Where is Photomerge in Bridge 2024?

[BradLDNorth]

Maybe I missed this in a recent update but where did Photomerge relocate in Bridge?  It used to be under Tools > Photoshop > Photomerge.

I'm on version 16.2.0.1763. 

[gary_sc · Accepted solution]

OK, it's still there, 

 But I have a question: you are on version 16.2.0.1763 of what? Bridge is now in version 14, not 16 (and Photoshop is in version 25). 

Assuming you misread the version, here's how to get things back to normal. If any of these Tools are not under the Tools menu, it's missing because of either:

1. Your copy of Bridge does not match your copy of Photoshop. That is, if you are using Bridge 2022 and Photoshop 2023 when Photoshop is installed, Photoshop looks at the copy of Bridge, and if the two do not match, Photoshop will not install the scripts.
2.  If Photoshop is installed before Bridge, it cannot know that Bridge "may" be installed in the future, so it does not install any of the scripts into Bridge.

To resolve this, be sure you are using paired copies of Bridge and Photoshop, and when installing, be sure to install Bridge BEFORE installing Photoshop. If you've already installed both applications, you'll probably have to uninstall both and then reinstall them in the proper order. Let me add that whenever I update PS, besides quitting PS, I also quit Bridge (this resolves any issue around item #1 above).

Let me know if this works.

[BruceVI]

"To resolve this, be sure you are using paired copies of Bridge and Photoshop"

In fact, to the best of my knowledge, Adobe no longer offers a compatible version of Ps to mate with Bridge 2022 (Br 12) in the CC app and hasn't for quite some time.  If you don't have Ps V. 23.3.x.xxx (Ps 2022), your're out of luck getting the Ps automation scripts to work from Br 12. 

With the large loyalty to Br 12 due to the ongoing slow-motion train wreck that has been the Br 13/14 era I'm dismayed that Adobe doesn't acknowledge that and bring back Ps 2022 until the Bridge team gets its act together.

[gary_sc]

Well, you asked about Bridge 2024, not 2022. 

And, FWIW, I am using and (mostly) enjoying Bridge 2024 and use it daily. What are your specific issues?

And, FWIW part 2, as I'm sure you know, photography is an art of compromise. For example, you cannot take a photo of your friend and the mountain. You have to pick one. Either your friend will be so small as not to be seen, or you will have your friend and part of the mountain. If you want to use Photoshop's Tools, you'll have to work with Bridge 2024 (the application you said you had).

Good luck!

[BradLDNorth]

Good catch there. The version 16 was for Camera Raw. I'm on Bridge 14.0.3 and Photoshop 25.6. I ran the uninstall through Creative Cloud, and reinstalled Bridge then Photoshop and the problem is fixed!  All tools have been restored and so far the programs are stable and working as expected. Thank you for the help!

[Wild Wanderer]

Hi Gary,

First off, thanks for all your helpful advice in these forums regarding PS issues. Much appreciated.

I have all current versions of PS and Bridge. With 2023 versions of Bridge I could simply select the images, then Tools > Photoshop > Photomerge, which would then automatically open the Photomerge window in PS.  That doesn't exist in the recent versions. The only method I've found is to access Photomerge from PS, which is not nearly as convenient. 

I often wonder what goes through the minds of Adobe programmers, what their agenda is in constantly making seemingly unnecessary changes that are not as user friendly. "Why not leave well enough alone?" I ask.

Here's some screen grabs showing Bridge 2023 and Bridge 2024.

Thanks again. 

[gary_sc]

Hi, @Wild Wanderer, please read my comment above that was marked as "Correct Answer."

Now, to get your Photoshop back into the Tools menu:

1.  Uninstall both Photoshop and Bridge.
2.  Reinstall Bridge
3.  Reinstall Photoshop.

That should do it. 

Again, the reason for this is that the item you want, Photomerge, is a script within PS. If PS is installed before Bridge, there is no Bridge for PS to install the script into. By installing Bridge first, PS has a location to place the scripts.

On a related but different note, I am not a big fan of Photomerge. I am not going to go into any details here beyond I just do not like the look it gives images. However, when the Adobe crew came up with "Merge to HDR" in their Adobe Camera Raw processors, it opened up a whole new world on this for me. If you're doing HDR, it opened up a whole new world for me. If you're not doing HDR, this might still be worth a look.

When I use the "Photomerge" option, I get this:

When I used the Merge to HDR, I get this:

To do this, take your HDR proto-images and open them all up in Adobe Camera Raw. Then select all of your images and right-click on the ellipses

When this window opens up, select your options (seen in the upper right corner):

The only one that may or may not be needed is the Deghost option. If there are any moving objects (people, leaves, pets, etc.) they will appear pretty bad if you do not have some option selected here from the dropdown. I've found that "Medium" is generally very good. Rarely does one find a scene where no leaves are moving so I find that something is good here, and more rarely do I find that I need anything more than "Medium."

If you have any questions, just ask.