Uplink Media Bridge for Etch lets you organize Etch Collections directly in the WordPress media library. Manage images, curate collection order, build galleries, and create reusable Etch image loops without opening the builder.
Etch must be installed and active. Wicked Folders and HappyFiles are optional integrations, not requirements.
Choose your media workflow
Use the WordPress Media Library with Etch Collection tools, or choose the Enhanced Media Manager with a customizable name, collection navigation, and grid, masonry, and list views. Settings are under Media > Uplink Media Bridge.
The Enhanced Manager includes search, filters, adjustable thumbnail sizes, bulk collection assignments, attachment editing, and light, dark, or automatic appearance. The collection sidebar has a remembered draggable width in the WordPress, Enhanced, and Etch Asset Manager views. Media Health helps identify issues such as missing alt text, missing image sizes, and oversized files. Optional EXIF information shows available camera metadata.
Collections and custom image order
Create, rename, move, and delete collections. Assign an image to multiple collections and drag selected images into a collection. An experimental depth setting extends collection management to as many as five levels.
Open a collection and choose Reorder to arrange images by dragging individual images or a selected group. Each collection keeps its own order, so a shared image can appear in different positions in different collections. Changes save automatically. Keyboard users can move a focused image with Alt plus an arrow key.
Etch image loop generator
Choose a collection by name, select an image order and limit, and preview the generated query. Copy the query for manual use, or give the loop a name and add it to the Etch loop library. The generator is available in settings and the Enhanced Manager.
Generated loops read current collection membership and order as images are added, removed, or reordered. Existing loops are preserved. Saving to the Etch loop library requires administrator settings access.
Upload previews, renaming, and replacement
Preview selected images and edit filenames before uploading, including after supported pre-upload optimization. A selectable queue lets you review one image at a time. File extensions follow the resulting format. Keep originals bypasses supported pre-upload optimization.
File replacement is optional and disabled by default. Enable it in Settings > File replacement, or leave it off if another plugin handles replacement. Select one file and choose between:
- Keep the existing filename and URL. The replacement must have the same file type and extension after optimization. Existing thumbnail URLs are refreshed. Browser or CDN caches may need clearing.
- Use the replacement filename and type. This creates a new file URL and permits a different format. Old files are retained for links written directly into content; those links are not rewritten.
Both options preserve the attachment ID, title, alt text, caption, description, collections, and custom collection order. The dialog shows the retained filename when applicable and displays replacement errors directly in the dialog.
Collection galleries
Choose Collection Slider to show one or several images at a time, with responsive image counts, configurable navigation, autoplay, Play/Pause, and a visible countdown. Optional lightbox photo details display only selected, available EXIF fields.
Display collection images with the Collection Gallery block or the
[etch_collection_gallery] shortcode. Choose a layout, image size, captions, custom collection order, and lightbox settings. A shortcode generator provides a preview and copyable code.
Example:
[etch_collection_gallery collection="portfolio" layout="grid" columns="3" limit="24"]
Optional integrations
Wicked Folders and HappyFiles can synchronize folder hierarchies and media assignments with Etch Collections. Settings label this feature 3rd party folder sync. Review migration and cleanup guidance before removing an existing folder provider.
Media Bridge also adds an optional uniform square-grid view with adjustable thumbnail widths to the Etch Asset Manager. This does not add collection-specific sorting to that manager.
Supported Cimo pre-upload optimization runs through the shared upload workflow. The Enhanced Manager also offers browser-based compression and format conversion without Cimo Pro. Instant Images and Ops Center integrations are available when those plugins are installed.
Permissions and data
Media Bridge respects WordPress attachment permissions and Etch taxonomy capabilities. Collection management and media editing remain limited to users with the required access.
Deactivation and uninstall cleanup options are available in About. Review them before enabling cleanup, especially when using a third-party folder provider. Back up the site before migration or cleanup. Deactivating Media Bridge stops its gallery blocks and shortcodes from rendering; saved content remains available when the plugin is reactivated.
Documentation
Read the complete documentation for migration, permissions, EXIF, shortcode attributes, integrations, and data retention details.
2.7.0
Adds image-size optimization choices, compression exclusions, a unified Enhanced Manager UI, and drag-to-move collection assignments.
2.5.7
Preserves safe HTML, including attribution links, when captions are saved in Media Bridge.
2.5.6
Adds live previews for uploaded WOFF, WOFF2, TTF, and OTF fonts throughout the WordPress and Etch media interfaces.
2.5.5
Adds resizable collection panels, global tree controls, and support for Cimo 1.5 upload hooks.
2.5.4
Adds clickable pills and dots, responsive indicator layouts, and independent slide-count positioning in opposite layouts.
2.5.3
Adds an option to hide the in-page slider Play/Pause button. Existing sliders retain their current controls.
2.5.2
Adds progress styles and visibility, split status/control layouts, and configurable button text and icon sizes.
2.5.1
Adds fullscreen lightbox slideshows with independent playback settings, an optional launch button, and fading controls.
2.5.0
Adds configurable collection sliders, autoplay controls, and selectable lightbox EXIF details. Existing galleries retain their layouts.
2.4.0
Adds upload previews and renaming, opt-in file replacement with optimization support, and clearer Settings and About pages. File replacement remains disabled until enabled in Settings.
2.2.14
Adds a collection-name image loop generator that saves reusable queries into the Etch loop library.
2.2.13
Adds collection-specific image reordering, Etch loop custom sorting, and a Custom order option for Collection Gallery blocks.
2.2.12
Adds 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1 aspect-ratio choices to uniform grids in the Enhanced Manager and Etch Asset Manager.
2.2.11
Fixes top-level collection creation in the single and bulk collection tools.
2.2.10
Adds an optional uniform-grid view with thumbnail resizing to the Etch builder Asset Manager. It is enabled by default.
2.2.9
Fixes Site Icon and Site Logo selection in the WordPress Appearance editor when the Enhanced Manager is active.
2.2.8
Adds an Experimental option to manage up to five Etch Collection levels through Media Bridge while Etch's Asset Manager remains limited to two-level editing.
2.2.7
Makes newly created or changed collections immediately available as upload destinations without reloading the page.
2.2.6
Saves attachment metadata edits made in the Enhanced Manager inserter before inserting or leaving the attachment.
2.2.5
Adds suspected duplicate detection and visible filenames to Media Health.
2.2.4
Keeps the Enhanced Manager upload screen visible throughout uploads and adds progress feedback.
2.2.3
Fixes ACF and Meta Box taxonomy image selection and replacement in both WordPress and Enhanced Manager workflows.
2.2.2
Prevents unsupported image formats from producing EXIF reader warnings.
2.2.1
Displays attachment titles and fallback filenames without exposing HTML or URL encoding.
2.2.0
Adds Etch Collections throughout the native WordPress media library, improves attachment editing, and offers a clear choice between WordPress and the Enhanced Media Manager.
2.1.2
Adds matching list, grid, and masonry views to the media inserter and corrects featured-image selection after removal.
2.1.1
Restores the current featured-image selection without forcing Details open, speeds up first-time selection, and fixes collapsed collection alignment.
2.1
Adds a unified media workflow with optimization reporting, a purpose-built uploader, consistent attachment editing, and improved collection management.
2.0.7
Adds clearer palette controls and live WCAG contrast indicators for text and icons.
2.0.6
Improves attachment selection and editing with a clearer tabbed inspector and stable modal controls.
2.0.5
Keeps the media selector stable while switching tabs and separates primary title text from selected-state accent text.
2.0.4
Moves the complete interface palette into the media manager with live previews, portable appearance files, and compact previews for non-image files.
2.0.3
Restores the Media Bridge icon in the settings header.
2.0.2
Prevents an attachment metadata cleanup error on newer WordPress versions. Updating is recommended for all 2.0 users.
2.0.1
Adds native library deep links for attachments and uploads, plus a readiness event for integrations. Clear All no longer resets search.
2.0.0
Adds the redesigned media workspace, full attachment editing, Media Health, Etch image EXIF data, and a command hook for Uplink Ops Center.
1.5.3
Adds multisite cleanup overrides and collection reordering, including reliable Option/Alt+Arrow keyboard movement.
1.5.2
Adds opt-in cleanup on deactivation or deletion, parent collection count display options, and removal-impact guidance.
1.5.1
Adds a responsive, pinnable media-library drawer and clearer attachment information. Etch must remain installed and active.