For example, if you need a folder of cat portraits for a project, create a Collection by clicking on the New Collection button at the bottom of the Collections panel, and then drag in virtual copies of the images from the Content panel or the Finder.
Why is this important? Because you want the flexibility to play with your photographs without compromising the organizational structure you use to keep track of them. Collections let you gather together images in virtual folders without moving the files in the Finder. These ad-hoc folders are almost identical to that same great feature in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and to Albums in Apple’s Aperture. Bridge’s CollectionsĪnother of my favorite Bridge CS4 features is the ability to make Collections. Bridge gathers your favorites into a virtual collection. Once you’re satisfied, click on the Make Collection icon in the lower right corner of Review Mode. (The photo isn’t deleted from its location in the folder, only removed from the carousel.) Cycle through the shots as many times as necessary until you’re pleased with the survivors. Remove images from the carousel by pressing the down-arrow key. Use the right- and left-arrow keys to navigate from shot to shot. Think of this as musical chairs for your photographs. In this mode, your photos appear as if they’re on a carousel. Open Bridge, click on the folder you want to sort, and then press command-B. Bridge’s Review Mode is perfect for sorting your images into keepers and tossers.
Say you have a folder full of images that you want to winnow down to a collection of favorites. Here are five favorites all photographers should check out. But you’ll also find some unexpected helpers tucked inside CS4’s bundled applications, Adobe Bridge CS4 and Adobe Camera Raw 5. As you might expect, Adobe’s $699 Adobe Photoshop CS4 ( ) contains a treasure trove of goodies for pixel-pushing photographers.