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MarieMeyer
Inspiring
June 14, 2018
Answered

Whats the best way to deal with traditional (not metadata) captions?

  • June 14, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 860 views

What's the best (least crazy-making) way to deal with traditional captions based on text (not metadata).

I'm working on a long technical book that will include >100 figures, each with a caption consisting of one more sentences.

Here is the first one: it was easy to do because there was a natural break int he text that allowed me to simply create my caption with a paragraph style.

But of course it won't always be that easy: here is an example where the figure and its caption had to be inserted into the middle of a paragraph and so I put the caption inside its own text frame to get the body copy to "jump" the figure + caption combo correctly.

Is this the "right" way to do captions? If so, is there a way to automate the creation of a caption box for text when a new graphic is placed?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Barb Binder

    Hi Marie:

    I would:

    1. Place the image on the pasteboard (outside the printable page), add the caption and group them.
    2. Activate text wrap for the group and then drag the group to the desired position.
    3. Once in place, anchor the group to the text so that it moves with your edits.

    ~Barb

    2 replies

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 15, 2018

    Hi Marie:

    I'm not sure what you mean by "As you can see, I ended up the captions a little bit offset from the baseline"—your caption baselines are snapped to the baseline grid. Did you want them closer to the image? If so, shorten the image slightly (or reduce the text wrap offset below) and then you can move the captions up to the first grid line under the image.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 15, 2018

    Hi Marie:

    I would:

    1. Place the image on the pasteboard (outside the printable page), add the caption and group them.
    2. Activate text wrap for the group and then drag the group to the desired position.
    3. Once in place, anchor the group to the text so that it moves with your edits.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    M
    MarieMeyerAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 15, 2018

    Thanks Barb, that is a good suggestion. As you can see, I ended up the captions a little bit offset from the baseline. Any thought on how to fix that? My paragraph style for captions is "align to grid".

    Gusgsm
    Gusgsm
    Inspiring
    June 15, 2018

    There's a slight variation of what has been suggested. It's not better but, as it behaves in a different way, you might find this alternative interesting in some cases when it comes to the painful operation of fitting the text.

    Instead of just grouping the objects (image(s) and caption(s)) and then placing the group in the text flow, try placing the whole group "inside" of another (bounding) box, adjust the new box to the content and then place the container in the text flow. The bounding box won't change size unless you want it to, regardless to any change in the group inside.

    Hope it helps.

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