When designing templates, text and images may need to adjust dynamically based on content length. Without proper setup, text can overflow its frame or overlap other elements, disrupting the layout. This article covers two key features—Auto-Grow and Anchors—that help ensure text and images adjust seamlessly within a template.


  • Auto-Grow: Expands a text frame dynamically when content exceeds its original size.
  • Anchors: Link elements together so they adjust in relation to one another, preventing overlap.
  • Frame Tags: Used to name frames for easier reference when setting up anchors (distinct from tags in Workflow or DAM).


By using these features, you can maintain a clean, professional layout without manual resizing.



TABLE OF CONTENTS






Enable Auto-Grow for Text Frames

Auto-Grow allows a text frame to expand dynamically instead of shrinking the text size. 

  1. Select the text frame you want to expand.
  2. Navigate to the Text panel.
  3. Enable Auto-Grow Frame.
  4. Set the growth direction (e.g., down).
  5. Adjust the minimum and maximum size as needed.
  6. Set the increment size to at least 1mm to ensure smooth performance.
  7. (Optional) Restrict expansion to the page for readability.

 

text frame options


Using increments smaller than 1mm can slow down CHILI's processing, so it's best to avoid ultra-fine adjustments.




Name Frames with Tags for Easy Reference

Before setting up anchors, it's helpful to tag frames. Frame tags serve as internal names for better organization.

  1. Select the frame you want to name.
  2. Navigate to the Frame panel.
  3. In the Frame Location section, add a tag (e.g., “Title of Webinar” or “Speaker Name”).
  4. Repeat for the other frames you want to reference.

 

frame location


These tags only serve as labels within templates—unlike tags in Workflow or the Digital Asset Manager (DAM), they don’t affect search or metadata.




Set Up Anchors to Maintain Layout

Anchors ensure that elements move together when one expands.


Anchor Elements Vertically

To keep elements aligned when a text frame expands:

  1. Select the element that needs to move (e.g., a subtitle or speaker name).
  2. Navigate to the Frame panel and locate the Anchors section.
  3. Set your anchor point of the selected frame that will target another frame (e.g., the top)
  4. Choose Frame as the Target and select the targeted Frame (e.g., “Title of Webinar”).
  5. Set the Point of the targeted Frame you want to anchor to (e.g., “Bottom”).
  6. (Optional) Add an offset value (e.g., 0.25 inches) to maintain spacing.
  7. (Optional) Set minimum and maximum movement limits if necessary and to prevent elements from going off the page.


vertical anchors

 


Anchor Elements Horizontally

To adjust elements when text expands sideways:

  1. Select the element that should shift horizontally (e.g., a speaker’s headshot).
  2. Navigate to the Frame panel and locate the Anchors section.
  3. Set your anchor point of the selected frame that will target another frame (e.g., the left)
  4. Choose Frame as the Target and select the targeted Frame (e.g., “Title of Webinar”).
  5. Set the Point of the targeted Frame you want to anchor to (e.g., “Right”).
  6. (Optional) Add an offset value (e.g., 0.25 inches) to maintain spacing.
  7. (Optional) Set minimum and maximum movement limits if necessary and to prevent elements from going off the page.


horizontal anchors


Anchoring ensures that images or text boxes adjust dynamically without breaking alignment.