I currently use Bridge solely. I find that I haven't even scratched the surface of what it can do. But tell me why Lightroom or Bridge is better for RAW? I'm looking to do the following:


batch/customize/pre-set as much as possible
rate images on the fly for SHOWIT WEB slideshows while processing
reduce computer screen time! (duh)
have amazing results (duh, again)

Any thoughts/book suggestions/workshop suggestions etc would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

G

I used to use Bridge for and ACR for RAW processing. I bought lightroom, read the Lightroom book by Scott Kelby, and attended a Lightroom workshop by NAPP. (Excellant workshop BTW). Everyone rants and raves about lightroom. I do use lightroom for my RAW conversions now. Here are a couple things that I like/don't like.

1. I use the slideshow mode in Bridge to view my images FIRST to eliminate OOF images. I can't seem to tell if they are sharp enough if LR. I don't know why... but I have had it too many times that I thought they were sharp in LR, then a customer orders a large print and I am kicking myself for letting it get into the final cut. I find if I view them full screen in Bridge (Control + L) I can just hit delete on the OOF images. To delete in LR is one more step past hitting the delete button. You have to choose if you want to delete from LR or from computer. I don't want to take an extra step.

2. I LOVE the compare mode in LR. I pick a group of the same images, and hit the compare (or survey... I can't remember which one puts up all the images you select.) This is how I choose my images for the final selection. I rate it with a Flag.

3. I currently edit all my RAW files in LR, but I still think I like ACR better. It seams that after I get done with it in LR, and I open it in Bridge, and it doesn't quite look how I want it. I usually just go with everything in LR, but I am questioning that right now.

4. I don't like to import and export in LR. Then, if I move a folder or delete files outside of LR, it messes things up in LR.

So, here is my conclusion. Everyone talks about LR, and loves it. I still can't say I love it. I use it because I like the compare mode, and I have gotten used to how it works. I use it because everyone else says it is the thing to use. But, deep down inside, I think I still like Bridge and ACR better. There are a few features I like in LR better in bridge. And, there are a few really cool features that I never use in LR. I think they are great, but I rarely use them.

You can do all that in both Bridge or Lightroom.. but I have to say that since our studio has switched to Lightroom.. we do find it alot better as when we are batch processing things.... Lightroom seems to not need CS3 to run it.... so it allows for us to still retouch in CS3 while processing images.

In Bridge this be came a bit of a prob. no much but just a bit.

Give LightRoom a go.... pretty sure you will enjoy it.

Rockie

PS... Kevin Kubota has an excellent DVD tutorial on Light room that we used at the studio to get us aquainted with LR fast. might want to check that out too.

LR kicks ass.

I'm going to plug Kevin Swan's Lightroom Tutorial (there, I plugged it)

You won't be disappointed with LR. It's an incredibly powerful took that works better than most people (who haven't tried it) give it credit for. You'll find that most LR users have found it to have revolutionized their workflow, as it has done for me.

Best of luck!

Thanks guys for the replies. Sounds like I should try LR out. I like Kevin Swan's InDesign tutorial, maybe I'll check it out for Lightroom. By the way Kari, what is ACR? Camera Raw?

Thanks!

G

ACR = Adobe Camera Raw

From the little bit I've used Lightroom, I don't believe it has the same white point as ACR/Photoshop. I've opened my exported images and found them to be darker than I intended for them to be.