Batch Renaming Files with Bridge

Apr 25, 2005 | Bridge, Photoshop Tutorials

Unlike with Photoshop File>Automate>Batch command Bridge offers a much simpler method of renaming files.

Pro’s of using Bridge Batch.

  1. It does not require a ‘Play’ Action property, unlike in Photoshop. Ie it goes right to the heart of the matter – batch renaming.
  2. Seamless processing behind the scenes so you can continue work in other areas.
  3. Bridge Batch processing allows for Custom Text inclusion.
  4. Bridge Batch processing allows for 9 custom properties plus the final .ext property while Photoshop only allows for 5 plus the final .ext property.
  5. Bridge Batch processing allows for Custom Text inclusion.

Step 1: Browse to folder of Images.

  1. Go File>Browse to bring Adobe Bridge to the foreground.
  2. Then browse to a folder of images to test on, as I have captured below.
    As often the case with images from a digital camera the naming convention is less desirable, as you can see below.(Though these are not images from a camera I renamed them to simulate ones from my point and shoot camera)

Step 2: Select images.

  1. To select ALL images, simply click from a non-thumbnail area (in my case lower right) and drag (in my case to the upper-left corner) and you will see a bounding selection outline (solid line) containing the active/selected images. Or go Edit/Select All (Ctrl +A) / (Mac:Command + A)
  2. For a contiguous selection of images hold the Shift key and click on two thumbnails, or for a non-contiguous selection hold the Ctrl key (Mac:Command key) and click any thumbnails.For the sake of this tutorial, I used the select ALL images method.

Step 3: Batch Rename.

Go to the Tools/Batch Rename menu command.

  1. Choose Destination Folder option. I used ‘Rename in same folder’ but you may want to select one of the other two options to protect important original image files.
  2. Choose custom ‘Text’ from the first drop down list.
  3. Type in your custom text – I used ‘fractals’.
  4. Click the + icon command to add another parameter.
  5. Choose custom ‘Text’ again from the drop down list.
  6. Type in your custom text – I used an underscore character (_) to separate portions of the filename.
  7. Click the + icon command to add another parameter.
  8. Select Sequence Number from the drop down list.
  9. Starting sequence number will be 1…
  10. …. but will contain Two leading Digits, such as 01, 02, 03 etc.
    Note: The preview portion indicates the before and after.
    Press the Rename command option (upper right) to commit Batch processing.

Here is the resulting Batch Rename.

Note: For Sequential Renaming the above Two Digit parameter is fine for a folder of images less than a hundred, but for more than that adjust the Digit parameter to a higher number.