Compressing pictures in Word does not work.

[Guest]

I am trying to reduce the size of a Word document(Windows XP Pro, Office XP
Pro, Word 2002,SP3) which includes inserted pictures. However after going
through the process of compressing the pictures (Format
Picture>Picture>Compress...), the size of the document does not change at
all, as if nothing happened. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TF]

Agreed: compression (and resizing) isn't really doing what it says on the
box. Solution, download a free graphics utility called IrfanView. This is a
brilliant utility for simple editing of practically all know graphics
formats: such as resizing, changing colour depth and dpi. Simply open or
copy your graphic into IrfanView, resize it, reduce dpi to 72dpi (if the
graphics is only going to be displayed) or around 144dpi for a graphic that
is going to be printed. Save it as a jpeg - or for really miniscule graphics
choose png - save to your local HDD and then insert them back into your
document. Inserting your graphic is better then pasting.

--
Terry Farrell - Word MVP
http://word.mvps.org/


:I am trying to reduce the size of a Word document(Windows XP Pro, Office XP
: Pro, Word 2002,SP3) which includes inserted pictures. However after going
: through the process of compressing the pictures (Format
: Picture>Picture>Compress...), the size of the document does not change at
: all, as if nothing happened. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the suggestion. Irfanview looks interesting. I've downloaded it
and will give it a try. However, I already have other options for reducing
the file size of individual pictures. Moreover, reducing the size of my
document would entail making duplicate low resolution copies of all my
pictures and then replacing each of the orginal pictures in the document with
the low resolution version. I was hoping the compress feature of Word would
eliminate the need to do that. Are you saying that the compress just doesn't
work at all?

 

[TF]

My experience is that is doesn't. Sort of proof of the pudding is how would
the Restore option (in Format Picture dialog) work if Word isn't actually
saving the original data?

However, if you want to 'blast' them all in one go, I believe that Picture
Editor (part of the Office Suite) will let you crop, size or compress en
masse. I've not used it myself, but maybe Suzanne (who I know uses it) may
pop in here with some guidance.

If you need to get all the pictures out of your document, use SaveAs to make
an HTML copy of the document. When you do this, all pictures are saved to a
different file.

Terry

: Thanks for the suggestion. Irfanview looks interesting. I've downloaded it
: and will give it a try. However, I already have other options for reducing
: the file size of individual pictures. Moreover, reducing the size of my
: document would entail making duplicate low resolution copies of all my
: pictures and then replacing each of the orginal pictures in the document
with
: the low resolution version. I was hoping the compress feature of Word
would
: eliminate the need to do that. Are you saying that the compress just
doesn't
: work at all?
:
: "TF" wrote:
:
: > Agreed: compression (and resizing) isn't really doing what it says on
the
: > box. Solution, download a free graphics utility called IrfanView. This
is a
: > brilliant utility for simple editing of practically all know graphics
: > formats: such as resizing, changing colour depth and dpi. Simply open or
: > copy your graphic into IrfanView, resize it, reduce dpi to 72dpi (if the
: > graphics is only going to be displayed) or around 144dpi for a graphic
that
: > is going to be printed. Save it as a jpeg - or for really miniscule
graphics
: > choose png - save to your local HDD and then insert them back into your
: > document. Inserting your graphic is better then pasting.
: >
: > --
: > Terry Farrell - Word MVP
: > http://word.mvps.org/
: >
: >
: > : > :I am trying to reduce the size of a Word document(Windows XP Pro,
Office XP
: > : Pro, Word 2002,SP3) which includes inserted pictures. However after
going
: > : through the process of compressing the pictures (Format
: > : Picture>Picture>Compress...), the size of the document does not change
at
: > : all, as if nothing happened. Any help would be appreciated.
: >
: >
: >

 

[Ben T]

Have you tried this:
1. Select one picture
2. Format > Object > Picture > Compress > All pictures in document > Print
resolution 200 dpi > check compress pictures > check Delete cropped areas of
pictures > OK > OK > Save as: a new name.
HTH
Ben

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I guess you're referring to Microsoft Office Picture Manager? Yes, you can
use it to compress graphics, but you still have to go outside Word to do it,
so it won't help the OP.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[TF]

That's what isn't working. Word still stores all the graphic - otherwise
RESET wouldn't work.

Terry

: Have you tried this:
: 1. Select one picture
: 2. Format > Object > Picture > Compress > All pictures in document >
Print
: resolution 200 dpi > check compress pictures > check Delete cropped areas
of
: pictures > OK > OK > Save as: a new name.
: HTH
: Ben
:
:
: : >I am trying to reduce the size of a Word document(Windows XP Pro, Office
XP
: > Pro, Word 2002,SP3) which includes inserted pictures. However after
going
: > through the process of compressing the pictures (Format
: > Picture>Picture>Compress...), the size of the document does not change
at
: > all, as if nothing happened. Any help would be appreciated.
:
:

 

[Ben T]

Terry
When you compress the photo it is not saved. The compressed photo must be
saved (save as
and renamed. Now your directory will have two photos, one without
compression and one compressed. You can now see the difference in the sizes.
Ben

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi J.R.,

Office XP (Word 2002) [that you're using] had the
the first implementation of the Compress Picture feature
(developed basically for Powerpoint). The Office 2003 (Word 2003)
one works a bit better, but the feature is not always what folks think it is
(or should be).

How well it works will depend on the graphic content, it's
format/type and some other Word internal settings. What the feature
searches for is a large area of 'same color' if it finds it it
can, rather than store each pixel, use VML (Virtual Markup Language)
internally to save a start and ending point for that color and
reduce the size of the document.

