Bridge 2020: Color management broken

Question

I have just updated my Bridge and Photoshop to their latest versions (November 2019, see detailed version info below).

**** See also update below.

It seems that there are some problems with color management in the new Bridge.
The previous version which I have used until yesterday worked OK. ~~Nothing changed in my system except new Adobe apps today~~. Updated my graphics driver just before Adobe apps (see version info below).

I use Bridge/Photoshop for photography. In Bridge the previews and thumbnails Bridge looks OK for old photos (JPEG, PSD, Raw). However, when editing old PSD files or when creating new PSD documents, the preview for the new files will (often) be wrong. What I observe is about the same effect as I get when I view photos with an application that does not support color management. Since my monitor has a wide gamut LCD panel, the difference is quite pronounced, with oversaturated colors etc.

I have done some experiments and below is a description of a procedure that in my case is able to reproduce the problem with a few simple steps.
Also, when opening a Raw file with "Open Image" in ACR (yielding a flat image in the background layer), the preview in Bridge is OK.
When opening a Raw file with "Open Object" in ACR (yielding a smart object with no background layer), the preview in Bridge is wrong.

The problem can be demonstrated like this:

1) create a new document in Photoshop (try sRGB, color managed first)
2) fill the new document with a solid color (medium bright, medium saturation, I used green)
3) save the document
4) the preview in Bridge looks OK (however, the auto detection of new files in a folder seems also to be broken in the new Bridge (another bug?)
5) create a new document in Photoshop (try sRGB, color managed first)
6) unlock the background layer
7) make a copy of the layer (yielding two identical layers with a solid color)
8) save the document
9) *** the preview in Bridge is now wrong (it is easy to see the oversaturated color) ***

Seems to have something to do with the use of layers?

**** UPDATE: I just found out that it seems that Bridge now erroneously
generates (non-color managed) PNG files for thumbnail and previews!!!
Have a look at the image files in the cache file location (Windows):

C:\Users\jjoha\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Bridge\Cache\v36

I tried turning on "Use Software Rendering" in Bridge Preferences, but it did not seem to have any effect on this problem (PNG files still made for files with wrong looking previews).

Version numbers for software/hardware used:

- Adobe Photoshop Version: Adobe Photoshop 2020 Version: 21.0.0 20191018.r.37 2019/10/18 x64
- Bridge Version: Adobe Bridge 2020: 10.0.0.124 x64
- Adobe Camera Raw Version: 12.0.0.322
- Monitor: Eizo CG2730 (calibrated regularly with Xrite i1 Display)
- Windows 10 Pro x64 version: 1903 - Os build 18362.449
- Graphics driver: Driver version: 441.12 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB)

Jørgen Johanson · Answer

Just double checked turning on/off 'Use Software Rendering'. In my case this setting does not seem to have any effect on the problem. Turning on 'Use Software Rendering' just makes 100% previews slower to show up. Also, for the files in question, Bridge still generates PNG files in its cache (which are non-color managed and are shown with oversaturated colors etc. on a wide gamut monitor), for both thumbnails, standard previews and 100% previews. As far as I can see this is new (erroneous) behavior.

JeRoen Murré · Answer

Same problem.In my case the jpg version of photoshop files were off (color) They used o be alike (as well the thumbnails as the actual previews)With "Use Software Rendering" the problem shifted. Now my jpg's were okay, but the psd files were off.(purged all cache, restarted bridge etc)On Mac High Sierra btw

Jørgen Johanson · Answer

Some additional info:It seems that when the new Bridge (2020) creates thumbnails, standard previews or 100% previews for new or updated files, it makes PNG files in the cache for certain layered PSD files, like the ones you mention (should have been JPEG files as it used to be). Not good since the PNG files are both large and not color managed (PNG does not support embedded color profiles). Since Bridge 2019 and 2020 shares the same cache location:   - currently on Windows: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Bridge\Cache\v36updating thumbnails/previews using Bridge 2019 will repair the thumbnails/previews (by making proper JPEG files in the cache). Under the 'v36' folder in the cache:   folder '256': thumbnails / small previews   folder '1024': large previews (like 'Monitor-Size Previews)   folder 'full': 100% previews' (if 'Keep 100% Previews in Cache') I also observed that when the new Bridge makes the PNG thumbnails/preview cache files it will leave a possible existing JPEG version of the same file. When the new Bridge shows thumbnails/previews and there are both a PNG and a JPEG version of the same (PSD) file in the cache, it seems to use the (correct) JPEG version. Note however if a change is made to a (PSD) file while Bridge is running that the preview shown by Bridge will turn wrong. However, when restarting Bridge the correct preview will again show (since the OK JPEG version of the preview is still in the cache). Only after a cache clear and a cache rebuild (which generates only PNG files) will the new Bridge use the (incorrect) PNG version from the cache.

