21. Working Together with Adobe Programs

Adobe programs are designed to work together so you can focus on what you need to do, rather than how to do it. In fact, the Adobe programs share tools and features for your most common tasks so you can work uninterrupted and move seamlessly from one program to another. Adobe Creative Suite 3 is an integrated collection of programs that work together to help you create designs in print, on the Web, or on mobile devices. When you install Adobe Creative Suite 3 or a stand-alone Adobe program, you also get additional shared Adobe programs—Bridge, Stock Photos, Version Cue, Device Central, and Extension Manager—to help you perform specific jobs, such as locate, download, and modify images for projects, manage files and program extensions and test files for different mobile devices.

The Adobe Bridge CS3 is a program, which lets you view, open, modify, and manage images located on your computer from any Adobe Creative Suite 3 program. Adobe Bridge is literally the glue that binds Adobe Creative Suite 3 programs together with shared tools into one cohesive unit. Bridge allows you to search, sort, filter (New!), manage, and process image files one at a time or in batches. You can also use Bridge to create new folders; rename, move, delete and group (New!) files; edit metadata; rotate images; and run batch commands. You can also import files from your digital camera and view file information and metadata.

In Adobe Bridge, you can also access other Adobe programs and services. You can start Adobe Acrobat Connect, where you can start an online meeting and collaborate on any design project across platforms and programs, or Adobe Photographers Directory, where you can search for the contact information and portfolio of professional photographers around the world.

Exploring Adobe Programs

Adobe Creative Suite 3

Adobe Creative Suite 3 (New!) is an integrated collection of programs that work together to help you create designs in print, on the Web, or on mobile devices. Adobe’s Creative Suite 3 comes in different editions with different combinations of Adobe programs. The main programs for print design include InDesign and Acrobat Professional; for graphic design include Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks; for video and sound design include Premiere, After Effects Professional, Encore, and Sound-booth; and for Web design include Flash Professional, Dreamweaver, and Contribute.

Working Together with Adobe Programs

When you install Adobe Creative Suite 3 or a stand-alone Adobe program, you also get additional Adobe programs—Bridge, Stock Photos, Version Cue, Device Central, and Extension Manager—to help you perform specific jobs, such as locate photo content for projects, manage files and program extensions and test files for different mobile devices.

Adobe Bridge

Adobe Bridge CS3 is a file management/batch program that frees up your Adobe program to manage and process images while you work. To use Bridge, click Browse on the File menu within an Adobe product, such as Flash, or from the desktop use the Start menu (Win) or Applications folder (Mac).

Adobe Stock Photos

Adobe Stock Photos is an integrated service available within Adobe Bridge that lets you search, view, try, and buy over one million royalty-free stock photographic images. With Stock Photos, you can download low-resolution, complementary (comp) versions of images you like at no charge and edit them in Photoshop. Each stock photo includes embedded metadata about the image, such as its author, copyright, creation date, size, color space, and resolution, to make it easier to find and track. You can work with the comps until you decision to use them, at which time you can purchase and download a high-resolution image. Downloaded images are automatically saved in folders in Adobe Bridge. To display stock photos, open Bridge, click the Folder list arrow, and then click Adobe Stock Photos, or use the Favorites pane, where you can also access downloaded comps.

Adobe Version Cue

Adobe Version Cue is a file tracking management program you can use to keep track of changes to a file as you work on it. You use Adobe Bridge as a central location from which to use Version Cue. You can track Adobe and non-Adobe program files.

Adobe Device Central

Adobe Device Central CS3 allows you to test your content on a variety of mobile devices. Device Central allows you to see how your content appears on specific mobile devices. You can interact with the emulated device in a way that allows you to test your content is real-world situations. Device Central provides a library of devices and each device includes a profile with information about the device, including media and content support types.

Adobe Extension Manager

Adobe Extension Manager CS3 allows you to install and delete added program functionality, known as extensions, to many Adobe programs.

Exploring Adobe Bridge

PS 8.1

Getting Started with Adobe Bridge

PS 8.1

The Adobe Bridge CS3 is a stand-alone program, which lets you view, open, and manage images located on your computer from any Adobe Creative Suite 3 program. Adobe Bridge is literally the glue that binds Adobe Creative Suite 3 programs and shared tools together into one cohesive unit. Adobe Bridge integrates with shared tools including Adobe Version Cue, a file tracking project management program, and Adobe Stock Photos, a service that lets you search, view, try, and buy royalty-free stock photography. The Bridge program provides a set of panels that make it easy to find, view, and manage the files on your computer or network. As you work with Bridge, you’ll open, close, and move (dock and undock) around the panels to meet your individual needs. After you customize the workspace, you can save the location of the panels as a custom workspace (New!), which you can display using the Workspace command on the Window menu. Bridge also provides some pre-defined workspaces.

