Framing your Images in MindManager

It is easy to add images to a MindManager map. You can take them from the library, insert an image from a file on your drive, drag or copy and paste them from other applications. Here are some ideas for framing the image.

Note: I started by adding the cartoon you see as a floating image and then copied it to the branches. This centres the image in the topic as opposed to taking the top, bottom, left or right postion.

The first option is to place the image in a simple rectangle topic shape, then margin is increased and fill colour added. Note: if you use a GIF image with a transparent background you will not get a frame.

The second option is to add a topic shape from those in the library and then adjust the margins to suit. You could also use a clip art image of a picture frame.

Click the map to see more detail: Frames for Images

Thanks to Simon Ellinas for the cartoon - me and my favourite Tablet PC the HP TC1100.

Adding new topic shapes to your MindManager library

In the MindManager Library there is a section called Shapes. It contains three folders: Ovals, Rectangles and Rounded Rectangles. Any of these shapes can be applied to a topic by dragging and dropping or selecting a topic and then clicking the required shape. This can be used to give another level of emphasis to your maps. If you need to change the colour of a shape or remove / add a dot, duplicate and then open in your image editor.

What about adding your own shapes to the library? Very easy add a new folder (right click the shapes folder) and then follow the instructions on my Creating New Topics Shapes in MindManager map.

I created a new shape from my logo by editing it and adding a boundary in Paint.net. I also gave a it a transparent background. Then I added it to Shape Library and used it for the central topic of the map. You can see in the map some of my choices may not be that clever. If the shape had been applied to the main or subtopics the background would not be an issue.

This morning I was creating a new shape from a sandcastle image during an online client training session. It soon be came apparent that the aspect ratio of the shape image is dependent on the text string height and width. You need to choose shapes that look good when crushed, stretched or otherwise distorted!

There are a few ways to mitigate the distortion:
1. Control the text width in Format Topic or by dragging the left and right text boundaries
2. Font size and type
3. Edit Content Margins in the Library Shape or Format Topic > Size and Margins. See the map.

Does anyone have some great examples of custom shapes in their MindManager maps?