Best Method for adding captions

[Australopithicus]

I have yet to understand the characteristics of text fame usage and I would appreciate advice.

In the enclosed screen shot you can see I have allowed space for captions to the right of the photographs but I cannot figure how to create and place captions.

1. When I place text in the existing frame it sets below the photo’s due to text wrap.
2. If I lower the page text frame below the photo’s and try to create a separate text frame for captions as per InDesign, it doesn’t happen.
3. I had considered setting an tab indents a 3mls. wider than the photo’s within the existing text frame but that would apply to the whole depth of the text frame.
4.Is there a method by which I can create a separate text frame within the existing text frame?

Over to you experienced users:

[iconoclast]

Hi Australopithicus!

It's not absolutely clear to me what you want to do, but if you want a text frame that runs with the running text, you can Pin it or Intergrate it to it and set a Text Wrap to the pinned text frame. You find the buttons for this functions in the middle of the bar below the menu bar.

[Pšenda]

44 minutes ago, Australopithicus said:

1. When I place text in the existing frame it sets below the photo’s due to text wrap.

Why? The text "... area was flush ..." also does not disappear below the image.

44 minutes ago, Australopithicus said:

3. I had considered setting an tab indents a 3mls. wider than the photo’s within the existing text frame but that would apply to the whole depth of the text frame.

Why? Insert single line/paragraph with Caption, and set him Tab indents (and font type, size, ..., and set as specific Style for reuse).

Edited June 11, 2022 by Pšenda

[Australopithicus]

That sounds lie a solution iconoclast. How do I create a text frame independent of the book text frame in order to pin it?

[iconoclast]

3 minutes ago, Australopithicus said:

That sounds lie a solution iconoclast. How do I create a text frame independent of the book text frame in order to pin it?

The same way as you usually do it. But you can't create it inside a selected text frame. So deselect your main text frame and drag a new one.

If you want to pin it, place the cursor in the main frame where you want to place it and press the Pin button. Then it will be pinned there, but you have to manually place it where you want to have it by dragging. The pin is only the anchor point where the pinned object runs relative to.

If you want to integrate it into the main frame, press "Intergrate..." and drag the integrated frame to where you want it.

[Australopithicus]

Hi Pšenda,

Replying to your questions:
1. Cursor sets below photos as a result of text wrap preventing text from covering images.

3. That too sounds lie a possibility. Problems seems to be text wrap obstructing normal typesetting. That is what it is designed for.

So assuming I tab indent 120mls how do I apply that indent to say, 26 lines of type. Looking at tabs in Paragraphs I cannot see how it could be done?

[iconoclast]

4 minutes ago, Australopithicus said:

Hi Pšenda,

Replying to your questions:
1. Cursor sets below photos as a result of text wrap preventing text from covering images.

 

If you set the "Text Wrap" to "Tight" with a small "Distance from Text" on the right, the text shouldn't be displaced there

[Australopithicus]

OK, I got it. I did not deselect the original frame. I created new text frame in margin and it slides over existing text frame as a new layer.
Terrific! The obvious is not so obvious with a new set of rules!

 

Thank you very much iconoclast!

[Australopithicus]

OK Pšenda,

My problem with text wrap is that all the body text will flow around the photo’s into the area where I wish to place the captions. I would have to set the captions as part of the body text in just the right place and then control spacing to fit. May work, but the text frame option is simpler to manage.

If use the text break choice in text wrap as I have done, I cannot set fresh text in that open area. iconoclast has pointed out how I can create a separate text frame, set captions an slide it into position. Then I can pin it.

Thank guys, I am off and running now!

Thank you for your valuable input.

[iconoclast]

You're welcome.

But are you aware that you can also set Text Wrap to a text frame you simply place on the page like an image? I'm not sure if it is necessary or makes sense to pin the text frame to the text of the main frame. Because it will run with the running text, it will possibly be more annoying than helpful. But it is of course your decision. I can't really assess it.

[Australopithicus]

Yes iconoclast. I did that first with a frame the size of the two photo’s. Then I deleted the text wrap frame as the photo’s seemed to have adopted the wrap by default and I can move them anywhere and text flows as you indicate. I am glad you say pinning is not necessary as I would like captions to remain static when editorial adjustments effect text. I appreciate your comments.

