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Thread: Bridge-is there anything else???

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    Default Bridge-is there anything else???

    I'm looking for something similar to Bridge for my Mac. I don't want to have to import images to a program if I can keep from it (I already have Lightroom 2), and I don't need any image editing capability. The main thing I am after is a fairly quick way to wade through RAW files before I bring them into Lightroom. I guess since CS5 came out Adobe decided I can't update my CS3 version of Bridge to read the newer RAW files (I've copied and re-copied the plugins and everything else I can think of with no luck, maybe I am missing something). And I honestly wouldn't mind getting away from Adobe either......Thanks for any suggestions!!!

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    Jason,

    What do you need in a raw converter? Do you do any adjustments in the raw converter, or just do a straight conversion with defaults? Do you do highlight recovery, or chromatic aberration correction?

    There are a number of converters available commercially (e.g. capture 1, ImagesPlus and others). For free, use dcraw, but it has no graphical interface (but is great for batch conversions from the command line.

    Roger

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    Thanks for the reply Roger. I'm not really looking for a raw converter, but rather a program similar to Bridge that I can view and cull images with before I import them into Lightroom or anything else. For me, I don't see value in importing files that I know I am going to delete. What I normally do is open the file folder in Bridge, get rid of anything that is obviously not what I want, then import into Lightroom to process and cull some more. My need on the laptop is more for step one when I am traveling or in the field-I've still got my main editing machine at the house.

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    Photo Mechanic is a popular choice for Mac users to quickly review and cull images. http://www.camerabits.com/site/
    Chris


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    Default In Snow Leopard the Finder

    natively supports raw previews in folders "icon view" you have drag the preview size up. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3825

    You just open up your cards like disks and copy the raw files over.

    It's useful to save disk space not having to have applications on a machine when traveling

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    If you use Lightroom anyway, why don't you just review your RAW images on the import page of Lightroom before you import them (turn off auto-import)?

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    Hi Jason -
    One more vote for Photo Mechanic from me :-)

    It saved me so much time already, and still allows me to work on old 2003 hardware... I do RAW only before printing using CS3, all monitor / web work is based on the JPGs.

    Cheers,
    Christof

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    When I'm in the field, time to download and review images is precious, so I usually shoot raw + jpeg, and then review the jpegs. I find waiting for bridge to render the image too long, even on a fast machine. A joeg gets read faster, and is decompressed fast, so response is several times faster. I do like the bridge interface, but not the time to process the raw.

    Having recently changed to linux for most of my photo processing (I've used linus for many years for other stuff), I've found that the ubuntu linux file viewer processes the raw files just fine, and quite rapidly too. I can zoom to 100% by typing the number 1 button, and 200% with the number 2 key. It's the fastest preview I've seen.

    For my next trip to Africa, I'll take a ubuntu linux laptop. I'm also seeing the high transfer rates with linux for compact flash card reading.

    If one reviews images from a card, the image must be read through the card interface (e.g. USB), and then if keeping, copying them again through the interface to the hard drive. Seems like extra time to me. I just copy the card to the hard drive first, then review from the hard drive.

    Roger

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    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Clark View Post
    When I'm in the field, time to download and review images is precious, so I usually shoot raw + jpeg, and then review the jpegs. I find waiting for bridge to render the image too long, even on a fast machine. A joeg gets read faster, and is decompressed fast, so response is several times faster. I do like the bridge interface, but not the time to process the raw.

    Having recently changed to linux for most of my photo processing (I've used linus for many years for other stuff), I've found that the ubuntu linux file viewer processes the raw files just fine, and quite rapidly too. I can zoom to 100% by typing the number 1 button, and 200% with the number 2 key. It's the fastest preview I've seen.

    For my next trip to Africa, I'll take a ubuntu linux laptop. I'm also seeing the high transfer rates with linux for compact flash card reading.

    If one reviews images from a card, the image must be read through the card interface (e.g. USB), and then if keeping, copying them again through the interface to the hard drive. Seems like extra time to me. I just copy the card to the hard drive first, then review from the hard drive.

    Roger
    Roger, what are you using for your image processing on your Linux application?

    Ian, I am using Lightroom on another machine at my house. I should have mentioned that earlier.

    Thanks for the input from everyone.

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    I'll second Photo Mechanic. It is exactly what you need based on your description. I use it and in my opinion it's the best out there.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jason Kinsey View Post
    Roger, what are you using for your image processing on your Linux application?

    Ian, I am using Lightroom on another machine at my house. I should have mentioned that earlier.