Get Started with Adobe Bridge

Launch your Adobe product, click the File menu, and then click Browse.

You can also start Adobe Bridge CS3 from the Start menu (Win) or the Applications folder (Mac).

To open and close a panel, click the Window menu, and then click the panel name you want.

To move a panel, drag the panel tab you want to another location in the Bridge window.

To save a workspace, click the Window menu, point to Workspace, click Save Workspace, type a name, and then click OK.

To display a workspace, click the Window menu, point to Workspace, and then click the workspace you want.

When you’re done, click the Close button in the Bridge window.

Getting Photos from a Digital Camera

If you have camera raw or other images in a digital camera, you can use the Get Photos from Camera command (New!) in Adobe Bridge to retrieve and copy them to your computer. The Get Photos from Camera command allows you to specify where you want to store the files, rename them, preserve metadata, or convert them to the DNG format. When you convert Camera Raw files to the DNG format, you specify preview size, compression, and whether to preserve the camera raw image or embed the original raw file.

Import Camera Raw and Other Files from a Camera

In Adobe Bridge, click the File menu, and then click Get Photos From Camera.

Click the Get Photos From popup, and then select the source camera.

Specify the folder location and file name you want.

To rename the files, select the method you want, and then enter the file name text you want.

Select the options you want:

Preserve Current Filename in XMP. Select to save the current filename as metadata in the image.
Open Adobe Bridge. Select to open and display the files in Adobe Bridge.
Convert To DNG. Select to convert Camera Raw files to DNG. Click Settings to set DNG conversion options.
Save Copies To. Select to save copies to another folder for backup purposes. Click Browse to select a folder location.

To apply metadata to the files, click Advanced Dialog.

Click Get Photos.

The files appear in Bridge.

Working with Raw Images from a Digital Camera

PS 8.4, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3

Camera raw image file formats are created by most mid to high-end digital cameras and contain all the information about how the image was taken. The raw format turns off all camera adjustments, and simply saves the image information to the digital film. Using the raw format is as close to using traditional film as a digital camera can get. Raw images are larger; however, the increase in file size is actually more information that can be used by Bridge to adjust the image. In Bridge, you can open Raw, JPEG (New!), and TIF (New!) files to make image enhancements. If you’re not sure what to do, you can click Auto to have Camera Raw do it or drag color sliders (New!) to adjust options manually. In addition, raw images can be converted into 16-bit. When a 16-bit image is opened, you have more control over adjustments, such as tonal and color correction. Once processed, raw images can be saved in the DNG, TIF, PSD, PSB, or JPEG formats. You can use the Batch, Image Processor or Create Droplet commands on the Tools menu under Photoshop in Bridge to automate the processing of camera raw files. After you make Camera Raw adjustments, you can save the settings so you can apply them to other files.

Set Camera Raw Preferences

In Adobe Bridge, click the Edit menu, and then click Camera Raw Preferences.

Select the preferences you want:

General. Specify where Camera Raw file settings are stored. Use Sidecar XMP files to store settings in a separate file, or use Camera Raw Database to store settings in a central database you can search.
Default Image Settings. Select options to automatically apply settings or set defaults.
Camera Raw Cache. Set a cache size to shorten the loading time for Camera Raw thumbnails and previews. The cache holds about 200 images for each gigabyte of storage.
DNG File Handling. Select options to ignore XMP files or update embedded content.

Click OK.

Modify a File in Camera Raw

Right-click the image (Camera Raw, JPEG, or TIF) you want, and then click Open in Camera Raw.

Use the Zoom, Hand, Rotate, Crop, and Straighten tools to change the size, orientation, and position of the image, or use the White Balance tools to set the image white balance or the Color Sample tool to sample a color, or use the Retouch (Heal or Clone) and Red Eye tools (New!) to fix the image.

Select from the available image view options:

Image Preview. Displays the active image.
Zoom Level. Changes the view of the active image.
Histogram. Displays information on the colors and brightness levels in the active image.

