How do I place objects into InDesign with a smaller size than their original size?

[Chris P. Bacon]

It would be useful if possible, as getting your object together from somwehere even out of the pasteboard is a bit of an overkill.

[Steve Werner]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your question, but usually placed objects need to be scaled to be at a smaller size than their original size:

Here is an image placed (File > Place) at its original size by clicking to place it.

The Links panel shows it is the same size as the original.

I use the Scale fields on the Control panel to select 150% scaling:

The result is that its Effective Resolution has changed and made it larger:

[Steve Werner]

In that example, I scaled it larger. To make it smaller I'd use the Scale field to choose a smaller percentage like 50% and the image sould get smaller. (You can also hold down modifier keys Cmd+Shift or Ctrl+Shift to scale visually.)

[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

Drag the placement frame into place at approximately the desired size.

That is, instead of clicking to place an object, either in advance or with the Place cursor, drag with the Place cursor and the object will be scaled to fit that frame.

You may have to click a spot off the layout to keep ID from inserting the object at full size by default; if that happens press Esc and you can drag-place from the same selection.

Placement is proportional by default; hold Shift to create a nonproportional frame.

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[Chris P. Bacon]

"Drag with the place cursor and the object will be scaled to fit that frame."

Thanks. It works.

[Bill Silbert]

You could do this for a single image by drawing a graphic frame to the size that you need it and while the frame is selected go through Object>Fitting>Frame Fitting Options and choose one of the Proportional fitting options presented there. The image will import in the appropriate size to fit the way that the option chosen specifies. If you want your chosen fitting option to work with all frames drawn within your current file then click on Auto-Fit at the top of the dialog with no frames selected and the desired fitting setting chosen from the pull-down menu. If you want this to be the default for all files that you work on then set up the option with no documents open and then quit the program. When you relaunch it your choices will become the programwide default.

[Chris P. Bacon]

Yes I am setting it to default.