Unusual graphics and caption placement

Question

Here is a picture from an Oxford University Press publication, showing two images a small one at the left and a larger one at the right. The unusual part is that the caption of the right image is also placed on the left page.

I am sure there might be another way and I tried a couple, but in order to achieve the layout, I placed the captions using the header of the left page.

There are two issues that concern me.

1. First is to ensure that no more than one image floats on the left page (otherwise the captions will all go amiss). To try and prevent it I have set, the \topnumber=1. I would however like to have this one changed later on. At what point will it be safe to change it?

2. Adding the images to the List of Figures (can't use normal techniques) since both captions appear on the same page, but the images on different pages.

My aim is to have a fully automated solution without any author intervention other than to type the relevant two-image macro \doubletakeimage{matron}{stuartpearson}.

The MWE is simplified a bit, as I took out the width and height calculations as well as additional formatting commands. Also the captions are currently fixed for ease of readability and specified in the ps@caption command.

\documentclass{book}
\makeatletter
\usepackage[showframe=true]{geometry}

\newgeometry{left=74.8mm,top=27.4mm,headsep=2\baselineskip,%
marginparsep=8.2mm,marginparwidth=49.4mm,textheight=49\baselineskip,headheight=\baselineskip}
\@twosidefalse \@mparswitchfalse % one side option
\reversemarginpar
            
%% Stick the caption in the head might as well place the first picture also?
\def\asidecaption{\parbox{4.2cm}{{\bfseries Image \thefigure}\par\lorem}%
      }
\def\ps@caption{%
     \let\@oddfoot\@empty\let\@evenfoot\@empty%
    \def\@evenhead{%
        \begin{picture}(0,0)%
            \refstepcounter{figure}
           \put(-150,-80){\asidecaption\par}%
            \refstepcounter{figure}
           \put(-150,-370){\asidecaption}%
        \end{picture}%
      }%
    \let\@oddhead\@evenhead%
    \let\@mkboth\@gobbletwo%
    \let\chaptermark\@gobble%
    \let\sectionmark\@gobble%
 }
\def\doubletakeimage#1#2{%
  \renewcommand{\topfraction}{.95}  % ensure seecond image will not float away
  \begin{figure}[t]
    \thispagestyle{caption}
    \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{#1}%
  \end{figure}
  \begin{figure}[tp]
   \hspace*{-\marginparwidth}\includegraphics[height=0.9\textheight]{#2}
 \end{figure}
}
\newcommand\lorem{Fusce adipiscing justo nec ante. Nullam in enim.
 Pellentesque felis orci, sagittis ac, malesuada et, facilisis in,
 ligula. Nunc non magna sit amet mi aliquam dictum. In mi. Curabitur
 sollicitudin justo sed quam et quadd. \par}

\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\graphicspath{{chapters/}}

\renewcommand{\topfraction}{.95}
\renewcommand{\bottomfraction}{.7}
\renewcommand{\textfraction}{.04}
\renewcommand{\floatpagefraction}{.92} % have a high one don't encourage it
\setcounter{topnumber}{1}
\setcounter{bottomnumber}{0}
\setcounter{totalnumber}{3}
\begin{document}

\doubletakeimage{matron}{stuartpearson}
\lipsum[1-4]
\doubletakeimage{matron}{stuartpearson}
\lipsum[1-4]
\end{document}

Any suggestions to alternatives and improvements in the coding are welcomed and appreciated.

Answer 1

The MWE below is a kludge because forcing a page break prevents the float of the first image, so the position of \doubletakeimage need to be adjusted carefully, but solved (so awkward, I admit) the problem of the list of figures.

\documentclass[twoside]{book}

\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{captdef}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\usepackage{lipsum} 

\def\doubletakeimage#1#2{%
\pagebreak[4]\marginpar{
\figcaption[little caption fig 1]{This is the first very long caption that is linked to the figure 1}
\vspace{9cm}
{Figure \ref{fig:bigger}. This is a second (fake) very long caption for the right figure in the next page}}
\renewcommand{\topfraction}{.95}  % hard float
\begin{figure}[h]% left-side figure
\framebox{
\begin{minipage}[t]{1\columnwidth}%
%   \includegraphics[height=0.9\textheight]{#1}    
Some image called #1 here 
\vspace{5cm}\\
\end{minipage}}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[t]% right-side figure

\vspace{2cm}\textcolor{red}{\caption[little caption
fig 2]{\label{fig:bigger}This is the true caption that will be hidden by the image}}\vspace{-2cm}
\framebox{
\begin{minipage}[t]{1\columnwidth}%
%\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{#2}
Some other bigger image named #2 here
\vspace{7cm}
\end{minipage}}
\end{figure}
}

\begin{document}
\listoffigures
\vspace{3cm}
\section*{Odd page without figures, see next page}
\lipsum[1-2]
\doubletakeimage{matron}{stuartpearson}
\lipsum[1-10]
\end{document}

Edit

This modification avoid force page breaks. As he two figure are true floats, now it is not necessary find an exact position. Is enough to put \doubletakeimage somewhere between the first paragraphs of the even page (Not anywhere: if too low the first float could jump to the next page). The vertical position of the second caption is controlled by the position of the macro itself, as will appear at the same level (really is only a margin note).

% remember to pdflatex this MWE twice ! 
\documentclass{book}
\usepackage[
asymmetric,
marginparsep=.1\textwidth,
marginpar=.3\textwidth,
tmargin=2cm,bmargin=2cm,
left=7cm,right=2cm]{geometry}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{captdef}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\usepackage{lipsum} 
\usepackage[margincaption,
 outercaption,raggedright]{sidecap}
\usepackage{marginnote}
\sidecaptionvpos{figure}{t} 
\usepackage{fancyhdr}
\fancyhead{}
\fancyfoot{}
\fancyfoot[RO, LE] {\thepage}
\fancyfoot[LO, RE] {\leftmark }
\renewcommand{\footrulewidth}{1pt}
\renewcommand{\headrulewidth}{0pt}
\pagestyle{fancy}

\def\doubletakeimage#1#2{% The macro

\begin{SCfigure}[t!] % left-side figure
\includegraphics
[width=\textwidth,height=\textheight,keepaspectratio]{#1}    
\caption[Little caption #1]{
\\ \rule{\linewidth}{0.15em} \bfseries 
Long caption of figure #1. 
\\ \rule{\linewidth}{0.15em} }
\end{SCfigure}

\begin{figure}[t!]% right-side figure
\vspace{2em} %  True  hidden caption
\caption[Little caption #2]{\label{fig:#2}} 
\vspace{-4.2em} 
\hspace{-0.4\textwidth}
\includegraphics[width=1.4\textwidth,
 height=\textheight,keepaspectratio]{#2}
\end{figure}
\marginnote{\raggedright 
 Figure \ref{fig:#2}. (next page) \\ 
\rule{\linewidth}{0.15em} \bfseries 
This is the fake long caption of figure #2.   \\ 
\rule{\linewidth}{0.15em}}
}

\begin{document}
\listoffigures
\chapter{Two figures}
\section{Searching a good place}
\lipsum[1-5] % body text page 3 
\lipsum[5] % good place for the macro 
\lipsum[6] % good place too in "Sed commodo" paragraph  
\doubletakeimage{matron}{stuartpearson}
\lipsum[7] % also can be good place 
\lipsum[8] % still there are room here 
\lipsum[9] % too late to use the macro
\lipsum[10-16] % wait to page 6 to use the macro
\end{document}