Click the Basic, Tonal Curve, Detail, Lens, HSL/ Grayscale, Split Toning, Len Corrections, or Camera Calibrate tabs, and then click Auto (Basic tab) or drag sliders to modify the color and tonal values of the image.

Click Save Image to specify a folder destination, file name, and format for the processed images.

Select the images you want to synchronize (apply settings) in the Filmstrip (if desired, click Select All), and then click Synchronize.

Click the Camera Raw Menu button to Load, Save, or Delete a specific set of Raw settings, or to modify dialog box settings.

Click Done to process the file, but not open it, or click Open Image to process and open it in Photoshop. Hold Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) to use Open Copy or Reset.

For Your Information: What is the DNG File Format?

The DNG, or Digital Negative, format is an openly published raw file format that stores “raw” pixel data captured by digital cameras before it has been converted to another format, such as TIFF or JPEG. In addition, it captures standard EXIF metadata, date, time, camera used, and camera settings. Saving RAW files in the DNG format provides several advantages. DNG files are smaller than uncompressed TIFFs, and they do not have the artifacts of compressed JPEGs. Many key camera parameters, such as white balance, can be modified even after the image is captured. You have access to 16-bit data for greater detail and fidelity, and the flexibility of converting a single file using multiple conversion settings. When you convert RAW images into the DNG format, you are using a format that is openly published by Adobe and other software and hardware vendors, which makes it a safe format for the long-term storage and archiving of digital images. The RAW format used by digital cameras is proprietary to the specific camera, so the format might not be supported once that camera goes obsolete, which means you might not be able to open any of your archived RAW images. The DNG format solves that problem. To get a free copy of the DNG converter, go to www.adobe.com, and then search for DNG converter.

Working with Images Using Adobe Bridge

PS 1.4, 8.1, 8.2

With Adobe Bridge, you can drag assets into your layouts as needed, preview them, and add metadata to them. Bridge allows you to search, sort, filter (New!), manage, and process image files one at a time or in batches. You can also use Bridge to create new folders; rename, move, delete and group (known as stacking (New!)) files; edit metadata; rotate images; and run batch commands. You can also view information about files and data imported from your digital camera.

Work with Images Using Bridge

Launch your Adobe product, click the File menu, and then click Browse, or click the Go to Bridge button (if available).

Click the Folder list arrow, and then select a folder.

You can also select Adobe Stock Photos or Version Cue.

Click the Folders tab and choose a folder from the scrolling list.

Click the Favorites tab to choose from a listing of user-defined folders, such as Pictures.

Click an image within the preview window to select an image.

Click the Metadata tab to view image information; including date and time the image was shot, and aperture, shutter speed, and f-stop.

Click the IPTC Core arrow to add user-defined metadata, such as creator and copyright information, or captions to an image.

Click the Preview tab to view a larger thumbnail of the selected image. Multiple images appear when you select them (New!).

Click the image in the Preview tab to display a mini zoom window (New!). Drag it to change positions. Click it to close the window.

Drag the Zoom slider to increase or decrease the thumbnail views.

Click the preview buttons to select a different view.

Default. Default view, displays the images as small thumbnails with the file name underneath.
Filmstrip. Creates thumbnails across the bottom of the preview area. Clicking on a thumbnail creates a larger view, directly above the filmstrip view.
Metadata Focus. Displays a thumbnail of each image with metadata information details such as date created and file size.

Use the file management buttons to rotate or delete images, or create a new folder.

To narrow down the list of images using a filter (New!), click the criteria options you want in the Filters panel.

To add a label or rating to images, select the ones you want, click the Label menu, and then select the label or rating you want.

To group related images as a stacked group (New!), select the images, click the Stacks menu, and then click Group as Stack.

Use the Stacks menu to ungroup, open, expand, or collapse stacks.

Double-click on an thumbnail to open it in the default program, or drag the thumbnail from the Bridge into an open Adobe document.

For Your Information: What is Metadata?

Metadata is information about an image file, such as its author, copyright, creation date, size, version, color space, resolution, and searchable keywords, which is stored in the file or in a separate file, known as a sidecar file, using a standard method called Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP). Bridge and Version Cue use XMP to help you organize and search for files. Metadata is stored in other formats, such as EXIF (digital camera data), IPTC (Core data), GPS (global positioning system data), and TIFF, which are all synchronized with XMP.

