Outputting rotated bitmaps to PDF

[Kevin]

I'm running PPT 2003 on XP.

I have a presentation where one bitmap graphic has been rotated. When I
try to output it to a PDF, using the Acrobat printer or outputing a
PostScript file and using Distiller, I get the same crappy results. It
looks like it was turned into a super-low res graphic and none of the
text in it is even close to readable.

I'm not sure if the original format of the graphic file. It's either a
GIF, JPEG, or was cut/pasted from another PPT file in which case who
knows. But, I think it's a GIF.

I've tried various settings in Acrobat for compression, etc.

I tried the trick where you cut the graphic and paste special in a
different format -- some of these improved it, but none fixed it.

Is this just a limitation or is there a solution other than rotating
the graphic in Photoshop?

thanks,
Kevin

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I'm running PPT 2003 on XP.

I have a presentation where one bitmap graphic has been rotated. When I
try to output it to a PDF, using the Acrobat printer or outputing a
PostScript file and using Distiller, I get the same crappy results. It
looks like it was turned into a super-low res graphic and none of the
text in it is even close to readable.

Has anything else been done to the graphic (ie, has it been made transparent?)

If you can spin out a file with just this slide in it, I'd be happy to have a
look. Email to steve atsign pptools dot com and include a reminder in the body
of the email of what this is about; also let me know your Acrobat version.

I'm not sure if the original format of the graphic file. It's either a
GIF, JPEG, or was cut/pasted from another PPT file in which case who
knows. But, I think it's a GIF.

I've tried various settings in Acrobat for compression, etc.

I tried the trick where you cut the graphic and paste special in a
different format -- some of these improved it, but none fixed it.

Is this just a limitation or is there a solution other than rotating
the graphic in Photoshop?

thanks,
Kevin

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================

 

[Kevin]

Has anything else been done to the graphic (ie, has it been made transparent?)

No. I learned the transparency lesson a while ago. Originally had a PPT
shadow, but turning that off didn't matter. I even rebuilt the graphic
as a PNG to see how a different format would fair, and not so good
either.

If you can spin out a file with just this slide in it, I'd be happy to have a
look. Email to steve atsign pptools dot com and include a reminder in the
body
of the email of what this is about; also let me know your Acrobat version.

I'll take you up on your offer, although I've already worked around it
by rotating it in Photoshop -- bigger graphic but it works.

Acrobat 5.

thanks,
Kevin

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thanks, Kevin.

I got your files (thanks for thinking to send the PDF as well ... sure does make
the problem obvious!)

I'll post back here after I've had a chance to look at it a bit.

No. I learned the transparency lesson a while ago. Originally had a PPT
shadow, but turning that off didn't matter. I even rebuilt the graphic
as a PNG to see how a different format would fair, and not so good
either.


I'll take you up on your offer, although I've already worked around it
by rotating it in Photoshop -- bigger graphic but it works.

Acrobat 5.

thanks,
Kevin

--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi Kevin,

Got it figured.

In PPT 2002 and later, there's an option that has PPT automatically dump
inserted pictures into a placeholder (even creating a placeholder automatically
if there's none already on the slide). This was active when this graphic was
added to your slide.

To fix:
First, choose Tools, AutoCorrect Options
On the "AutoFormat As You Type" tab, remove the checkmark next to "Automatic
Layout for inserted objects". Throw it on the ground. Spit on it. Douse it
with gasoline. Light it. Stomp on the ashes. Bury them. Have everybody
within range of your voice and email do the same. Do you get the impression
I'm not fond of this "feature"? Good. ;-)

Now that it's safe to come out ...

Click the graphic to select it
On the picture toolbar or the picture formatting dialog box, choose Reset
Picture (sets it back to its original size and no rotation)

Choose Edit, Copy
Choose Edit, Paste
That gives you a copy of the picture AS a picture, not a placeholder.

Delete the original picture.

Now rotate, scale and position the image to taste and make PDF.
Ahhhhhhh..................



--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================

 

[Kevin]

Hi Kevin,


To fix:

...

Ahhhhhhh..................

Gee, and it was so obvious. Why didn't I think of that.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Gee, and it was so obvious. Why didn't I think of that.

Well. Maybe not. That worked in PPT2003+Acrobat6+Win2000/SP3
Things are a bit different in PPT2002+Acrobat5+Win2000/SP3

Neither exactly matches what you're using, correct? But I don't have the right
combo set up here.

While this set of tricks seems to improve things a bit in the latter mix, it's
not giving me the results I got with Acrobat6/PPT2003; neither did several
other variations on that theme.

Do you have the original image that this came from? I'm curious to see if
there's anything odd about it. Same email address is fine.



--
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Featured Presenter, PowerPoint Live 2004
October 10-13, San Diego, CA www.PowerPointLive.com
================================================