How to remove an image from an anchored frame for additional editing?

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Hi. Using ID 18.2.1 on Windows 11 (all updated).

I got myself into this... I'm hoping someone can get me out.

I created an anchored frame and pasted a relatively complex graphic into it (using Paste Into). Everything is satisfactory, except that now I must edit the graphic, which exists only in the anchored frame. (Mea Culpa.)

So the question is How do I copy/remove the graphic from the anchored frame for further editing? I can't seem to find a way to do this.

I will not make the same mistake again.

Thanks, as always, to the Community.

-j

Report · Apr 05, 2023

You can't do much of anything with pasted graphics.

You can un-anchor the frame by right-clicking on the anchor icon, and under Anchored Object, click Release.

Right-click on the image's center ring (that appears when you hover on it), and see if any Edit options are allowed. That, or you can Copy it and paste it into a new Photoshop document for editing. Not sure what/if any of that will work well enough.

Don't use cut and paste to put things in InDesign. It's a very poor practice. Use the Place command, or drag and drop — although some say those are identical, I've had and seen reports of issues with the latter. The thoroughly secure method is to use Place.

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Thanks for the reply. Sad news.

The center ring doesn't seem to give me many good options.

If I remember correctly, Adobe's instruction for putting a graphic into an anchored frame is PASTE INTO, but I'll try PLACE -- place works for all the other graphics. Even so, I'm not sure (yet) if a graphic PLACED into an anchored frame would be any more removable than a graphic PASTEd INTO an anchored frame.

In any case, lesson learned. <sigh>

Thanks again.

-j

Report · Apr 05, 2023

When you Place, or drag and drop an image, it remains a separate, linked file that can be edited, updated and replaced. When you paste an image, it becomes an embedded component of the document, with very limited further options.

InDesign is like most apps in that there are a lot of "quick" features that seem convenient but really shouldn't be used. Convenience carries a price. 🙂

Report · Apr 05, 2023

I appreciate the help.

Just to clarify, however.... If I assemble a graphic from parts on the pasteboard and group them, how would I then use PLACE to put them within an anchored frame without using PASTE INTO?

-j

Report · Apr 05, 2023

It's perfectly OK to PLACE multiple images (or a single image) somewhere on the page or pastebaord, then group them, cut, and Paste Into another frame (that's an easy way to mask, too). That retains the links.

Waht you don't want to do is copy/paste images from another application.

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Perhaps my original post was not clear.

I did PLACE (not paste) an impage on the pasteboard in ID. I then modified it locally on the pasteboard in InDesign (by adding numbers and callouts). I copied it and PASTED INTO the anchored frame. Then, I stupidly deleted the item on the pasteboard. It seems to be impossible to extract the graphic (and its numbers and callouts) out of the anchored frame. It may be impossible; and I won't make that mistake again, but I did not copy (for example) something from Photoshop and just paste it into ID.

Still.... I've had no difficulty with other items placed on the pasteboard and then copied only a paragraph marker in ID, only when I PASTE INTO an anchored frome. Nor can you drag into an anchored frame, only PASTE INTO. My mistake, I think, was not leaving a copy on the pasteboard.

That's life.

-j

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Select the frame, then double click inside it and you should select the content. Cut and paste back on the pasteboard if you like, but if the image is linked there's no need to do that. Just select the link in the Links panel and Edit Original.

Report · Apr 05, 2023

If you're building graphics to use as elements, it gets a little muddled. ID doesn't necessarily preserve all of the steps or stages of such a creation, so undoing it or backing up to modify it isn't always possible. Doing little "doodles" is perfectly acceptable, but if an image or illustration or combined graphic is worth much effort, it should be done as a separate element and then exported to a standalone file (PDF works, from InDesign), so that you can go back to the master and change things.

There's no hard and fast rules here. I do small illustrations in ID all the time... but I don't then try to copy or cut and paste them. They remain a 'live' piece of the layout.

Report · Apr 05, 2023

What do you mean by "complex graphics"?

Was it a layered bitmap?

Maybe try to export page as a PDF or EPS and then try to open it in Photoshop - maybe it will "survive"...

Report · Nov 29, 2024

I can see this is old but the solution is, select the box with the selector tool, go to Object, Select, Content and delete.

Report · Nov 29, 2024

I can see this is old but the solution is, select the box with the selector tool, go to Object, Select, Content and delete.

By @default3021157727i7p7

And how this will make it editable?

Report · Nov 29, 2024

If you Object, Select, you can delete or Copy and Paste out, edit and put back. Depends what you want to do with it, but you don't have to individually select the content.

Report · Nov 29, 2024

@default3021157727i7p7

You said "delete" - not "Copy and Paste out, edit and put back".

Report · Nov 29, 2024

ok, well same principle, with anything you select. DELETE COPY PASTE!
You initially said you wanted to remove an element.

Just helping!

Report · Nov 29, 2024

@default3021157727i7p7

Where have I said that I want to delete anything??

If you delete first - then you can't copy?