Automating Tasks in Adobe Bridge

PS 8.3

The Tools menu provides commands you can use to automate tasks in Bridge. For example, you can automate the process of renaming a group of files using the Batch Rename command. If you use Photoshop, InDesign, or Version Cue, you can use commands on submenus to run automated tasks, such as adding and synchronizing files with Version Cue or processing camera raw images with Photoshop, or can create a contact sheet of images in InDesign. You can also use the Tools menu to start other Adobe programs, such as Device Central and Acrobat Connect (Start Meeting) as well as create and edit Metadata templates, which you can use to append or replace metadata in Adobe InDesign or other XMP-enabled programs.

Rename Files Automatically in Adobe Bridge

In Adobe Bridge, select the files or folders you want to use.

Click the Tools menu, and then click Batch Rename.

Select the destination folder option you want, Rename in same folder, Move to other folder, or Copy to other folder, and then click Browse to specify a new folder location.

Click the Element popup, and then select an option to specify how you want to name the files.

Text, New Extension, Current Filename, Preserved Filename, Sequence Number, Sequence Letter, Date, Time, Metadata, or Folder Name.

Enter the text you want to use in conjunction with the Element popup selection to name the files.

Select the Preserve Current File Name In XMP Metadata check box to retain the original filename in the metadata.

Select the check boxes with the operating systems you want the renamed files to be compatible.

Click Rename.

Getting Photos from Adobe Stock Photos

Adobe Stock Photos is a service that lets you search, view, try, and buy royalty-free stock photography. You can search over one million images from 23 top collections using specific keywords or browse by category and theme-based galleries for creative inspiration. All your searches are automatically saved so you can quickly retrieve files from a previous search in the Favorites panel. You can access Adobe Stock Photos directly from Adobe Bridge. When you download an image—either a free unwatermarked composite one with a lower resolution for review or a purchased one with a high resolution for full use—it’s copied to your computer and available in Adobe Bridge, where you can organize and use it in your Adobe program files.

Get a Photo from Adobe Stock Photos

Start Adobe Bridge from the Start menu (Win) or the Applications folder (Mac).

In the Favorites panel, click Adobe Stock Photos.

You can also start Adobe Stock Photos CS3 from the Start menu (Win) or the Applications folder (Mac).

Enter a keyword search or browse by category or gallery.

Select the image you want.

To download a comp, click the Download Comp button on the toolbar.

To purchase the image, click the Add to Cart button, and then follow the check out instructions.

To open the image directly in a program, right-click the image, point to Open With, and then select the program you want, such as Adobe Flash or Photoshop (the default).

For Your Information: Searching Adobe Photographers Directory

In Adobe Bridge, you can access the Adobe Photographers Directory, where you can search for the contact information and portfolio of professional photographers around the world. In the Favorites panel, click Adobe Photographers Directory, enter the search criteria you to use to find a professional photographer, and then click Search. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, click the Search tab at the top of the page to perform an advanced search.

Managing Files Using Adobe Version Cue

In Adobe Bridge, you can access the Adobe Version Cue CS3, which is a file tracking file management program you can use to keep track of changes to a file as you work on it. Adobe Bridge and Version Cue work together to allow you to access and manage Version Cue files and projects. You can use the Inspector panel (New!) and buttons in the Content panel to view, navigate, and access information, projects, and files on the Version Cue servers. You can check files in and out to make sure you’re the only one making changes and then synchronize the changes.

Before you can start using Version Cue, you need to install and configure the Version Cue Server, create a project to store master copies of files and related information, and assign users to it. The Version Cue Server gets automatically installed on your computer with Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design, Web, or Master Collection. Even though it’s installed, you still need to turn it on. Click My Server in the Adobe dialog box or in Adobe Bridge, and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the initial server administration settings (New!). If you’re sharing files and other assets in a workgroup, you should re-install Version Cue on a dedicated network computer.

Version Cue file management provides access to projects and files. To use file management, you need to enable it. Version Cue is enabled by default in all Adobe Creative Suite programs (except Flash and Acrobat). To turn it on in an Adobe program, open the Preferences dialog box using the Edit (Win) or program name (Mac) menu, select the Enable Version Cue check box in one of the categories. If you disable Version Cue file management in one Adobe Creative Suite program, you disable it in all other Version Cue enabled programs, except Acrobat, Flash, and Bridge.

Starting a Meeting Using Adobe Acrobat Connect

In Adobe Bridge, you can access Adobe Acrobat Connect, where you can start an online meeting and collaborate on any design project across platforms and programs. In the Favorites panel, click Start Meeting (New!), create an account if you don’t have one (sign up for a free trial), and then enter your meeting Web address along with your login and password. If you need more advanced Web conferencing, you should try Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional.

