That options are available at top of Import & processing properties window and  Image Placeholder properties frame.

This tab is enabled if you selected object in your project that is going to be a placeholder (bounding box) for future image place (import or paste into). This menu is not active when selected object is type of text. Krasbit Layouter lets you prepare a reusable template having reserved areas (placeholders) where user is going to place an image later. That reserved area will automatically set location, size, effects and may use different algorithms to fit placed image into that placeholder when imported image have different size and aspect ratio than reserved placeholder object. You will control all the future placement of image at this menu. You can scale, stretch, crop,mirror, perspective, displace map distort or no resize at all. Some options are available only to placeholders that are vector objects (crop, scale and crop, perspective). In most of cases, you should use a rectangle objects as placeholders. Here are available image placeholder properties.

keep rotation

If checkbox is selected and placeholder in your template has got any rotation already , then image that will place into the placeholder in future will respect this and also rotate to exactly same degree. This is useful if you are preparing multiple placeholders on template for same image (Batch Import or photo tiles), but you want some of them to print on landscape and the other copy on portrait orientation. Other use case is when you need print image flipped for some reason (sublimation by example) In that case you will get this effect if you prepare placeholder by put (minus) sign on one of horizontal or vertical scale input on your workspace toolbar

 

On enter, your object details minus sign dissapear and rotation will show as 180 degrees

Your placeholder is ready to flip any placed image now.

keep effects

If this option is checked then the content which is being imported or pasted to bounding box of the target shape will automatically get the effects like shadow and transparency from the target shape.

Preserve target object (placeholder)

That options matters mostly for scale-like alignment modes. If this option is checked then the placeholder (source of bounding box where the content is being imported or pasted) won’t be deleted after the operation. You may only delete placeholders that are not based on powerclips (no scale, scale to object, ignore aspect ratio, perspective). Any placeholder that got “Crop” word in the alignment mode cannot be deleted as it will contain placement image inside internal powerclip’s content (preserve target option will make a copy of placeholder frame in that case).  It's up to you design whatever you would to keep the original placeholder object after image is placed. If you expect frequent updates of imported images in same template, you should consider to check this option.

 

external linking

This option is enabling (if checked) or disabling the external linking of being imported images by Krasbit Layouter macros. When bitmap is externally linked, then a low resolution copy of the source bitmap is placed on the stage. Using this technique improves the performance while working on the project and also significantly reduces the saved file size. But you must remember, that when you export pages with externally linked images they will be low-res until they had been resolved. It concerns to all export file formats except PDF.

 

Resolving of external bitmaps is reverse process to the external linking. When the bitmap link is being resolved, then the low-res copy of bitmap in the project is replaced by original high resolution image.

When you use  the standard CorelDRAW® Resolve command (available on Link manager window) then you won't be able to restore that link again cause all information about the source file will be cleared. In contrast to CorelDRAW way of handling with external bitmap, if you import bitmap via KrasbitLayouter macros, then you will be able to resolve or restore link to bitmap every time, regardless if it was already resolved.

 

Macros will add some extra information about the source to being imported bitmaps. That informations will not be deleted in case of links resolving. Moreover, they enabled to check for bitmap updates or make it externally linked even if it wasn't linked before! Macro Layouter.resolveLink (detailed in another chapter) can also fix another drawback of native CorelDRAW® Resolve command when aspect ratio of being resolved bitmap have been changed since last update operation.

 

When you export project including externally linked bitmaps to PDF, then CorelDRAW®automatically resolve that bitmaps on every export. This process can take a lot of time, especially in case of large source bitmaps and is done on every time, even if you wanted export PDF only for project review. Another drawback of resolving bitmaps while PDF exporting is that disproportionately stretching occur after the sources have been externally updated and have changed theirs aspect ratio. So it is recommended to resolve all bitmaps links manually by using macros when the project is finished before outputting PDF file.

WHEN YOU SHOULD USE EXTERNAL LINKING?

1. If your project will be containing or already have a large number of high resolution images and its size still growing.
2. If you want improve performance while editing projects which embedding high resolution bitmaps.

