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Known Participant
June 15, 2025
Answered

Adding photo only pages inside primary text frame

  • June 15, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 242 views

Hi, I have set up a 150-page book with a primary text frame throughout. I am trying to add four pages in different parts of the book that have only one photo on each of them and no text. I haven't been able to find instructions on how to do this, and have experimented with all the ways I can think of but nothing works.

 

As one example, I used File/Place to place a photo in a blank page inside the primary text frame and anchored the photo to the top of the following page of text. (I also tried anchoring the photo to the end of the previous page).

 

But no matter what I do, when I make changes elsewhere in the document, the photo moves somewhere other than where it should be.  There is no apparent logic to where it moves for the significant number of times I tried to achieve my objective. Sometimes it moves off the design altogether to the side. Other times it places itself over text in other parts of the document. Or the photo moves up so half of it sits on top of the primary text frame (off the page) and half on the page. And I'm unable to move it.

 

As always, I try to self-resolve before asking for help here. But after hours, I have to admit defeat.  Many thanks in advance.

Correct answer Barb Binder

Hi @ali_4619:

 

You don't have to wait until you're so frustrated you can't see straight to ask us a question. If you are stuck, just come ask us!

 

I think you're asking how to put full page pictures inside the primary flow so that they will move with the text? If yes, they need to be anchored or inline. I think inline is easier, so I would:

  • Press Enter to add a new paragraph.
  • Create a paragraph style for the paragraph (perhaps called "Anchor") and set the leading to Auto and the Keep Options to Start in the Next Frame
  • Click on that empty paragraph and place the image. 

 

 

Please keep in mind that InDesign does not have the backfill commands that Adobe FrameMaker does, so it's going to leave gaps in your text. You can see the big gap at the bottom of page one. It could be much worse, so thoughtful positioning is important as is last-minute shuffling after all the editing is complete.

 

~Barb

1 reply

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 15, 2025

Hi @ali_4619:

 

You don't have to wait until you're so frustrated you can't see straight to ask us a question. If you are stuck, just come ask us!

 

I think you're asking how to put full page pictures inside the primary flow so that they will move with the text? If yes, they need to be anchored or inline. I think inline is easier, so I would:

  • Press Enter to add a new paragraph.
  • Create a paragraph style for the paragraph (perhaps called "Anchor") and set the leading to Auto and the Keep Options to Start in the Next Frame
  • Click on that empty paragraph and place the image. 

 

 

Please keep in mind that InDesign does not have the backfill commands that Adobe FrameMaker does, so it's going to leave gaps in your text. You can see the big gap at the bottom of page one. It could be much worse, so thoughtful positioning is important as is last-minute shuffling after all the editing is complete.

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
ali_4619Author
Known Participant
June 16, 2025

Thanks so much! It's genius.  And thanks for putting the time into screen recording. The only thing for me though is I've lost my margin guides on the left side of left facing pages. But only from the page that I added the anchor para style to and the following left pages after the inserted full page photo. Please see screenshot below. After that, I went to Layout > Create Guides and ticked Fit guides to margins again but it didn't fix it.