Keep in mind that Word on its own doesn't do too bad of a job on
compressing graphics (again depends on the graphic format and the
graphic content).

To illustrate - this image is 800 pixels by 800 pixels
http://aac.sunrise.it/eclissi/terra_110899_1200-800x800.jpg
A. Save it to your hard drive and note the file size.

B. Next, start a blank Word document and in Tools=>Options=>General
Web Options set the Pixel Per Inch resolution for Pictures to 300.

C. Now use Insert=>Picture from File to put the saved picture into Word,
then save the document and note the file size that includes the
graphic and compare that to the graphic on its own.

D. Now, use the Compress picture feature and select the (o)Print 200 ppi
setting and use File=>Save as to save the document to a new file name.

E. Now use the Compress picture feature and select 96PPI and save to
another new file name and compare the file sizes.

Okay, now using the same graphic start with Step B but set the PPI
value to 72 and repeat each step creating new files each time.

Note that when you start with 72PPI that Word can't "compress"
to a 96PPI or 200PPI value as it's already working with 'less'
as far as the settings go.

==========
Thanks for the suggestion. Irfanview looks interesting. I've downloaded it
and will give it a try. However, I already have other options for reducing
the file size of individual pictures. Moreover, reducing the size of my
document would entail making duplicate low resolution copies of all my
pictures and then replacing each of the orginal pictures in the document with
the low resolution version. I was hoping the compress feature of Word would
eliminate the need to do that. Are you saying that the compress just doesn't
work at all? >>
--
Let us know if this helped you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

For Everyday MS Office tips to "use right away" -
http://microsoft.com/events/series/administrativetipsandtricks.mspx

 

[Ben T]

Bob Buckland
Thank you for the excellent and comprehensive explanation on the compress feature in Microsoft Word. I have made a copy and will be using it to explain this feature to my associates.
Ben

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi J.R.,

Office XP (Word 2002) [that you're using] had the
the first implementation of the Compress Picture feature
(developed basically for Powerpoint). The Office 2003 (Word 2003)
one works a bit better, but the feature is not always what folks think it is
(or should be).

How well it works will depend on the graphic content, it's
format/type and some other Word internal settings. What the feature
searches for is a large area of 'same color' if it finds it it
can, rather than store each pixel, use VML (Virtual Markup Language)
internally to save a start and ending point for that color and
reduce the size of the document.

Keep in mind that Word on its own doesn't do too bad of a job on
compressing graphics (again depends on the graphic format and the
graphic content).

To illustrate - this image is 800 pixels by 800 pixels
http://aac.sunrise.it/eclissi/terra_110899_1200-800x800.jpg
A. Save it to your hard drive and note the file size.

B. Next, start a blank Word document and in Tools=>Options=>General
Web Options set the Pixel Per Inch resolution for Pictures to 300.

C. Now use Insert=>Picture from File to put the saved picture into Word,
then save the document and note the file size that includes the
graphic and compare that to the graphic on its own.

D. Now, use the Compress picture feature and select the (o)Print 200 ppi
setting and use File=>Save as to save the document to a new file name.

E. Now use the Compress picture feature and select 96PPI and save to
another new file name and compare the file sizes.

Okay, now using the same graphic start with Step B but set the PPI
value to 72 and repeat each step creating new files each time.

Note that when you start with 72PPI that Word can't "compress"
to a 96PPI or 200PPI value as it's already working with 'less'
as far as the settings go.

==========
Thanks for the suggestion. Irfanview looks interesting. I've downloaded it
and will give it a try. However, I already have other options for reducing
the file size of individual pictures. Moreover, reducing the size of my
document would entail making duplicate low resolution copies of all my
pictures and then replacing each of the orginal pictures in the document with
the low resolution version. I was hoping the compress feature of Word would
eliminate the need to do that. Are you saying that the compress just doesn't
work at all? >>
--
Let us know if this helped you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

For Everyday MS Office tips to "use right away" -
http://microsoft.com/events/series/administrativetipsandtricks.mspx

 

[Guest]

If you have Word saving Versions of the file it will record the large version
of the picture and hold on to it no matter how much you try to compress. Try
going into File > Versions, and deleting the whole version history on your
document (Don't even leave one) then go back through the compression steps
and save again. This took my 11 Meg file I was wrestling with down to 100k.

 

[TF]

Yes, that is correct. Word stupidly 'remembers' these original settings so
that you can 'restore'! Personally, if I am going to add many graphics or
pictures to a document, I always open them in a graphics editor, resize and
resample them to the desired size for the document and save them as JPEGs.
Then I insert them into my documents. I use the free to download IrfanView
for this as it does everything needed and will open and convert virtually
any graphics format you need.

 

[Guest]

I had the same issue and could not believe there was a easy way of correcting
this.
Well there seems to be a easy way after all.
Click on your picture after it is sized the way you want it.
Make sure you have nothing grouped with it.
Cut the picture.
Paste special (Edit Past special)
Choose the format you want to paste it as. (I use PNG)
JPG compresses more but leaves a border I do not want.
You pictures are now the size you wanted
Do all the pictures and watch your file size go down.

 

[COLDMAST]

I do appreciate the feedback of Microsoft.

Perhaps the "compress pictures" feature is simply broken inside of Word
2002. I have searched many forums and can only find workarounds such as using
external image editors (this comes from Microsoft Employees) rather then
getting this feature to work.

This feature works fine in Word 2003.

Is Microsoft willing to either state that this feature doesn't work in 2002,
or give me the require detailed instructions on how to properly get this
feature to work without any work-arounds that would require going through
each image separately in an external editor.

 

[Terry Farrell]

No one speaks for Microsoft here.