Getting Publisher 2 to set linked Designer 2 file frame size to match displayed rather than hidden contents

[stevepc]

I am linking Designer 2 files within my Publisher 2 book. Some of my illustrations are complex, so I use a build-up. That is, I show part of the illustration, then another part, and so on until the whole picture is revealed. However, the parts sometimes are significantly smaller than the whole, and so I want the frame to reflect that (so it does not take too much space on the Publisher page). However, the frame size appears to be fixed to the full size of the illustration, even if only a small part of it is on display.

I am using Affinity 2.5.5 on Windows 10.

I have attached a Designer and Publisher files as an example, and would appreciate of anyone could let me know if there is a way that the Publisher image frame reflects the actual displayed contents rather than the hidden size.

Many thanks.

Steve

Test Doc.afpub Looking up or down example.afdesign

[thomaso]

6 hours ago, stevepc said:

However, the frame size appears to be fixed to the full size of the illustration, even if only a small part of it is on display.

Can you explain this? If the size of the Picture Frame "appears to be fixed to the full size of the illustration", how is it possible that "only a small part of it" is visible? Or, vice versa: if the nested resource gets clipped by the Picture Frame which makes "only a small part of" the resource visible, how can the clipping Picture Frame be the same size as its unclipped child layer? (I can't open V2 files and the preview in your afpub is just bank)

Left: resource | Right: resource nested in & clipped by Picture Frame. Picture Frame selected.
– If I reduce the size of the Picture Frame this will either reduce the nested image size, too, or it will crop more of the nested image.

Left: resource in small size and unclipped  |  Right: resource enlarged and clipped, resource selected.

[stevepc]

32 minutes ago, thomaso said:

If the size of the Picture Frame "appears to be fixed to the full size of the illustration", how is it possible that "only a small part of it" is visible?

Hi Thomas

I am using layers to switch on sections of my diagrams. So, in one image, I only select the top half of the illustration. In another, I select the bottom half. And in a third, I select top and bottom, adjusting the background layers accordingly.

I think everything else you wrote confirms the issue, rather than resolve anything. But thanks for looking.

 

[thomaso]

2 hours ago, stevepc said:

I think everything else you wrote confirms the issue

I still don't know what issue. In each of my examples the Picture Frame is smaller than the image and not at all fixed to full or another size.

Note in this samples the different sizes of bounding/selection boxes between the selected Picture Frame and the selected image layer: When the image layer is selected (bottom screenshot) I coloured the Picture Frame's frame with an orange, dashed line – while the selection box of the image is a lot larger in this screenshot. This may make obvious that Picture Frame and Image do not have the same size, in none of the three screenshots.

If no V2 user will respond, maybe you can demonstrate the issue with screenshots? If you can't create one that shows the desired result, maybe you could mark/draw the goal on a screenshot?

[stevepc]

I think I have sorted it out now.

If you place a Designer file straight onto the Publisher page and the want the Text wrap to go around the full image, then its no problem. If you want the text wrap to go around a part of the illustration, then you have to place the illustration into a picture frame—something, I have never had to do in InDesign because InDesign allows you to text wrap to the displayed (and not file) size. I find it easier to place my illustration without a frame, and adjust its size and visible layers. Then I draw the picture frame to match the result, and then cut and paste the illustration into the picture frame as content. A bit fiddly, but it gets part of the job done. (I know I could convert the illustration to a picture frame, but that merely loses the size I have previously adjusted the illustration to. And the next bit still needs to be done.)

It is the next bit that was hard to identify. You then select the picture frame and toggle ‘Lock Children’ on (found in the Context Toolbar), adjust the border to the frame (any adjustment will do), then toggle ‘Lock Children’ off. This then establishes the frame and the content to be able to be managed separately (where an adjustment to one does not scale the other), as you would expect with a picture frame. You put the text wrap setting on the picture frame, and everything looks OK.

Why one has to select Lock Children/adjust frame/deselect Lock Children to break the undesired proportional lock between frame and illustration is beyond my understanding. In all, it is an over-the-top method to get text wrap on a part illustration but, hey, the result works.

Thanks Thomas. Your struggle to understand the issue (without having v2) prompted me to investigate further.

[thomaso]

2 hours ago, stevepc said:

It is the next bit that was hard to identify. You then select the picture frame and toggle ‘Lock Children’ on (found in the Context Toolbar), adjust the border to the frame (any adjustment will do), then toggle ‘Lock Children’ off.

When you use a picture frame object —not just a rectangular shape or a custom-drawn vector— you don't need to 'Lock Children' but can adjust the picture frame's crop size without inadvertently resizing the nested resource. Just avoid the outer handle in the bottom right corner because this may scale both, parent and child object.

Honestly, I still don't know what your issue was/is. Especially with the Text Wrap mentioned in your last response while you mentioned before frame and image sizes only.

You don't have to to use a Picture Frame to cause Text Wrap around a part only of the placed AD file. Instead you can either apply Text Wrap to the AD file directly + edit its Text Wrap curve via the Text Wrap options – or you can, more flexible, use an additional 'helper' object (invisible: no fill / no stroke) as text wrapping object and adjust its size, position and shape entirely independent of the placed AD file or a Picture Frame.

However, it is good to hear that you could solve your problem!