Setting Preferences in Adobe Bridge

PS 8.1

Adobe Bridge allows you to set preferences to customize the way you work in Bridge, Adobe Stock Photos, Version Cue, and Meetings. The Preferences dialog box is organized into categories—including General, Thumbnails, Metadata, Labels, File Type Associations, Inspector, Startup Scripts, Advanced, Adobe Stock Photos, and Meetings—you can use to set specific options to suit your needs. For example, you can select options to display quick thumbnails at a lower resolution or slower thumbnails at a high resolution (New!).

Set Bridge Preferences

In Adobe Bridge, click the Bridge (Mac) or Edit (Win) menu, and then click Preferences.

Click the General category.

Select the appearance options and the Favorite Items you want.

Click the Thumbnails category.

Specify the performance and details options you want:

Performance. Select the quality and size settings you want; the higher the quality, the slower the performance.
Details. Select the metadata details you want to show with the thumbnail.

Click the Metadata category.

Select the check boxes with the metadata you want and clear the ones you don’t want.

Click the Labels category.

Enter the labels you want to associate with a specific color.

Click the File Type Associations category.

The left column displays the file type and the right column displays the current default program you want to use to open the file.

To change the default program, click the list arrow next to the file type, and then select a program.

Click the Inspector category.

Select the check boxes with the Version Cue panel you want and clear the ones you don’t want.

Click the Startup Scripts category.

Select the check boxes with the programs you want to enable and clear the ones you want to disable.

Click the Advanced category, and then specify the color management, language and keyboard, and memory cache settings you want.

Click the Adobe Stock Photos category, and then specify the downloading and purchasing settings you want.

Click the Meetings category, and then specify the login information so you don’t have to enter it when you start Adobe Acrobat Connect.

Click OK.

Exploring Adobe Device Central

PS 13.6

Checking Content Using Adobe Device Central

PS 13.6

Testing your content on as many different devices as possible allows you to reach a wider audience. Adobe Device Central (New!) makes it easy to test your content on a wide-variety of different mobile devices in one central place. Device Central provides a library of devices from which to choose, and each device includes a profile with information about the device, including media and content support types. Device Central uses an emulator to simulate the way your content will look on a selected device. An emulator is not the same as the real device. However, it allows you to quickly test devices to get initial results.

Check Content Using Adobe Device Central

Start Adobe Device Central from the Start menu (Win) or the Applications folder (Mac).

In Bridge, right-click a file, and then click Test in Device Central.

From the Welcome screen or the File menu, select the option you want:

Open for Testing. Opens a file for testing with the Emulator tab. Use the buttons on the mobile device to test your content.
Devices Profiles. Displays mobile device profiles. In the Available Devices panel, expand a folder with devices. On the Device Profiles tab, click links to display profile information.
Create New Mobile. Creates a new mobile document for Flash, Photoshop, or Illustrator; select a mobile device, and then click Create.

To change devices, select the one you want in the Available Devices panel.

If you’re testing, select the options you want in the Testing panels.

When you’re done, click the Close button in the Device Central window.

Using Adobe Extension Manager

The Adobe Extension Manager CS3 is a program you can use to install and delete added program functionality, known as extensions, to many Adobe programs. The Extension Manager is automatically installed when you install Flash, Dreamweaver, or Fireworks. You can use the Extension Manager to access the Adobe Exchange site, where you can locate, research, and download many different types of extensions. Some are free and some are not. After you download an extension, you can use Extension Manager to install it. Extension Manager only displays extensions installed using the Extension Manager; others installed using a third-party installer might not appear. After you install an extension, you can find and display information about it.

Download and Install an Extension

Start Adobe Extension Manager CS3 from the Start menu (Win) or the Applications folder (Mac).

Timesaver

In Flash, Dreamweaver, or Fireworks, click the Help menu, and then click Manage Extensions.

Click the Go to Adobe Exchange button on the toolbar.

Select the extension you want to download, and then save it to your computer.

In Extension Manager, click the Install New Extension button on the toolbar.

Locate and select the extension (.mxp) you want to install, and then click Install.

You can perform any of the following:

Sort. Click a column heading.
Enable or Disable. Select or clear the check in the On/Off column next to the extension.
Remove. Select the extension, click the File menu, and then click Remove Extension.

Click the Close button.

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