Independent And Anchored Graphics In InDesign CS4
When adding graphics to a layout in InDesign there are two ways in which the graphic can be inserted. Firstly it can be independent of all other items on the page & secondly it can be embedded or anchored within a block of text. The first approach perhaps offers the greatest degree of flexibility in terms of how the graphic may be integrated with other elements. The main benefit offered by the anchored approach is that the graphic can then be linked to a given point within the flow of text.
Imagine that you are working on a user manual for a piece of equipment that the booklet will be translated into several different languages & that each graphic used in the document relates to a particular set of instructions within the manual. This is an example of situation where the use of anchored graphics will be beneficial. Each illustration can be inserted next to the instructions to which it relates. When the instructions are translated since some languages are more succinct than others the flow of text will change. However each image will stay with the related text.
To add an independent graphic to a page in InDesign choose Place form File menu locate & double-click on the image. Next click on the page where you would like the top left of the image to be positioned. When using this technique the image is brought in at actual size & placed inside a picture frame which InDesign automatically creates. Text & images cannot be placed directly on the page in InDesign; they have to be placed inside containers referred to as frames.
Another way of importing an independent graphic is to create a frame for the graphic at the required size & position then to highlight the frame & choose File Place. InDesign will place the graphic inside the highlighted frame. The options in the Object Fitting sub-menu can then be used to determine how the graphic will be sized & positioned within its containing frame.
There are three ways of adding an anchored graphic to a page. The first is to position the cursor inside a text block at the required position & then to choose File Place. The graphic is imported & anchored at the cursor position. The second is to highlight a graphic frame & choose Edit Cut. Next position the cursor inside a text block at the required position & choose Edit Paste. The third method is to position the cursor inside a text block & choose Object Anchored Object Insert. When the Insert Anchored Object dialogue box appears choose Content Graphic.
InDesign offers a tremendous degree of flexibility in how anchored graphics may be positioned relative to the text around it. To get access to these options highlight an anchored graphic & choose Object Anchored Object Options. For example setting the position to Custom allows you to drag the graphic around the page & to wrap text around it as if it were independent. When this is done it can sometimes be difficult to tell where the anchored graphic is actually inserted. Working in Story Editor InDesign’s plain text mode makes it easy to review the position of anchored graphics. Simply highlight the containing text frame & choose Edit Edit in Story Editor. Each anchored graphic is represented by a little anchor symbol. Conveniently you can highlight an anchor symbol & drag it to a new location.
The author is trainer & developer with Macresource Computer Training an independent computer training company offering InDesign CS4 Classes in London & throughout the UK.
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