and we can explore one of the coolest features
in Scribus: linked text frames, where text flows
seamlessly from one frame to the next.
Start by selecting the frame from which
all other frames will be linked. If you click
Link Text Frames from the main toolbar,
your mouse pointer will change to an image
of two text frames with a linking arrow.
When you click the next frame they will
be linked.
Now you never need worry about having
too much text for one box. Just write away to
your heart’s content and whatever doesn’t fit
in the first frame will simply run into the next.
You can do this multiple times to create
elaborate designs. You can link frames up or
down, in any direction. You can even skip over
other frames, leaving space in the middle.
Whenever you link multiple frames Scribus will
use arrows to show which frames are linked and
in which direction. You’ll know if a frame is linked
if you click it and you’re given the option to use
the Unlink Text Frames button. If you do so,
Scribus will actually point to the frame about to
be Unlinked, just to be helpful.Image frames
Inserting an image frame is the same process as a
text frame. Click the Insert Image Frame button
in the main toolbar, then click and drag the
dimensions of the frame to suit. Right-click inside
the frame and choose Get Image which opens
the file browser. Like text frames you need to
click the Insert Image Frame button each time
you want to make a new one.
As in the template section, your image will
probably be the wrong size and resolution for
the frame you’ve just made. To fix it, right-click
the image and choose Properties. In Properties
click the Image tab and choose Scale To Frame
Size.
If Proportional is checked, the image will
maintain its original aspect ratio. If so then there
will likely be some leftover bits of frame, so you’ll
need to move back the borders to suit the image.
If you leave Proportional unchecked the image
will be stretched to fill the frame.
For elements such as clipart and small logos,
you’ll probably want to have transparent
backgrounds. Transparent backgrounds enable
you to have a background colour, and placing a
new image over the top won’t leave clashing
borders or colours. It’ll also
help in the next two sections, with bold shapes
you want to layer over something else, or when
having text flow around a frame.Control layers
Once you start getting into images used within
layers, that’s where Scribus really starts to get
interesting. With layers you can create complex
imagery and work on parts of a scene
independently without upsetting anything else.
For instance, you can have a static background
image and then place your own images on top- which by the way, is a primary technique in
animation. In fact, if you think of an animator
with pieces of celluloid, where they stack
individual drawings over backgrounds, it’s the
same concept. Anything you do in one layer
won’t affect whatever is above or below it.
Indeed, if you try to approach Scribus from a
reference point of something perhaps like
1 Solid background
GIMP is the image editor used
by Scribus. First, make sure your image
has a solid background colour that can
be easily differentiated by the computer
from the rest of the image. White is good,
or green. You’ll need to add an Alpha
&KDQQHOLQWKH/D\HUVSDQHOÀUVWWKHQ«
2 Colour to Alpha
With your image open, from
the main menu click Colours > Colour to
Alpha, and click OK. If all goes well it
should detect everything automatically
and separate the object from the
background. If not, you may need to
use the Color Picker tool.3 Export your image
If you don’t have the option to
choose Colour to Alpha, change the
image WR5*%PRGHE\FOLFNLQJ
,PDJH!0RGH!5*%1RWHWKDW\RX
have to save your image as either a
31* RU*,)DV-3(*ÀOHVGRQ·WKDYH
background transparency.,9(<2853,&785(675$163$5(1&<:,7+,03
You can obtain templates from sites like opendesktop.org or they might be available in your
package manager. Some distros even include them with Scribus itself.
QUICK TIP
Print Preview is usually
set to a low resolution
and generally looks
quite rough. To smooth
everything out, click
Enable Antialiasing in
the Display Settings
field in the top-right
hand corner.44 |^ |^ December 2019