Editing Form XObjects

[TyrsSun09]

I would like to use the new action that was added in version 13 for flattening forms but I am using Pitstop Pro 12 and cannot upgrade to 13 due to the Mac OS I am running.

The problem I am having is editing forms, specifically resizing the form for adding bleeds.

I am using the edit form tool but when I try to resize the size of the form container it resizes the content also. Reading the Pitstop manual on this page https://www.enfocus.com/manuals/Referen ... 49927.html it says I am able to do this but it doesn't seem to work for me.

Is there a way to do this? I can cut the content out of the container and paste outside of it but this is not always the easiest solution.

[bens]

To edit a form without changing its content, you need to explicitly use the "Edit Forms" tool. If you use the normal select tool and the object handles, it will indeed resize the form content too. But in the "PitStop Edit" group you should find a "Edit Form" tool that can be used to edit the form bounding box itself, without scaling the content. It can be a bit finicky to use, but it works.

[TyrsSun09]

I am using the edit form tool, but I am unable to resize the form without resizing the content as well. I can move the form independently from the content but resizing is the problem. When I select only the form and try to resize it scales the content also.

I tried to attach a test file but I apparently do not have permission. Here is a link to a test file https://www.mediafire.com/file/tkx0p0h4 ... t.pdf/file not sure how long it will stay up.

I am just trying to add an .125 to the left and bottom of the form for bleed. The image and its crop box should already be in the correct position, so the only thing that needs to be adjusted is the form itself.

[bens]

I have no problem resizing the form by dragging the handle, as shown in this screenshot:


Don't press any buttons while dragging (except the left mouse button of course).

Note that while dragging the mouse cursor incorrectly shows the "move" icon (4 arrows), not the resize icon.

[TyrsSun09]

This does not work for me.

If I click a node it only moves the position and I am unable to resize.

Did this change in an update? I am on Pitstop Pro 22 Build 1378944. I am also on a Mac.

Guess I will just have to work around until I am able to update. Unless someone has another idea as to why this is not working?

[bens]

Does 22 already have the "Add bleed" action? If so, maybe it will already work for your use case. I know it had a feature to extend rectangular objects for a while, but I'm not 100% sure it'll work on this form.

[TyrsSun09]

The "Add Bleeds" action will sometimes work and sometimes not. But this was just for an example. It is not the only case that I would need to resize the forms, I just thought it would be the easiest way to explain the problem I am having.

[loicaigon]

HI,

I would question this statement: "The "Add Bleeds" action will sometimes work and sometimes not. "

In many cases, when bleed "doesn't work", that is explained by a content being just a tiny bit too far away from the trim and beyond the detection zone. For example, the detection is set to extend objects up to 0.01mm away from the trim but the object is actually 0.011mm away. Visually, the object is on the trim and should be extended but geometrically speaking, it's not and is not extended.

A typical way to confirm that theory is to increase the detection value to a greater value like 0.1 for ex.

Unless I am proven wrong.

Loic

[TyrsSun09]

HI,

I would question this statement: "The "Add Bleeds" action will sometimes work and sometimes not. "

In many cases, when bleed "doesn't work", that is explained by a content being just a tiny bit too far away from the trim and beyond the detection zone. For example, the detection is set to extend objects up to 0.01mm away from the trim but the object is actually 0.011mm away. Visually, the object is on the trim and should be extended but geometrically speaking, it's not and is not extended.

A typical way to confirm that theory is to increase the detection value to a greater value like 0.1 for ex.

Unless I am proven wrong.

Loic

Yes, I agree that the "Add Bleeds" works as it is supposed to and I understand why it does not always work for all files. "Add bleeds" does not have a problem resizing the form but I am unable to do so manually.

But like I said adding bleeds is not the only time resizing forms would come in handy. I have found work arounds but at this point just trying to figure out why I can't resize the same way bens was able to.

[TyrsSun09]

Update on this:

I was working with my test file and the resize form actually worked once. Like Bens said the 4 arrow move icon came up but it did resize the form only. I was worried that I had made this thread for nothing and wasted your time over looking the correct way to resize. BUT, after closing the file and trying again I have yet to be able resize them. So I am not sure if this is some kind of bug or if I am just not doing something correct but after trying again and again in different ways it will not work.

[TyrsSun09]

https://www.mediafire.com/file/78mcsbsx ... M.mov/file

Here is a screen recording of what is happening when I try to resize the form.