Crop Image script
 

Howdy,

Keith Lang of Plasq fame asked me today how to crop an image in OmniGraffle, and I felt like I should have a better answer than our usual several-step process. It's not [I]that[/I] hard, but I really felt like it should be a one-step thing.

So, until we can improve the experience in the app, Lizard and I started on a little AppleScript that works kind of like the Intersect command in the Shapes submenu. Create a rectangle on top of the image you want to crop, select both objects, and run this script. Note that this only works properly when your original image is at its full original size.

Of course, you can always use the image placement controls in the Image inspector, but this is a nice little shortcut.

This is great! (At least until a more robust solution is in place - the current cropping process doesn't make sense to me.)

For those of us that didn't know anything about scripting in OmniGraffle until this post, here's how you make it work:
[LIST=1][*]First, you need to activate the Script Menu first. Launch AppleScript Utility, located inside AppleScript folder. You'll find it in /Applications/AppleScript/AppleScript Utility.
[*]Then, put the downloaded script in ~/Library/Scripts/Applications/OmniGraffle Pro (drop the Pro if you're using the Standard edition), where ~ is your home folder.
[*]Finally, while OmniGraffle is open, just click the Scripts menu (it shows up as a scroll icon on the right side of the menu bar) and choose the 'crop image' script.[/LIST]

I can't download the attachments.
Best Regards

[QUOTE=ChristianS;53894]I can't download the attachments.
Best Regards[/QUOTE]

What happens when you try? What are you doing to download them, and what browser are you using? I just successfully downloaded both by simply clicking on the links in Safari 3.2.1 running on 10.4.11...

Bill, thanks very much for this script, it will definitely save me some time. That said, a proper crop function is still as necessary as ever.

Two problems:

1. Cropping is not perfectly accurate. In my test, the cropped area is usually a little too low.

2. The resulting cropped image cannot be scaled without ruining the crop. This is part of OG's flawed image placement approach.

Anyway, I just thought I'd mention it. I understand there is work underway to improve cropping in OG.

[QUOTE=whpalmer4;53897]What happens when you try? What are you doing to download them, and what browser are you using? I just successfully downloaded both by simply clicking on the links in Safari 3.2.1 running on 10.4.11...[/QUOTE]

You need to register and login to download...

OBSOLETE in Omnigraffle 5
 

Script is obsolete for Omnigraffle 5

for [B]crop[/B]; in the image inspector, use ‘natural’ image display and the enhanced scale and shift sliders

No, the Script is not obsolete. As a matter of fact, the way through the image inspector is extremely awkward and completely not 'natural'.

The script works fine in OG Pro 5.

[QUOTE=Bill Van Hecke;48940]Howdy,

Keith Lang of Plasq fame asked me today how to crop an image in OmniGraffle, and I felt like I should have a better answer than our usual several-step process. It's not [I]that[/I] hard, but I really felt like it should be a one-step thing.

So, until we can improve the experience in the app,.....[/QUOTE]

As relative newbie I am *stunned* I can't alt/drag the boundaries of an image and crop it.

It's been over 3 years since the post above. Any progress?

Lee

We generally prioritize our work on the basis of the number of folks who are sending in the request, rather than absolute age.

This is one of the things that's under consideration for inclusion in a future version of the app, but there are a number of other outstanding requests with more customers attached. As well as a number of other requests that would be on that list if we hadn't already added them over the last three years. :-)

That said, I'll attach your post to the item on a Crop tool in our development database, so the rest of the team will know you'd like to see this added, too. Thanks!

Like Lee, I am also amazed that this utterly obvious feature is still absent, and that there have been 3 years' worth of more important things to work on. Cropping in Omnigraffle frustrates me almost every single time I use it, for the last 3 years. Anyone who has ever imported a bitmap into Omnigraffle (most users I'm sure) would be frustrated by the existing implementation. I guess most people don't send in feature requests :(

And every time a new Omnigraffle update comes out, the only revisions – I read them all, every time – are things which have never affected me.

I agree with your statements. I will send an email right now.

Thanks for the agreement folks ...

I thought it was just me. I think that maybe seasoned users would just know of this limitation and prepare the graphics prior to importing to OG. But lets face it, that takes way too long when working with tons of screen captures like I do.

These days I can't imagine a graphics app that can't crop an element. It's kind of assumed really ... every word processor, slideshow, video editor, image tool, even my generic text reader/editor can do it!

It is frustrating when an app's power users get most of the update attention. It's natural I suppose, they probably make the most requests. But it leads to apps getting harder to use for the larger user base who probably remain silent. Look at Microsoft Office ... it's incredibly feature heavy now, but trying to make a basic table is still hopeless. Excel is worse.

Once this state is reached, even asking for help becomes aggravating. Answers (though probably technically correct) evolve into advice on how to write scripts, expressions, macros and multilevel boolean searches!

As light user of OmniGraffle (though I can't work without it ) updates scare me ;-) Occasionally things just seem to get harder to use compared to years ago. I'm know it's more powerful ... but somewhere along the line the idea of simply connecting shapes and images together started to get obscured by layers of ... er... layers and inspectors and modifier keys.

Still a great tool .... maybe it just needs a "Stupid" mode for me!

Best

Lee

[QUOTE=Brian;105762]We generally prioritize our work on the basis of the number of folks who are sending in the request, rather than absolute age.

This is one of the things that's under consideration for inclusion in a future version of the app, but there are a number of other outstanding requests with more customers attached. As well as a number of other requests that would be on that list if we hadn't already added them over the last three years. :-)

That said, I'll attach your post to the item on a Crop tool in our development database, so the rest of the team will know you'd like to see this added, too. Thanks![/QUOTE]
Please add me to the list of folks strongly lobbying for cropping abilities.

I'd also like the crop tool to be implemented as a collection of any number of straight line segments, not merely a rectangle or oval.

Finally, the ability to scale the cropped image would be essential.

Thanks very much.

[QUOTE=tomk52;109293]Please add me to the list of folks ...[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, posting here isn't a route to that.

You would need to send a quick note through [B]Help > Send Feedback ...[/B]

I am also amazed that this utterly obvious feature is still absent, and that there have been 3 years' worth of more important things to work on. Cropping in Omnigraffle frustrates me almost every single time I use it, for the last 3 years. Anyone who has ever imported a bitmap into Omnigraffle (most users I'm sure) would be frustrated by the existing implementation. I guess most people don't send in feature requests :(

another +1 here, i.e. a paying customer who wants this feature prioritized.