You can not only place image into prepared position at template, but also change size, crop, perspective or customly distort image via configuration of desired Krasbit Layouter placeholder import settings on selected shapes. By example let’s place that example images:

Alignment Reference Point

That options specifies anchor point / reference point. Default option to select is Center option as the one which works perfectly in most cases. However if you need images to start being placed from specific corner of your placeholder you have more options in list as:

• Top Right
• Top Middle
• Top Left
• Middle Left
• Center
• Middle Right
• Bottom Left
• Bottom Middle
• Bottom Right

No scale

This places the entire image in front of the object and aligns it based on the selected Alignment Reference Point. For example, if placed image is smaller than placeholder, the entire image will be visible and it will be touching the object based on the alignment selection. This option should be selected if the goal is to maintain the original size of the image and center or align to specific edge of placeholder

Scale to object 

This fits the entire image into the available placeholder space.  If the image does not have the same aspect ratio as the object, there will be blank space above and below or to the left and right.  The alignment  Alignment Reference Point is used to control where the image is located within the object.

Example scale to object result

Ignore aspect ratio (stretch to object)

This takes the image and will stretch it vertically or horizontally as required to fill the available space. As the full image is shown, albeit stretched, the Alignment Reference Point selections are ignored.

Scale and crop to longer edge

This enlarges the image to longer side at first step. If the image does not have the same aspect ratio as the object, then parts of the image will be cropped (outside of the object area) at second step.  The alignment mode can used to control which end of the image remains and which gets cropped. This option is available only for vector primitive shapes like rectangle placeholder.

Example result

Scale and crop to shorter edge

This enlarges the image to shorter side at first step then crops what is outside at second step. The alignment mode can used to control which end of the image remains and which gets cropped. This option should not produce any blank space. This option is available only for vector primitive shapes like rectangle placeholder.

Crop to object

This places the image in front of the object and displays only a portion of it based on the selected alignment mode and the images size. It basically put the image into powerclip so final look will be cropped if placed image is larger than placeholder. The visible part is determined by the Alignment Reference Point. This option is available only for vector primitive shapes like rectangle placeholder.

Fit to perspective curve

This feature does not work in LITE edition of Krasbit Layouter. You must own Trial / STANDARD / PRO / NFR edition.  See Version comparison table.
This places image in front of placeholder object and applies a perspective effect so image will perfectly fit into curve. This works similar to CorelDRAW perspective effect, but in contrast  - Krasbit Layouter works with bitmap images as well. Use this kind of alignment if you need make an pseudo 3D  visualization of your project. This option is available only for curve placeholder. When you are preparing perspective placeholder, you should start from rectangle, convert it to curve (CTRL+Q) then drag the corners to make desired perspective, set alignment mode on shape to “Fit to perspective”.

Example perspective result

 

TIP: You can find a lot of examples of each alignment option and how it affect placed image at Krasbit Layouter - Examples.pdf document and example files under Krasbit Layouter Data folder.

Example of use displacement map placeholder made from: gradient, shape and bitmap:

 

This feature does not work in LITE / STANDARD edition of Krasbit Layouter. You must own Trial / PRO / NFR edition.  See Version comparison table.

This is optional step. Use this tab if your project requires apply a custom distortion effect to placed image. The distortion is based on displacement map that might be prepared in advance as bitmap image or can be a vector shape that will generate displacement map runtime.

Displacement theory

There are 2 types of displacement maps that differs on how they are pushing pixels:

Grayscale map

Works if your input displacement map is given as grayscale image. Here are pixel offset directions that this map does:

• 50% black is neutral for pixel. Makes no movement to a pixel. Use this color like a mask. Region covered with neutral 50% gray will not change.
• White - moves pixel horizontally to the left and vertically upside. Pure white makes the maximum offset. That offset reduces smoothly as you use shades of gray between 0% of black up to neutral 50% gray.
  
