Each time you add graphics to an InDesign layout, there are two ways in which the graphic can be inserted. Firstly, it can be independent of all other items on the page and, 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 and 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 import an image into InDesign as an independent graphici, choose Place from the File menu, locate and 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 and placed inside a picture frame which InDesign automatically creates. (Text and 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 and position then to highlight the frame and 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 and positioned within its containing frame.
There are no fewer than three methods of adding an anchored graphic to a page. The first is to position the cursor inside a text block at the required position and then to choose File – Place. The graphic is imported and anchored at the cursor position. The second is to highlight a graphic frame and choose Edit – Cut. Next, position the cursor inside a text block at the required position and choose Edit – Paste. The third method is to position the cursor inside a text block and choose Object – Anchored Object – Insert. When the Insert Anchored Object dialogue box appears, choose Content – Graphic.
Using anchored graphics in InDesign is by no means limiting: in fact InDesign provides 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 and choose Object – Anchored Object – Options. For example, setting the position to Custom allows you to drag the graphic around the page and 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 and choose Edit – Edit in Story Editor. Each anchored graphic is represented by a little anchor symbol. Conveniently, you can highlight an anchor symbol and drag it to a new location.
The author of this article conducts Adobe InDesign CS4 training courses and HTML/XHTML training throughout the UK.