Set fixed ratio for images

[LisaMettier]

Hi InDesign pros!

I am wondering if it is possible to set a fixed ratio for the image sizing (like 16:9 or 4:5)?

In Photoshop it is very easy, but in InDesign, there is no option in the sizing field for it.

PS. I don't mean to resize the image by holding shift. I mean to set it as a fixed ratio for all images to be placed into the file.

Please help! Thank you!

[BobLevine]

No. You can set up a library for image frames and then set the fitting options as you wish, but InDesign is not an image editing applicating.

[LisaMettier]

Thank you, Bob!

The situation is that I am working on brochures which works with images of all kinds of sizes, vertical and horizontal. But the ratio stays always the same, no matter the actual size.

So setting fixed sizes does not help too much, as the creativity would be stuck. Also, it is less an image editing problem, more a layout problem.

Thank you though 🙂

[Eugene Tyson]

As you aluded to you can set this up in Photoshop - and if you do that and place it into indesign the way you want it - then it's that aspect ratio going forward.

You could setup an Object Style that uses those widths/heights and then scale your image to fit the frame.

You can also set your fitting options here too

[LisaMettier]

Thank you Bob.

This still does not solve my problem, as we talk about hundreds and hundreds of images per brochure. Its a complex project with many designers working on it. Therefore I asked to set a fixed ratio in InDesign. But it looks like there is no such

option..

[Eugene Tyson]

Well I gave you the answer - you can have object styles, and set this up going forward, you could switch between different aspect ratios by choosing different object styles.

It does not work the same as photoshop - but you have 2 ways - do it in photoshop or do it in inDesign.

It should be fine.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Lisa,

I would like to know if the steps suggested above worked for you, or the issue still persists.

Kindly update the discussion if you need further assistance with it.

Thanks,

Srishti

[Laubender]

lisamettier  wrote

… I am wondering if it is possible to set a fixed ratio for the image sizing (like 16:9 or 4:5)? …

PS. I don't mean to resize the image by holding shift. I mean to set it as a fixed ratio for all images to be placed into the file.

…

Hi Lisa,

you could prepare container frames of that ratio before any image is placed.

And you could also prepare them with a fitting option: E.g. Fill proportionally.

The prepared container frames could be easily resized proportionally using the Shift key before or after an image is placed.

Maybe that's a bit more flexible than using object styles for fixed dimensions, but of course, if a designer is not using the Shift key when changing the dimensions of a frame you would end up with frames that are not 16 to 9 or any other prepared fixed ratio.

Regards,
Uwe

[Eugene Tyson]

Good point

[Eugene Tyson]

That would be true though even if they placed images in InDesign that were scaled to the aspect ratio they want anyway.

Resizing a frame automatically crops the image - so you would need only to be able to resize the frame proportionally - and as said, unless they hold the modifier key for this then they could inadvertently change it anyway.

[Mike Witherell]

Maybe the solution is to pre-design 16:9 ratio frames on Master Pages?