Proposal for Separate Embedded Settings for Thumbnail and Preview

[Cowboy Ho]

With the recent iterations of Adobe Bridge, specifically the 2023 and 2024 versions, there has been a significant change in how the software handles thumbnails and previews.

In Bridge 2022, both the thumbnail and preview sizes were adjustable according to user preferences. This allowed for a highly customizable user experience, catering to individual needs and workflow requirements.

However, in Bridge 2023 and 2024, only the thumbnail size adheres to user-defined settings. When a RAW file is selected, the preview is automatically generated, regardless of the previously set preview size. This change, while potentially beneficial for some, may not suit everyone's workflow.

I propose the introduction of separate settings for thumbnails and previews. This would provide users with greater control over their interface, allowing them to optimize their workspace according to their specific needs.

Having separate settings for these two features would ensure that Bridge continues to offer a flexible and personalized user experience.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter and hope to see this change implemented in future updates.

I want Embedded Preview back again, thanks

[gary_sc]

Hi, @Cowboy Ho. I'm sorry, I am having problems understanding your wish. 

When a raw image is created, there can be a jpg Embedded preview. This will be used for fast presentation until some adjustments have been made to the image. After that, the image needs to display the adjustments. Are you saying you want the embedded jpg to be displayed and not display any adjustments you have made to your image?

I'm not sure I understand why anyone would want to look at the pre-enhanced versions of their images. Can you elaborate on why such would be desired?

Meanwhile, if you have suggestions and/or wishes for Bridge, the best place to enter those is at: https://adobebridge.uservoice.com/

This forum is primarily intended to help those with specific issues with Bridge, not feature requests. Those of us who monitor this site are volunteers and do not work for Adobe. Sadly, Adobe doesn't listen to us anymore or less than they do to you! :>)

Good luck1

[Cowboy Ho]

1. Performance: Create thumb/preview from embedded faster then from RAW.

2. Color: from embedded will maintain camera's native colors (Canon color science), but from RAW will been forced to Adobe color that downgraded the color.

3. Touching: After touched the photo, I can generate RAW preview with Camera RAW settings.

In Bridge 2022 I have a choice, but in Bridge 2023/2024 I don't have any choice.

[phrank303]

HI, I just found your post. Unfortunately I got the same problems I wish i could use Bridge as a fast alternative to Photo Mechanic, but it's just super slow. As you have described it generates previews from RAW files and doesn't use the embedded previews. This could speed it up a lot. No many settings possible. After years I still wonder what's the purpose of Adobe Bridge next to Lightroom. Can't use it as a Digital Asset Management either.

[gary_sc]

Hi @phrank303, as I stated earlier, there are limitations to showing just the embedded. 

You raise a good question about the value of Bridge over, say, Lightroom. While I surely cannot speak for all, I can point out where I use Lightroom Desktop, Lightroom Classic, Lightroom Mobile, Lightroom Web, and Bridge.

I use all of them, each for the specific benefits they provide. When I take photos of family or my travels, ALL of these images go into Lightroom Classic. The benefits of LRC's DAM cannot be beaten; plus, it provides the Map capabilities and the superlative Keywording. Also, do not count out the access of plugins to LRC like Topaz.

I use Lightroom Desktop mostly as a recipient of any images I take on my phone. All of these images (the phone's camera and via LR Mobile) can be sent to the LR cloud ecosystem. While I can and do make adjustments on my phone, I am not a fan and typically wait until I get access to LR Desktop to view the full-screen image(s) for any adjustment. I'll get back to LRD in a moment.

From LRC, I can send images via a Collection back out to the LR cloud's ecosystem, so I can share images from a trip to friends.

What I can't do with anything here is look at a small selection of images that need selection, processing, and then trashing. For example, I do a monthly newsletter for my woodworking club, and members take photos and send them to me for the upcoming issue. In Bridge, I can immediately go through the images, select which ones I wish to use, adjust them as needed in ACR, accurately resize them in PS, and place them into InDesign. The selected images are saved in that month's folder. When I have something from the house to sell online, I place any images I have of that item into Bridge, process, resize, and post online. Then, once the item is gone, I toss the images. 

As I stated, let me go back to LRD. One of the new features of LRC is that an image does not HAVE to be in the clouds for LRC to access those files. It can now access files directly on your computer. I've tried using this, and while it works, it fails in other important dynamics: In LRD, it is not possible to see a file's name unless you use Custom Export where you can rename one file at a time. In fact, you cannot rotate more than one image at a time in LRD. There may be a time in the future when one is not as hindered by file control as one is now, but we are not there yet.

Sorry for the length, but I did want to provide how I, as a single user, use each of these programs. Please do keep in mind that software is constantly changing. Applications are always updated, sometimes for the better, other times for the worse, being dropped by their manufacturer, and sometimes being updated with a whole new application that may be better or worse than what proceeded it. 

But I'm sure you know all that.