Resizing placed graphics

[EdFredenburgh]

When you place a graphic in a frame, you then want complete control. Like in Quark, where you hold down Command-Option-Shift and hit the < or > keys to enlarge or shrink the image; and of course with the pointer you just shift it round its text box, or use the arrow keys. Can't find a quick way to do this in InDesign, without changing tools between Select and Direct-Select to move or resize the image or the frame itself.

 

[lvixen]

Select the box with the selection tool. If you want the box to fit the object use the key command Shift-command-C, if you want the content to fit the box you've created, it's Shift-command-E. Also, to easily switch between the select and direct select, with no boxes selected (or at least if you are not in the type tool)the letter (v) will give you the selection tool and the letter (a) will give you the direction selection tool. (just the letter, not the parenthesis.

 

[EdFredenburgh]

Yes, thanks Ivixen, I understand this. But it seems to confirm what I thought: there isn't a quick keyboard shortcut for enlarging or reducing graphics in controlled percentages, like there is in Quark. It's not flexible enough to have just those two options – graphic to fit box, or box to fit graphic. Still, not enough reason to go back to Quark (especially at £1,500 for the OS-X version).

 

[dimoj]

Sure there is EdF... you are just pressing to many buttons. The keyboard shortcut for scale in ID is simply Command and < or >

Of course you have to click on the placed object with the direct selection tool first to select it but then you're free to use your keyboard shortcut.

 

[EdFredenburgh]

That's the one! Many thanks, dimoj.