Width Wrong for Imported Graphics in Frame 9

Report · May 15, 2009

Has anyone else had issues with Framemaker detecting the wrong width when importing graphics? As an example, when I import a JPG of a button that should be 21 x 21 pixels, Framemaker displays the width as 24px and the height as 21px. This results in a smashed graphic. If I adjust the dimensions of the graphic in FrameMaker to the correct dimensions, then print the PDF, the right border of the image is off.

I have tried capturing the graphic a variety of different ways, and I always experience the same results. I can import the graphic into Captivate or Word and the sizing is correct. Any ideas? Thanks!

I am using FrameMaker version 9.0p237 as part of the Technical Communication Suite 2.

Report · May 15, 2009

Are you absolutely certain that the graphic is the dimension that you specify? Have you verified the dimensions in any other image application?

Note: for small graphics and such, please use the inline graphic tools (the little camera icon in the editor) rather than attaching as a file. It sometimes takes a very long time to clear the scanning queue.

Report · May 15, 2009

Yes. I have tried to acquire the image using several methods: SnagIt, atl+print screen into Photoshop, and RoboScreenCapture. When I open the image in the other image applications, they always report the correct size. The only application that seems to detect the wrong size is Framemaker. I can successfully add the image to other applications too. The incorrect sizing occurs with all screen captures that I import into Framemaker.

Sorry about the imported graphic. This was my first post to the forum.

Report · May 15, 2009

I import small graphics but as eps. You might try other formats, such as eps, gif, tif.

Report · May 15, 2009

I just tested this with a sample file at the 21x21 dimensions, and you are absolutely correct. FM9 screws up the dimensions (and default dpi resolution) for PNG and GIF files. I also tried BMP and TIF equivalents and these were ok. FM8 does not have this problem, so it looks like Adobe played with the PNG and GIF filters a bit (perhaps to get rid of all of the extra colours coming in).

For a JPG or PNG import of a 21x21 at 96dpi, FM9 seems to think that it is 24x21 at 110dpi. FM8 gets it right.

For a GIF import of the same, FM9 thinks it is 22x21 at 75dpi. FM8 got it right.

What's also strange is that if the dimensions are both even, e.g. 20x20 at 96dpi, then FM9 gets it right for the JPG, PNG and GIF. However, if the *first* dimension is odd, e.g. 21x20 it gets it wrong again as before, but if the second dimesion is odd, e.g. 20x21, the it gets it right. VERY WIERD!

It's definitely a BUG.

I would suggest that you either use BMP or TIF for now OR try to increase your icons by 1 pixel to make them an even size, e.g. 22x22.

I'd also recommend that you not use JPG for these, but rather GIF or PNG, because you may generate some unwanted artifacts in the JPG due to the lossy compression used.

Report · May 15, 2009

Thank you so much for testing this issue!! You made a great catch for the even vs. odd widths. I tested that on my computer and the graphic imported beautifully when I changed the dimensions. I submitted this issue to Adobe in a bug report. I really hope they are able to correct this.

Report · May 15, 2009

Now its time for a bug report:

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

Let's get it fixed.

Report · May 15, 2009

When you import the graphic, what dpi do you choose in the dialog box -- if you're using the default "72" try entering 96 into the bottom "custom" box, does that give you a correct image (disregarding the pixel dimensions reported, for the moment).