Transform objects – Adobe InDesign CS3 User Manual
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INDESIGN CS3
User Guide
368
Note: This option does not change how stroke weights are affected when scaling a frame, only whether any changes affect
measurements.
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In the Transform or Control panel menu, do one of the following:
•
Select Dimensions Include Stroke Weight when you want panel measurements to represent the outer edge of an
object’s stroke. For example, if one frame is 2 points shorter than the other, but the shorter frame’s stroke is 2 points
thicker, this setting will cause both frames to display the same height values in the Transform and Control panels.
•
Deselect Dimensions Include Stroke Weight when you want the panel measurements to represent an object’s path
or frame regardless of its stroke weight. For example, two frames of the same height will display the same height
values in the Transform and Control panels, regardless of differences in their stroke weights.
Transform objects
You can modify an object’s size or shape, and change its orientation on the pasteboard, by using tools and commands.
The toolbox includes four transformation tools—the Rotate, Scale, Shear, and Free Transform tools. All transforma-
tions, with the addition of reflection, are available in the Transform and Control panels, where you can precisely
specify transformations.
Transformation tools (top) compared to Transform panel (bottom)
A. Rotation options B. Shearing options C. Scaling options
When transforming objects, note the following:
•
The results of a transformation can differ significantly, depending on which selection tool you use. Use the
Selection tool
to transform an entire path and its content; use the Direct Selection tool
to transform just the
path without its content or the content without its path. To transform the content without its path, make sure that
all anchor points are selected.
•
A transformation affects all selected objects as a single unit. For example, if you select multiple objects and rotate
them 30˚, they all rotate around one reference point. If you want to rotate each selected object 30˚ around its own
reference point, you must select and rotate them individually.
•
When transforming type, you can use either of two selection methods: Use the Selection or Direct Selection tool
to select an entire text frame or text converted to outlines, and then use the transformation tools; or use the Type
tool to select text or to click an insertion point in a text frame, and then specify transformations in the Transform
panel, Control panel, or dialog boxes available when you double-click a tool. In both cases, the transformation
affects the entire text frame.
•
When you rotate, skew, or scale a group, the settings apply to the entire group, as well as to the individual objects
in the group. For example, if you rotate a group 30˚, the rotation value in the Transform or Control panel is 30˚
whether you select the group itself or direct-select an object in the group.
For a video on working with objects, see
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