Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Thanks for the new custom layout features and instructional video.
Is there a way to add CELLs to a layout, not just a print size? Cells like you can do in Lightroom and like you could do in a desktop publishing program or wordprocessor.
I will try to explain what I want to do without illustrations.
On say an 8.5x11 piece of standard paper and using custom layout I place a 5x5 inch CELL. I would like that cell to never change size and never move and when I add an image to that cell it would not be cropped. IE I drop a 2x3 format picture into the 5x5 cell the long side of the picture goes to 5 inches but the short side of the image (appx 3.5) does not crop but is centered in the remaining white space.
The only options that I am able to understand give me the choice of the photo crops to 5x5 or the SIZE would change to approximately 3.5x5 thereby changing my page layout.
In practice I want to have a greeting card template or layout, whatever word you prefer, that never changes and I can add an image that will center itself in the hole.
Thank you very much.
Jason

I assume you are talking about the new video on layout features:

https://youtu.be/flIrKPVzwoQ

When you create layouts, those red templates (pictured at say 3:40 in the video) are cells!  So just create your custom layout per that video, save it, and when you open the layout, the red templates (cells if you want to use the Lightroom term) will behave exactly as you describe.  Be sure before you save the layout to turn the auto crop (button on the Prints tab) off since you want non-cropped pictures in your template/cell locations.

Regards,
Mike

Like this???

I think Jason is talking about the attached.  You can see the layout that I created on the left side: with one template (cell if you wish) placed in a location for a two fold greeting card.  On the right you can see where I added an image: the image automatically fills the red template/cell in the center without cropping the image because I had crop turned off.  I intentionally made a wide/skinny crop so you can see what I'm talking about.

Mike

Thank you, that does seem to be exactly what I am talking about. I will try again, likely I am missing a step. In previous attempts with a hypothetical 5x5 "cell, template, frame, place holder" the only two outcomes I could get would be the image would crop to fit, which sometimes is okay, or the "cell" would change its size (IE 3.5x5 in my example) to accommodate also changing the layout on the page. The ideal for me is the uncropped image to center in the locked-down never-changing cell.
Thank you again for taking the time Mike. I know you have written a very powerful program, I am just trying to unleash more of your hard work.
I will review and work a little harder.
Jason

Thank you, it is doing just what I wanted. Now if I can just repeat it. :)