Additional image options

The Basic, More, and Link tabs of the Smart Image Inspector contain additional image options, including defining alternative text for an image, opening the native application of an image, linking the image to a Universal Resource Locator (URL), specifying a Low Source version of the image, and embedding an ICC profile. (See Generating low source images and Using ColorSync with JPEG images (Mac OS).) Some of these image options are available in the context menu in the Layout Editor.

Alternative text is displayed in browsers that are configured not to display images; it is also used by voice-recognition software. Alternative text also appears in a browser window when a user's pointer hovers over the image (Windows only). Alternative text is useful in an image-based menu when the images haven't fully downloaded.

To enter alternative text for images:

1. Select the image or Smart Object on your Web page.
2. In the Basic tab of the Smart Image Inspector, type text in the Alt Text text box.

Note: It is highly recommended that you specify an Alt Text for all images. For instance, Alt Text can be read by certain software used by the visually impaired.

To activate a border around the image and adjust its width:

1. Select the image or Smart Object, and select Border in the Basic tab of the Smart Image Inspector.
2. Type in the desired border width in pixels, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS).

To assign a link to an image:

Select the image and do one of the following:

• In the Link tab of the Smart Image Inspector, specify a file for the link destination.
• Use the context menu to specify the link destination file.

Note: You can assign or modify an embedded link in a Smart LiveMotion object that contains variables. You can also update links embedded in an SVG file by using the In & Out Links palette. (See Working with variables in a LiveMotion file and Editing links in an SVG file.)

If Link Warnings is selected, a highlighted border will appear around each image that has a broken link attached to it. (See Fixing site errors.)

To use the Scale menu:

When you change a page template, you can specify how to scale a Smart Object used on a page. Choose one of the following options:

• Exact Fit to make the entire image visible in the specified area. No attempt is made to preserve the original aspect ratio. Distortion may occur.
• No Border to scale the image to fill the specified area and maintain the original aspect ratio of the image or media. Portions of the image or media may be cropped. No distortion occurs.
• Show All to make the entire image or media visible in the specified area and maintain the original aspect ratio of the image or media. No distortion occurs. Transparent or matte-colored borders may appear on two sides of the image or media.

To change the matte (background) color of a Smart Object:

1. Do one of the following:
• Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) a Smart Object to open the context menu.
• Drag a color from the Color palette onto the Smart Object. If you choose this method, you can skip Step 2.
2. Choose Set Matte Color To, then choose either None, White, Black, or Background (the background color of the Web page).

Note: Smart Illustrator objects optimized as SVG or SWF do not support the changing matte color feature.

To convert a Smart Object to a regular object:

1. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) a Smart Object.
2. Do one of the following:
• If your Smart Object is a bitmap image, choose Convert to Regular Image.
• If your Smart Object is an image in SVG or SWF format, choose Convert to Regular Plugin.
• If your Smart Object is a sliced Photoshop or Illustrator image, choose Convert to Regular Table.

Converting a Smart Object to a regular object is a way to effectively "de-link" the target file from that Source file. This way, if the source file is changed in any way, the target file image will no longer update to show these changes.