• Black - moves pixel horizontally to the right and vertically downside. Pure black makes the maximum offset. That offset reduces smoothly as you use shades of gray between 100% of black down to neutral 50% gray
  

Color map

Works if your input displacement map is given as RGB image. It gives you more control for each possible axis. Instead of black and white, you have this colors to control offset: Yellow, Cyan, Blue and Magenta.

The more intense is the color the higher distance pixel is moved. Gray color makes no movement. Pixel movement directions for certain colors works as pictures shows:

Displace map OUT.

* this displace map will be pushing pixels out of image bounds. Created using Mesh Fill tool.

Displace map IN.

* this displace map will be pushing pixels into the center of image. Created using Mesh Fill tool

No distortion

Default option. Disables displace effect. No distortion made to  target import image placeholder

Displace to map

This option will displace imported image in second step after it is scaled or cropped due to alignment mode. Placeholder must be a color or grayscale bitmap that defines how to push pixels in custom direction. Use this option if you are familiar with displacement theory and can prepare a map in advance which will do desired effect perfectly.

Displace to shape

This mode will make displacement map automatically and on the fly for a given input vector shape like circle, ellipse, curve. Image is imported into rendered displacement map in second step. Displacement map IN will be based on colorful displace map covered with neutral gray mask made from the shape with custom amount of blur. Finally pixels at non - masked areas should be pushed into the center and overall picture get the look like shape's mask.

Make displacement map

This button will generate a displacement map from selected vector shape in advance so it can be adjusted or reused somewhere else in project.

 

Displacement suboptions

Displacement edge blurring

This suboption available only in Displace to shape mode. Specifies how many of blur to apply when neutral gray mask is applied on shape.

Displacement intensity horizontal

This is multiplier/ factor Controls how much intensive will be the displace effect in X axis.

Specify 0 to ignore pushing pixels in that axis regardless of displace map expectations

Displacement  intensity vertical

This is multiplier/ factor Controls how much intensive will be the displace effect in Y axis.

Specify 0 to ignore pushing pixels in that axis regardless of displace map expectations.

Inflate bitmap X

A number of transparent pixels to add to edges on x axis before applying displace effect.

Inflate bitmap Y

A number of transparent pixels to add to edges on y axis before applying displace effect.

 

Inflate matters in case when displace effect is pushing pixels out of original image boundary.

Without inflating bitmaps- final effect makes impression like image is cut. If inflate is used - pixels moved outside image are still visible on added space.

Inflate bitmap to map size

This checkbox toggles inflating as described above.

 

See more examples in Krasbit Layouter data files which will show you how to get different effects given by different maps and displacement settings

That options will let you control extra actions to made on imported or pasted image after the placement.

Mirror horizontally

Will flip image horizontally after it is placed in placeholder.

Mirror vertically

Will flip image vertically after it is placed in placeholder.

Optional Rasterization

Will let you rasterize image to given resolution and color mode after it is placed in placeholder. Example use case when you should consider to use rasterization:

• You will have a lot of thumbnail like images in your project  that will be imported from high resolution images and you want to downsample images on the fly (to avoid  much higher resolution than target printer supports). You will reduce file size while not lose any print quality.
• You intentionally want to flatten on the fly any imported vector images. This may help you to get more predictable look of project when it will be printed, regardless how much complexity and effects could be in imported file that is not available for your view at the moment of making template with placeholder.

Rasterize thumbnails

Select this checkbox to enable rasterization.

Resolution

Specify downsample resolution. If you are going to print project later suggested value is 300 dpi. If your goal is to share an electronic publication via email, lower values may be used to produce less filesize, but you should not specify value lower than 72 dpi.

Color Mode

Specify color mode that must be used on rasterized image. If you are going to print project based on your template later - select CMYK, otherwise RGB is best option.

Use one of test buttons available at bottom of Import & processing properties window:

• Image Import to object test
• Image paste to object test

Or, open Image utilities window

And use one of available options:

 Import image from file

 Import once image from file

 Paste Image from clipboard

Read more about that options at Image utilities

See example video that has been using prepared placeholder properties. You can Batch Import images from folder after you configure template properly: