Adobe Bridge vs. Adobe Lightroom

When it comes to organizing your images digitally, there are two main programs that photographers work with: Adobe Bridge and Adobe Lightroom. Deciding which program to use is mostly a matter of preference and of the type of content you make. No matter which one you choose to use, make sure to label and organize your work with a clear system that you will remember.

Adobe Bridge:

Bridge is a great program for viewing your files and seeing all of the information for the files. In Bridge, you can sort the files by different methods as well as see your files under different displays. Another great feature of bridge is its filter settings. You can show just images taken on a single day or even images with the same aspect ratio. Bridge allows for you to mark images and files with star ratings as well as colors that can help organize and filter images as you work. If you have a Mac computer, Bridge is like having a more sophisticated Finder. It is very easy to use, which makes Bridge perfect for anyone. Because it does not have any editing software within it (other than camera raw), Bridge is simply a program for organizing your files. This program is great for photographers who shoot film or designers who need an organizational program that is visual.

Adobe Lightroom:

Lightroom is slightly more complex than Bridge. With Lightroom, you first have to import images into the program; then you can begin to organize and edit. Unlike Bridge, Lightroom has internal editing software. You can select images and make global edits on one image as well as batch editing. You can also create catalogues within Lightroom with images and files of your choice with different tags, keywords, and ratings. Images need to be exported from Lightoom in order to get onto a hard drive or to print. All of the edits and organizing will stay only on the program if you do not export. It is great for digital photographers who do a lot of separate shoots and for commercial photographers who work with batch editing and organizing. This program has more moving parts than Bridge so it takes some practice and maybe even a class to learn all of what Lightroom can offer.

These are just two of the many organizational and editing programs out there. Organization of files is important; You want to know where to be able to find individual images and files easily and conveniently. With these programs, it will make it easy for even the most scattered person to catalogue their files.

Just a reminder: backing up your files on an external hard drive (or multiple drives) is just as important as organization.

How To Properly Store Your Negatives

Keeping your negatives clean.

Make sure to keep your negatives are clean and have no fingerprints, dust, dirt, lint or any other buildup on them. Sometimes getting finger prints or dust on your negatives in unavoidable but if it does happen make sure to clean your negatives carefully before you store them. It might also be helpful to purchase archival white lint-less nylon gloves to handle you film with and a can of dust off compressed air. After you have cleaned you negatives you’ll want to protect them.

After you have cleaned your negatives you’ll want to protect them. Use only archival negative preservers. Other plastic sleeves may be made with materials that could harm your negatives. Some plastic sleeves have a glossy surface and could stick to your negative or cause ferrotyping, which is a kind of glazing which causes density variations during the printing process. Archival quality contains no PVC and are safe for long term storage.

Controlling the temperature and humidity

Since all photographic films contain gelatin as a principle ingredient it is important that negatives stored long term must be kept in low temperatures. The ideal temperature should be between 35F and 55F with a humidity level between 30 and 35 percent. If the humidity falls below 25% your negatives are at risk of becoming brittle and the emulsion cracking. If the humidity is above 60% mold or fungus could form on your negatives. High temperatures and humidity can effect processed negatives. You can also you a dehumidifier or any other ways of reducing the humidity.

Protecting your negatives from light.

Most manufactures sell paper or plastic enclosure and storage boxes designed for film formats. When deciding on what box or enclosure make sure the materials it is made from is archival meaning that it passed the Photographic Activity Test (PAT). The PAT determines if a storage material will cause fading or staining.