Picture Frame on Master Page with Linked Image

[jeremysom]

I have a 400+ page document with lots of images. Some of these images are embedded in a picture frame (from a master page).

Once embedded in the picture frame, the image gets wrapped in a "Constraints Group". Trying to replace the contents of that image with another image (or moving it's location with the "Collect" button in Resource Manager) fails.

The only way to change the image, is to drag the "Constraints Group" out of the picture frame layer, change the image, and then drag it back into the picture frame layer.

[thomaso]

To me a master picture frame with a non-master image doesn't cause a "Constraints Group". It looks as expected like this:

Also I may replace the image via the Replace button.

• Did you use the Constraints Panel for any of the objects?
• What APub version are you using, in what version was this .afpub started?
• Can you upload a sample .afpub with a master page picture frame and a placed image + the linked image resource as a separate file?

[jeremysom]

It took me a little bit to replicate the issue in a new document. It turns out it only happened to some of my Picture Frames. It turns out Master pages have nothing to do with it.

To replicate:

1. Add linked image to new document.
2. Crop image
3. Add picture frame to document
4. Drag the Image layer onto the picture frame layer.

Behold the magical constraints group appear. This now means the image cannot be replaced, either from the context menu, or through the Resource Manager.

I'm guessing the constraints group is a feature and not a bug. But the inability to "collect" or "replace" these images from the Resource Manager is definitely a bug.

 

[thomaso]

7 hours ago, jeremysom said:

4. Drag the Image layer onto the picture frame layer.

This "Drag" the point. – When dragging a layer you have 3 options (mouse release positions) which define the type of the inserted child object + mark each with a different, blue highlight. So your inserted layer set (image + clipping mask) can result in a mask (for the picture frame), in an image or a constrained group.

Alternatively you can use copy/paste with two options:
Right click on the empty picture frame...

... or activating the "Insert inside" button first:

But actually you make the situation unnecessary complex by using a clipping object (rectangle or vector cropping tool) AND a picture frame. Note that a Picture Frame itself already works as a clipping mask to an inserted object. So you don't need to clip the image separately before inserting it into a picture frame.

Furthermore a picture frame may contain various kinds of objects (not images only) and also can contain several objects (not only 1 image) – but only one of the nested items will maintain the special feature (UI) of the picture frame. This makes the situation both flexible but complex, too. In this post is a video with a few examples (though "constrained group" isn't included).

[jeremysom]

Yeah I agree, the clipping object is definitely unnecessary. I would have had that photo somewhere else (i.e. not in a picture frame) and then later on changed my mind and dragged it onto the picture frame.

Still I don't think this should affect resource management in the document. I should still be able to "Replace" or "Collect" images in the "Resource Manager". I had to touch several dozen picture frames in my document and either delete the clipping object, or drag the constraints group out of the picture frame, in order for me to move (the image's file location) or replace it.

That's my main problem. Sorry if that wasn't clear to start with.

[thomaso]

No problems here to replace the image of such a constraint group inside a picture frame, works with both "Replace..." buttons (context toolbar + resource manager). It also works to copy+relink the image with the "Collect..." button in the Resource Manager.

If it still doesn't work can you upload a screencast with the layers panel and showing these actions?

[thomaso]

23 hours ago, jeremysom said:

It turns out Master pages have nothing to do with it.

What exactly do you ask for? Master or not? Different to this quote both your screenshots show a master layer as parent for the image. Note that master layer content may require a different workflow.