CI HUB Plugin vs. Adobe Plugin Comparison
Learn about differences between the two and when to use which. The article should help users and admins to decide which solution better fits their asset management and creative workflow needs.
Both CI HUB and Censhare Adobe plugin can be used for working with Adobe products. The crucial differences between them are the following.
Censhare Adobe plugin is focused on InDesign layouts and limited to being used with Censhare, whereas CI HUB is more an allrounder, but limited in terms what you can do with Censhare assets, especially with layout assets, compared to the Censhare native plugin.
📌 Overview
Below you will find a summary comparison between the CI HUB Plugin and the Adobe Plugin with Censhare Client integration.
Let’s go through each point in more detail, first from the user and then from the admin point of view.
CI HUB and Censhare Adobe plugin for users
CI HUB and Censhare Adobe plugin may have overlapping target audiences, but different use cases.
🖥️ UI and General Workflow
Censhare Adobe plugin does not have its own UI. It works in the background while you are trying to open an asset from the Censhare Java Client or when you are browsing through the assets and folders stored in Censhare from one of the Adobe applications.
CI HUB – although is not a separate application either – has a tiny UI that allows you to browse and select assets from a DAM. You can do so while working in one of the Adobe applications, in a third-party application, or in the Censhare Web UI. The CI HUB will appear embedded into the other application.
🎞️ Supported File Types
As already mentioned, the primary motivation for creating the Censhare Adobe plugin was to enable a fluid workflow for advanced users of Adobe products.
File type | CI HUB plugin | Censhare Adobe plugin |
|---|---|---|
Adobe-native types (INDD, ICML, etc.) | ✅ | ✅ |
Documents: PPT, PPTX, ODP | ✅ | ❌ |
Images: JPG, PNG, TIFF, SVG, WebP | ✅ | ❌ |
Audio: MP3, WAV, FLAC | ✅ | ❌ |
Video: MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV | ✅ | ❌ |
Text: TXT | ✅ | ❌ |
🏗️ Asset Creation & Management
Keeping in mind which file formats are supported, check the table below to understand which actions are possible with them as Censhare assets.
Action | CI HUB plugin | Censhare Adobe plugin |
|---|---|---|
Create Group assets | ❕ child only | ✅ Full Censhare metadata and relationship integration |
Add assets from Adobe or local file system | ❕ Possible, but simple local file placement doesn’t create corresponding assets | ✅ Full support |
🧭 Navigation, Search & Filters
Feature | CI HUB | Adobe Plugin |
|---|---|---|
Folder Navigation | ✅ Full support: breadcrumbs, dropdowns, Home, Back | Minimal |
Search | By name, asset type, mime type | ❌ Not available |
Filters | Type, mime, color mode, white balance, etc. | ❌ None |
Preview Views | List, Tile, Detail with preview pane | Basic list/preview view only |
✏️ Editing, Check-in/out, and Metadata
Feature | CI HUB | Adobe Plugin |
|---|---|---|
Edit InCopy/Layout | Supported (adds extensions automatically) | Supported |
Check-in/out | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Fully supported |
Asset Relationships | ❌ Not retained on CI HUB-created layouts | ✅ Retained |
Metadata Sync | Written, but not visible in panel | Fully integrated |
Content/Geometry Lock | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Supported |
🧱 Layout-Specific Features
Feature | CI HUB | Adobe Plugin |
|---|---|---|
Create an InCopy document via InDesign application | ❌ | ✅ |
Drag & Drop | From CI HUB/local/snippet | From censhare/local/snippet (Adobe Plugin, JavaClient) |
Detach/Dissolve | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
Replace Object(s) | ✅ One or all | ✅ One or all |
Place Options | Link, Embed | Link only |
Content Lock | ❌ | ✅ |
Content Update | ❌ | ✅ |
Geometry Lock | ❌ | ✅ |
Geometry Update | ❌ | ✅ |
Multiple Stories in Adobe InCopy Document | ❌ | ✅ |
Anchored object in InCopy document | ❌ | ✅ |
Create a group (snippet) | ❌ | ✅ |
Pagearea | ❌ | ✅ |
Metadata placement | ❌ | ✅ |
Communication | ❌ | ✅ |
Version Compatibility | Backward Compatibility / Forward Compatibility | Forward Compatibility |
CI HUB and Censhare Adobe plugin for admins
🧩 Application & Server Connectivity
Feature | CI HUB Plugin | Adobe Plugin |
|---|---|---|
Adobe Support | InDesign, InCopy, Photoshop, more | InDesign, InCopy |
Other App Integration | Microsoft apps, third-party DAMs | ❌ Not supported |
Server Support | Multiple censhare servers, multiple users | Single censhare server and user |
🚨 Known CI HUB Limitations
For those who already use the native Censhare Adobe integration, the following may appear as a limitation when using CI HUB.
No check-in/out functionality
No paginated previews in WebClient
Missing asset relationships for placed assets
Metadata visibility limited in CI HUB panel
Error-prone when selecting PDF or Package options during asset creation
🏁 Conclusion
Final comparison
Plugin | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
CI HUB | Multi-app workflows, flexible integrations | Limited WebClient support, no check-in/out |
Adobe Plugin | Censhare-native workflows with full metadata, locking, and relationships | Limited app and format support |
Recommendation
Use CI HUB when working across tools and formats, especially outside the Adobe ecosystem
Use the Adobe Plugin for more controlled, centralized workflows within Censhare