Resizing the frame without resizing the contents?

[Cory]

this is something small that drives me a bit crazy..

I create a Picture box, place and image in it...

now I want to adjust the size of the picture box without resizing the picture itself (crop). I can do this by grabbing the handles and moving the frame, but how can I do it by entering numbers in the measurement palette?

everytime I enter a measurement, it will either shrink or grow the content.

thanks!

[cari]

Make sure that "transform Content" in the control strip fly-out palette is deselected when resizing the frame...

--if in ID2-- deselect in transform palette

[Cory]

thank you! thank you! thank you!

if only you didn't live 8,000 miles away...I could buy you a beer

:lol:

[Bart]

Originally Posted by Cory

I could buy you a beer

Cory,

why not set up a beer tent or lounge where we can kick our shoes off and relax - talk about all sorts of rubbish - except work!

[jv58]

That whole "transform content" selection and deselection in the transform palette in ID2 is funky (haven't used it in ID CS to comment). I had the same problem as Cory and deselected the transform content. This did allow me to resize boxes accurately (i.e.-crop) using the transform palette without scaling the picture. Unfortunately I was also using the transform palette to move the boxes slightly (i.e. via the X and Y coordinates). I did not realize that when you have this deselected, only the box moves, not the content (still acts as a crop tool). Didn't notice this until after I ripped the job . I guess as a long time Quark user I expected it to work like Quark (the X,Y coordinates move box and content, the other two coordinates resize the box with no effect on the content). IN ID2 this is not the case. You have to toggle back and forth with that transform content selection to use it like Quark. Does any one else think this is weird or is it just me? Also, does anyone know if it behaves the same in ID CS? Thanks.

[cari]

Adobe has made some changes in InDesign cs.

Maybe because it wasn't too clear in ID2, and many people were scaling frames rather than resizing them, resulting in issues such as variable stroke weights on frames that were all supposed to have similar stroke weights.

Stroke weights can now be scaled optionaly when changing frame size. In addition you can now reset the percentages for the frame to 100%, which will also correct the scaled stroke weight to true weights.

I must admit, that initially I too, had to get used to the concept of sizing/cropping/scaling of images in InDesign, but it does make sense if you think "PostScript" ;-)

[Cory]

Originally Posted by jv58

Unfortunately I was also using the transform palette to move the boxes slightly (i.e. via the X and Y coordinates). I did not realize that when you have this deselected, only the box moves, not the content (still acts as a crop tool). Didn't notice this until after I ripped the job .

Wow..thanks for the heads up on this...I assumed the same as you....

[Sparky]

There are a few very definite rules for moving and sizing images in ID 2 or CS (they still work the same)
1. When you have the type tool selected and hold the "cmnd" modifier key down to temporarily change to the selection tool, and you try to move a side of the image's bounding box it will resize the image. to move the box without sizing first change to the selection tool then move the box edge (the photo will not move).
2. with either the selection tool (V) or the direct selection tool (A) and you enter coordinates into the transform x or y coordinates the box moves with the content. I have tried to no end to recreate the "cropping effect and can't figure out what jv58 was talking about. I had "Transform Content" selected, then de=selected and couldn't produce the cropping mentioned.
3. with the selection tool, to scale un-proportioned hold the cmnd key and move one of the grab points, to scale proportionately hold the shift+cmnd key while moving a grab point.
to scale the image within the bounding box use the direct select tool (A) and hold the shift key to scale proportionately or just move one of the grab points to re-scale and distort.
If I could up load images without having to have a "hosted" web site I could illustrate what I was talking about with screen shots. I hope this forum allows this soon. Not everyone has the convenience of their own web host to upload images.