. To bring the images into your catalog, connect the drive and choose ADD in the import dialog. That will add the images but leave them in place on the external drive.
If a file gets corrupted or deleted you can connect the Catalog image to another copy that you have or copy from the backup to your external drive and then reconnect the Catalog image with the new copy.

Photos missing from Bridge CC

Am using CC. My photos are stored on an Iomega drive. I can reference that drive from Bridge and Lightroom. There seem to be photos in LR that I can't find in Bridge. How is that possible? All the right folders etc seem to be in Bridge.

Don't use LR, but have heard it can make different copies of image, depending on process. Will not be readable outside of LR.

Anyone moved from Bridge to Lightroom?

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