David Converse · Answer

I'm not seeing this. I just created a new folder and copied several PSD files into it. Opened it in Bridge, then checked the cache. The cache files were all jpegs. Windows 10, Bridge 2020.

Jørgen Johanson · Answer

Some additional info:1) The new Bridge may show outdated previewsFrom the observation regarding that Bridge prefers the JPEG version over a PNG version of the thumbnail/preview file of the same PSD file in the cache, it follows that you may actually see the preview an old/earlier version of a PSD file in Bridge.   This seems indeed to be the case. I just made a new 'plain' PSD file (see next item). Bridge shows a correct preview and has made proper JPEG versions of thumbnails/preview files in its cache. I then made changes to the same PSD file to produce the preview problem of the new Bridge (see next item). Bridge now changes the preview to show oversaturated colors etc. It also made new PNG thumbnail/preview files in its cache. There are now both JPEG and PNG versions of the same PSD file in the cache.  I then made additional (large) changes to the PSD file to make easily distinguishable from the original. While Bridge is still running the preview now reflects the new changes. However, when exiting and restarting Bridge, it will revert back to using the (old) JPEG version of the preview! Now Bridge shows an old version of the PSD file not reflecting the new changes (which are only in the PNG version of the thumbnail/preview files)!2) What triggers the new erroneous behaviorAfter some experiments it seems that it is not the number of layers (more then 1) that creates bad previews (via PNG files in the cache). I have added several adjustment layers, image/raster/bitmap layers and still got no problems with previews. 'Maximize Compatibility' on/off etc. What seems to trigger the problem seems to be an unlocked or no background layer.   When I saw the problem for the first time, I was making a change to a PSD file with a single layer with a Smart Object (opening a Raw file with 'Open Object' in ACR, yielding a single layer with a smart object with no background layer).To recap: step 6) above, 'unlock the background layer', seem to be the trigger.

JeRoen Murré · Answer

Yep, I get the same results.My tests:'Use Software Render' turned on, so for starters jpg's are okay, psd's are wrong (oversaturated indeed). Flushed all cache etc.1 - Flattened all layers and saved as psd - the preview is okay.2 - Saving the original psd with layers plus I put in an extra layer as backgroundlayer and locked it (lock all) - that preview is wrong. 3 - Created a new document with same size as my original psd (so I start with a single locked layer) and duplicated everything to this new document, saved it and now the preview is okay.So your theory seems valid :-)No workable option however ... hope that adobe fixes this soon!

Oleksandr Trokhymchuk · Answer

I also have problems with color. For me, the problem is with a folder of JPG images, that were converted from PSD to JPG. Thumbnails shown in correct color, but if I look in Preview tab, or fullscreen by tapping "space", they are less saturated, like they don't use embedded color profile, sRGB... in my case.
Impossible for Quality Assurance before sending to the customer, as they are shown already color broken.

Bridge is a professional tool, that is not possible to use for professional work.
Shame Adobe, shame!!!

Alex Jonas · Answer

Hi. I am having the same problems when converting files from PSD to JPEGS to send to a client. The JPEGS thumbnails and preview (when hitting the space bar) come up badly desaturated.

- I can't use the script tool in the file tab in photoshop to batch process images to convert them to JPEG
- I have to manually save them one by one
- I have to manually type .jpg at the end of the file otherwise it will save as PSD even if I select jpeg in the drop down menu
-Finally I can't delete a file in Bridge using the delete button. An error message comes up "an error has occured during the delete operation. Some files may not have been processed)

Bernard Wolf · Answer

Bottom line is Adobe needs to address this as soon as possible with an update.

Daniel Roos · Answer

I have the same problem. My DNG-files displays incorrect (under saturated). So much problems with Bridge the last couple of years!

Stefan Meile · Answer

same problem here. bridge 2019 previews (jpg, psd, raw ect.) were quiet close to the originals. but bridge 2020 has a huge difference, looks very desaturated and off color temperature. hope for a fix soon. i dont know what adobes problems with color management. also in the 2019-versions of illustrator were big problems with color management in the beginning. adobe should habe an extra eye on these things. they are much more important than new functions nobody needs.

Kristina Toddy · Answer

I need Adobe to fix this! How am I supposed to deliver photos when bridge 8 stopped working and bridge 10 cannot properly display color in the preview mode!!! UUGH

Kristina Toddy · Answer

I just found that while v8.1 became unusable all the sudden, upgrading to v10 gives the preview issue (even just on jpegs without layers), but when I tried to the v9.1 ... all seems to be better FOR NOW! :P

Jason Kim · Answer

Having the same problem! Still holding on to Bridge 2018...

Also thumbnails for large PSDs show up pixelated/sharpened so it looks like theres no anti aliasing so it looks like it hasnt properly resized. Anyone have a solution to this as well?

swati agarwal · Answer

Hi, The issue has been fixed, please try the latest patch of the Bridge 10.0.1.Thanks,Bridge Team

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Bridge 2020: Color management broken

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