It is taking me some time to get into the Affinity mindset with these behaviours.

Many Thanks.

[Pšenda]

 

 

[Old Bruce]

8 hours ago, Australopithicus said:

In the enclosed screen shot you can see I have allowed space for captions to the right of the photographs but I cannot figure how to create and place captions.

This is how I would do it. I have a Picture Frame to hold the picture (not entirely necessary) the Picture and the Caption. These I group together and apply the text wrap to the group.

[Australopithicus]

Thank You Bruce. I follow you. So did you use type tool to create a text box inside Picture Frame or was type able to be typed straight onto Picture Frame area?

 

[walt.farrell]

4 hours ago, Australopithicus said:

So did you use type tool to create a text box inside Picture Frame or was type able to be typed straight onto Picture Frame area?

From the Layers panel, he has a Picture Frame, and a separate Text Frame arranged next to the Picture Frame. Then he Grouped both frames so they move and act together.

[Old Bruce]

9 hours ago, Australopithicus said:

did you use type tool to create a text box inside Picture Frame or was type able to be typed straight onto Picture Frame area?

What Walt said.

[Australopithicus]

Thank you Bruce and Walt for reinforcing the lesson. Your analysis helps me read the layers panel. One simple discovery I have made is that as rules behave as typesetting. I can create a Text Frame, set the caption text insert cursor then go to Decorations and specify rule to column width. This gives me text ranged left in this case, and a rule of any length adjustable according to the width of the text box. I can drag the width of the text box to any desired width and the rule will follow. Not the intended method but useful!

Anyway, I do appreciate the input you guys have provided.

The resolution of my questions highlights what is missing in the Affinity Publisher Work Book, A discussion explaining concepts behind the software operations.

My experience encompasses Aldus Pagemaker, QuarkXpress, a bit of Word ugh! and Publisher ugh! I started using InDesign 3.0 around 2005, and it has proved the best DTP software for my purposes. My point is that Serif have many features which reduce the labour involved in DTP and I congratulate Serif for their initiative. I think the expensive InDesign subscription model is exactly the kind of market dictatorship you get when one product excels over all others. 

From the view of learning AP, what Serif needs, in my experience, is to explain the concepts behind the software function. While the video’s are great, Serif Help is specific and most valuable, the Workbooks are antithetical to typography based learned experience. Hence my difficulty in grasping the simple functions you guys have demonstrated. The ‘do this and that happens’ approach is OK up to a point, but does not suit my learning style unless it encompasses the concepts inherent in the software design.

For example, the statement that AP ‘treats rules as type’ is nowhere in the Workbook or any text I have read, yet it perfectly expresses a very significant conceptual fact. The ‘Real World’ books by Peachpit Press exemplifies such learning. The authors, Kver, Blatner, Bringhurst, who wrote the Adobe InDesign book, bring a mountain of experience and wisdom to the subject of typographic design, publishing and InDesign function. We are light years away from that level of sophistication with Serif and Affinity Publisher instruction at present.

However, I appreciate we are at a new level of scripting for software control and Serif have shown how the old typographic approach can be effectively short-cut. That is truly great. There is much that is cumbersome with InDesign. Bringing a new product to market is a daunting task and I think Serif recognise that initially, their income resides with new and ‘middle ground’ users and those like me, seeking flight from Adobe fees. Hence a workbook which seeks to teach publishing design while showing other newcomers how to use the tools.

I would like to see Serif grow and introduce amongst other features, dedicated control over headers and footers, better indexing tools, a library of typographic ornament for Decorations; which is, I assume, why Serif call rules Decorations; (The only explanation I can see for such a silly misnomer). Perhaps such features can be sold as add-on components for those who design more complex handle educational or scientific text books. Then they would really go head to head with Adobe in DTP.

Given this situation, the Affinity Forum becomes a very important tool as the experience of contributors helps bridge the conceptual gap people such as I confront. I salute you all.

Australopithicus

 

 

 

 

 

[Catshill]

I have text frame with a one line height (I can change this) saved as an asset that I drag onto the page under the image frame. The asset has a character text style “caption” defined. The image frame has a zero bottom margin set.

[Australopithicus]

Thanks Catshill. Another simple solution.