apply to content vs scaling percentage?

[erick013]

Hello,

Within Preferences > General > Object Editing, there is an option to "apply to content vs. scaling percentage." I know how each option works, but I'm wondering what would be a common use case to use one versus the other. I use "apply to content," but I'm trying to figure out if I'm missing something by not using "scaling percentage." Any insight would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

~Erick

[Steve Werner]

One of my favorite resources is the last published version of the Real World InDesign series - for CS6. Much of InDesign hasn't changed since then. It can explain features like that well, even though it's 11 years old now! Here's how David Blatner, Ole Kvern and Bob Bringhurst explained it:

"When you scale an object, how should it be reflected in the interface? For example, if you double the scale of a text frame with 12 pt. text, what should appear in the Control panel? If Apply to Content is on, "24 pt" appears for Font Size and the Scale values are reset to 100%. If Adjust Scaling Percentage is on, "12pt(24)" is displayed for Font Size, and the Scale values are 200%. There is one benefit to turning Adjust Scaling Percentage on: You can always reset the text frame to 100 percent size in the Control panel or Transform panel, returning the text to its original, pre-scaled size. When you turn on Apply to Content, it can be hard to get back to the original size."

[erick013]

Thank you for the response. Getting back to the original "pre-scaled" size is the only reason I came up with as well. As handy as that may be, I still can't think of a use case where needing to return to the original size would be necessary. Trust me; I'm sure someone out there has a great use case for it, but I can't come up with any. 😉 

[Laubender]

Hi Erick,

if you want to scale something non-proportionally it will make a big difference.

Apply to Scaling Percentage could do this:

100 % horizontally vs 200 % horizontally, stroke is scaled in one direction only.

Apply to Content cannot do this.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[erick013]

That's interesting. I did a test and notice the picture box scaled differently. Is that a cause of this setting or something different? For context, all the elements were first grouped before scaling. 

[Laubender]

Hi Erick,

just select some text and check the value for horizontal width of the text.

In both cases. And yes, the cause of the differences are the different option used with "When Scaling".

Using the option with the Scaling Percentages leaves the original as is, but does a transformation on top of it. In the other case not a real transformation will happen. It's actually changing the width and the height of objects. In case of your text it's changing the value for the horizontal width of characters.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[erick013]

Hi Uwe,

All are correct, and I'm aware of the specific changes each scaling option causes. My original question is more of a "use case", rather than the technical differences and effects. Why would you, let's say, use "adjust scaling percentage"? Why would someone need to use one over the other in a real-world application?

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

Hi Erick,

I would recommend the usage of Scaling Percentage e.g. with text when Optical Kerning is applied to text.

Then the integrity of text composition will be maintained. Not so if you simply change things like Point Size with Apply To Content.

If that is not that important and a change in composition is ok with you, also a change in hyphenation, then I'd prefer Apply To Content.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[erick013]

Hi Uwe,

You are correct. I just noticed that little nuisance. When using "apply to content," it does affect copy when using optical kerning. Another little quirk I noticed is that scaling in either mode/preference proportionally, the "image" box in the grouping isn't affected. It only seems to go rogue when scaling disproportionately. 

Thank you for the follow-ups. It's appreciated.