Scaling numerically placed content

[Roger Breton]

This, I'm sure, is plain silly? But I can't find the way to scale images numerically? By percentages?

While adjusting the frame!!! -- Very important.

Suppose I have an image I interactively placed at 30% :

As the Transform panel shows, the image is scaled at 30%.

Now, InDesign automatically created the required frame size so that it matches the scaled image perfectly.

But what if I want the image scaled at 50%? For some rason?

It's easy enough to type in 50% in the Transform panel but what about the graphic frame itself?

Even if I have Frame Adjustment Automatic turned on in the Frame Adjustment Option, once I issue the new scaling percentages, the image DOES resize but the frame itself remains unchanged? I thought there was a keyboard combination I had to hold to force the frame to scale with the image but I didn't find any.

I know I can always use "Fit frame to content" right aftre changing the scaling... I know. But that's about all I can do to automate such a silly transform.... Hopefully, I'm missing something very obvious -- egg on my face in advance...

[Laubender]

Hi Roger,

select the frame holding the image. Not the image inside the frame like your screenshot is showing.

Then simply edit one of the "percentage fields" in typing the new width or height with digits and units. E.g.: 100 mm

Note: You have to overwrite the "30" plus the "%" when typing the new number with the measurement unit.

Frame and image will be scaled together to the new height or width.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Roger Breton]

Hallo Uwe,

If I select the frame with the Selection tool (Black Arrow, keyboard W) then all I see is the "scale of the frame" itself!

100% : it is not possible to sehen der current scale? All ich moëchte ist change the scale from 30% to 50% und I want to frame to be resized automatically, to still fit the image. Das ist kein possible mit InDesign 2021?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You screen capture shows that you ONLY have the image selected. Use the regular Selection tool, make sure you have the frame selected, and change the percentage. It will size both the frame and image. (The percentage will snap back to 100% because, normally, the frame can be resized, but not technically scaled.)

[Roger Breton]

Thanks Creamer, I know I can type new "percentages" in those fields! But that will give me, say, 50% of whatever current scaling is!

Suppose, as in my example, that the image is scale 30%? Then, when I type in 50%, I am not going to get the image scaled at 50% but 50% of 30%! In other words, I will get 15%. See? 

I know I can have InDesign make a calculation in the field by typing in the current frame size and the 50% value, somehow, but that's work I am trying to avoid. You know, I think what I want to do -- so silly! -- cannot be done!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I think I understand--you want transformations to be absolute and not compound one another. Correct?

[Roger Breton]

Yes, somehow, I was under the impression that there was a way to do this.

Seems "trivial"?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You would think it would be as easy has holding down a modifier key when selecting the percentage. (Not a bad feature request.)

The quickest no-script method I can come up with is to

1. double-click to select the graphic
2. reset the percentage as desired
3. double-click to select the frame
4. double-click on a corner handle

Or do the cross-multiplication math as Uwe suggested.

[Roger Breton · Accepted solution]

Thanks Creamer!

I'm going to bite the bullet and do it the hard way, no script for now.

First, change the scaling percentages with the content selected.

Second, double click the corner handle or Fit frame to content (Ctrl + Alt + C) on the keyboard.

Not too bad. 

Thanks for your patient and kind help 🙂

[Laubender]

Ah! Now I understand!

You want to scale the image up from 30% to 50% and you want to scale the frame as well.

Well, this requires the following steps:

[1] First select the image inside the graphic frame to get the current scaling value.

[2] Copy the digits value only, in your case: 30 without the % unit.

[3] Hit key Esc to select the graphic frame, not the image.

Select the digits value 100 plus the % in the input field and type:

5000/

plus paste the 30 after the /

and then hit return.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Roger Breton]

Uwe,

Ich verstehe! Aber das ist too much arbeit?

Maybe I should write a small script...

MfG / Roger

[Laubender]

"The quickest no-script method I can come up with is to

1. double-click to select the graphic
2. reset the percentage as desired
3. double-click to select the frame
4. double-click on a corner handle"

Alternatively:

[3] and [4] Select the button in the Control panel to adjust the graphic frame to its contents.

Yes, that will work, but here we assume, that the graphic frame should show all of the image.

You have to do the math if you come accross an image that is clipped by its graphic frame.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

The key word was the quickest 🤣 no-script method...

I always try to keep my hand on the mouse, with the keyboard shortcut I have to put down my coffee.

Using the button in the Control panel means more mouse travel on a 27-inch monitor (and more carpal tunnel syndrome). 

[Roger Breton]

I'm a big fan of "Everything keyboard" -- believe me. I hate reaching for the mouse all the time.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

My problem is that while I can to the Ctrl + Alt + C with one hand, that's the hand I usually hold my coffee in...

[Laubender]

Ok. I see…

Ctrl + Alt + C is impossible to do with a coffee in the left… 🙂

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[rob day]

Hi @Roger Breton , not sure I’m completely following this, but do you have Transformations are Totals unchecked in the Transform panel?

Try Clear Transformations, and then with Transformations are Totals checked and the parent frame selected, make your percentage change. This is what I get—Links panel always shows the total Scale:

[Roger Breton]

Rob,

Yes, I have Transformations are totals checked.

Clearing transformations does nothing, the image is still sitting at whathever scale it was placed at, 30%.

I can't follow your suggestion : "with the parent frame selected, make your percentage change."?

That results in the frame and its content to be scaled to whatever value I type in?

[rob day]

Suppose, as in my example, that the image is scale 30%? Then, when I type in 50%, I am not going to get the image scaled at 50% but 50% of 30%! In other words, I will get 15%. See? 

That results in the frame and its content to be scaled to whatever value I type in?

I think I’m not understanding the problem, in my example above the actual link output Scale is 60%—it’s not 36% (60% of 60%).

With Transforms are Totals unchecked, the actual output scale (listed in LinkInfo) is the combined scales. Here the parent frame and image are both scaled to 60%, and the output scale is now 36% because Transforms are Totals was unchecked.

[Roger Breton]

Thanks Rob for you kind and patient help,

Two things.

First, assume the frame is selected with the Black arrow tool , the Selection tool (V).

Then, in my humble example, it shows 100%. Right? Because I'm not selecting the Content, right?

Now, walk me through the steps you say you take to get the image scaled at 50% without changing over to the Direction selection tool (A) or selecting the image using the Content Grabber?

There was a time, I remember through an earlier version on InDesign where the Percentages shown in the Transformation panel related to the percentage of scaling but Adobe changed that later on. I don't see what "Transformation are totals" would have to do with that? It probably has but I long forgot or can't seem to get it, here, in my frustrating attempts?

[rob day]

It could also be your General>When Scaling Preference—try When Scaling: Adjust Scaling Percentage.

Placed at 100% with parent frame selected:

Enter 60% in the Transfom panel. For the actual scale I’m referencing the Link panel Scale number, which shows the linked image’s absolute output scale—also 60%

[Roger Breton]

Thank you for the suggestion, Rob.

I had great hope this preference would do the trick but, no.

At least not here ; if I start with an image already scaled in some frame, with or without the suggested Preference checked, there is no way to change the scaling value numerically while at the same time maintaing the same "framing relation" i.e. scaled the frame automatically to accomode the new specified scaling percentage. Not that I can see 😞

I rest my case. I'm satisfied that this can't be done.

[rob day]

Now I see the difference—in my examples I’m placing the image at 100%. If you place at 100% and make the first 30% scale via the Transform panel, then the subsequent scaling to the parent frame will be relative to 100%. Sorry for the confusion.