    Thanks for the input from everyone.
    Hi Jason,

    Photoshop CS5 installed in windows 7 running as a guest operating system in virtualbox under linux. This solution allows me to run any windows program I need, but with the power of linux. I've used linux for over a decade at work for scientific processing, but have not used the desktop and tools built for gnome and linux as much as I have in the last month. I've been dual booting linux and windows and it is a pain to have to switch. With virtualbox and a clean windows install with few other programs installed in windows (right now just photoshop with ACR and bridge and ImagesPlus), boot time for windows is amazingly fast. I can have both linux and windows running at the same time and even cut and paste between operating systems (windows is running natively too). Because of this configuration, I have been exploring more with the linux tools and just last week discovered how well it did with raw files (and newer cameras, e.g. 1D Mark IV).

    Windows sees all the linux disks, so I can easily manage files and backups under linux. I'm using the ext4 linux file system.

    Gimp has come a long way in functionality, but until it has 16-bit support, I'll stick with photoshop.

    I'm very impressed with getting my data off of CF cards and to/from USB 2 and USB 3 disk drives with linux. I have not seen the same performance with windows, but I'll have some new data on this in a few weeks.

    When I'm on a big photo trip, time to get images off the CF cards and reviewed is very important to me. I struggled to keep up on my safari to Tanzania in February with a windows 7 laptop (with usb3 disks and usb3 interface on the laptop). I also struggled with windows 7 which wanted to do things I didn't want to do. I'm seeing better performance and better user interface with linux (at least for me).

    I have a dual screen desktop, one a 30-inch 2560x1600 and a 19-inch with 1200x1600 monitor. Linux let me rotate the smaller screen 90 degrees and windows (xp) would not with the same monitors.
    So I have 1600 x 3760 pixel desktop. Windows 7 under virtualbox sees this too because it uses the linux configuration.

    I love the multiple desktops under linux. I currently have 8 desktops defined, with 6 currently in use, one for windows. It is a simple click to go to each desktop (they are called panels in linux).

    Linux a couple of years ago was not ready for this. It has come a long away!

    Roger

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    Quote Originally Posted by Andrew Bunney View Post
    natively supports raw previews in folders "icon view" you have drag the preview size up. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3825

    You just open up your cards like disks and copy the raw files over.

    It's useful to save disk space not having to have applications on a machine when traveling
    Andy, this is very good advice!

    Apple is a terrific company, and it thus is not surprising to me that Snow Leopard 10.6.7 on my computers allows me to view RAW Nikon D7000 files, while Adobe makes me purchase CS5 to do the same thing.

    But in planning an antarctic trip, I want to be able to adjust my images to send them to others en route via the internet. Since Adobe won't allow enough use of copies of my CS5 to put one on my travel computer, I'll have to use my CS3 there and shoot RAW + JPEG to see what I have and work with it.

    Still, this is very interesting info you've provided here!

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    Default Iphoto might do that for you

    you probably got a free copy, its a good enough raw converter to send "post card" plus it has a good export direct to facebook feature. I use it for my family & friends photography

    Quote Originally Posted by Norm Dulak View Post
    Andy, this is very good advice!

    Apple is a terrific company, and it thus is not surprising to me that Snow Leopard 10.6.7 on my computers allows me to view RAW Nikon D7000 files, while Adobe makes me purchase CS5 to do the same thing.

    But in planning an antarctic trip, I want to be able to adjust my images to send them to others en route via the internet. Since Adobe won't allow enough use of copies of my CS5 to put one on my travel computer, I'll have to use my CS3 there and shoot RAW + JPEG to see what I have and work with it.

    Still, this is very interesting info you've provided here!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Norm Dulak View Post
    Since Adobe won't allow enough use of copies of my CS5 to put one on my travel computer, I'll have to use my CS3 there and shoot RAW + JPEG to see what I have and work with it.
    Unless they changed something since CS4, Adobe lets you install Photoshop on more than 2 machines but you can only activate it on 2 (I keep mine active on my desktop and my laptop). If you are travelling with a 3rd machine, you can de-activate it on your home machine while you're using your travel box and then switch back when you get home (I'm not at home now to look, but I think the de-activate command is under the help pull-down). I admit I haven't tried this with CS5 which I now use, but did it frequently when I had CS4.
    Last edited by Ian Cassell; 05-05-2011 at 04:47 PM.

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    Wow Andy and Ian!

    I'm so impressed with how BPN people like you support one another with helpful suggestions. Thanks so much for your feedback!

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