Bridge Previews, especially if large, are almost always softer than the real image viewed in Photoshop. I've never seen a "tack sharp" Preview in Bridge.

O,

thanks, but this is from a brand new shoot, previews generaled hi quality.

Kevin

That would not mean the folder you have put them in does not need a cache

purge.

Maybe you can provide a screenshot, so we can see how much blur you are

talking about. And also give some details about the size of the files and

the size of your preview window, as the Macdoctor already stated his theory

about difference in view for Bridge and PS or even in 100%

This worked for me:

1. Start Bridge, and open the Preferences.
2. Go to the “Advanced” section and turn on “Generate Monitor-Size Previews”
3. Click “OK’ to save

Make sure you purge your cache after doing that. Hope that helps.

If this was a Windows forum I would say it is your video card or driver, suspect the same is true for Mac..  Weird things in the preview are frequently the video card/driver and not Bridge.

If video card not up to task go to advanced option and click "use software rendering" and see if that helps.

I would tend to agree except this laptop is perfect for every single application I use it for.  I have edited literally hundrreds of weddings and comercial projects on it with no problem, lightroom and PS work perfectly well, as do other feature rich programs.  It's only Bridge at the moment.  And regardless of any comments and it being a good/bad program it's not relevant to me.  I'm a practical user, no one puts out a program that isn't functional.  And it has been functional for 3 years. 

I've purged caches, changed the location of the cache and the images, changes

how thumbnails are built...  the list goes on.

As Tai Lao already stated, the CS3 version of Bridge was really a very bad

release. I admire your optimism about no one releasing a program that is not

functional but I'm afraid in real life it is happening far to much

That said, you can work with CS3 and some can do it for years, I could only

do it for 6 to 8 weeks without getting into serious trouble.

Purging cache (and chance location of the cache) will not get you out of

trouble in the long run. Here is my solution that I used very frequently

during my use of CS3 (and off topic, CS4 version of Bridge is far, far

better as is CS5 again faster and more stable)

Quit Bridge, and from the user library cache folder (here should your cache

folder reside by default, otherwise follow the path you created your self

for the location) delete the cache file. User

library/caches/adobe/BridgeCS3/ and in here grab the folder named cache and

also the above plugin cache and drag them outside of the library. Preferable

to the trash, it can grow to huge proportions and you will start with a

fresh c ache file and need to recache your thumbs again.

Then from the same user library preference folder find the plist file for

Bridge (user library/preferences? And then this file:

com.adobe.bridge2.plist) Bridge version 2 shipped with CS3 hence the number

2 in that file.

Also drag this file to the trash.

Both cache and plist file will refresh themselves after restarting Bridge.

Now hold down the option key while restarting Bridge and choose refresh

preferences.

After restart you have started with a brand new install of Bridge, therefore

need to set the preferences again to your own wishes and restore the custom

application colors and workspaces if you have set them before.

Also you need to recache the files so they have good previews. This takes

some time but with this actions you can go on for another period without

many troubles.

And seriously consider an upgrade...