Image quality in PowerPoint

[Robin Chapple]

I am a new PowerPoint user, I have been using Publisher for many years
and have prepared images for use on websites for ten years.

My first attempt at adding images to a PowerPoint presentation has
been very disappointing. The image quality is very poor.

The images are professional, high quality photographs.

One image was a 14MB TIFF file and the rest have been JPG files in
excess of 1MB.

Is there a technique to maintain quality?

Thanks,

Robin Chapple

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I am a new PowerPoint user, I have been using Publisher for many years
and have prepared images for use on websites for ten years.

My first attempt at adding images to a PowerPoint presentation has
been very disappointing. The image quality is very poor.

The images are professional, high quality photographs.

One image was a 14MB TIFF file and the rest have been JPG files in
excess of 1MB.

Is there a technique to maintain quality?

In terms of pixel count, both images are probably WAY in excess of what's
needed in PPT, assuming that your end goal is a show that'll be displayed on
screen.

If that's indeed what you're doing, you'll want to start with images that match
the resolution your computer's video display's set to (ie, 1024x768 or the
like). Since you can't display more pixels on screen than there are pixels on
screen, something's going to have to downsample those images. Better to do it
in a good bitmap editing app so it only has to happen once, not every time the
image displays. And the dedicated bitmap editing app may do a better job of
it.

 

[Troy @ TLC]

This is an excellent explanation of how PPT using images and what setting
will give you optimal results:
http://pptxtreme.com/faq.htm (go to the 'resolution explained' link)

--
Best Regards,
Troy Chollar
TLC Creative Services, Inc.
troy at tlc creative dot com
www dot tlccreative dot com
==================================
A Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
==================================

 

[Robin Chapple]

This explanation is a bit heavy for a beginner. I thibk I followed all
of the advice but my imafes still lack definition.

 

[Troy @ TLC Creative]

Hello Robin,

I cannot recall your exact request in original post, but if you keep working
through this you will become the expert! Here is some additional information
that will hopefully help.

First, because I use adobe PhotoShop I can only say how I save my images
from it (other programs such as Paint, Corel, etc. do great, I am just not
familiar with their exact settings). So, if the PPT file is set to the
defaul 10"x7.5", here is a general explanation of how I size my images:
1. Open PhotoShop
2. Create a new image with these specifications:
Width = 1024
Height = 768
Resolution = 96
Color Mode = RGB
Background = Transparent
* This represents your actual slide size and images will import into PPT
at the size created here.
3. Open your image and import into the new 'master'
4. Adjust size of image to what you need on PPT slide. The goal is to not
import images that are to big because they increase your presentation more
than needed. On the other hand, you do not want to import images that are to
small because increasing their size in PPT creates lower quality images.
5. **If there is no tranparency go to IMAGE >> CROP.
6. Do a SAVE AS .jpg and use compression level 9.
7. Import image into PPT.

OR

5. **If there is transparency go to IMAGE >> TRIM and click okay.
6. Go to SAVE FOR WEB >> select PNG-24 from the Preset drop down >> be sure
TRANSPARENCY is checked >> SAVE.
7. Import image into PPT.

In addition, here is another good information resource on how image size
from image editing programs interact with PPT:
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00075.htm

--
Best Regards,
Troy Chollar
TLC Creative Services, Inc.
troy at tlc creative dot com
www dot tlccreative dot com
==================================
A Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
==================================

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

This explanation is a bit heavy for a beginner. I thibk I followed all
of the advice but my imafes still lack definition.

My first question would be "As compared to what?"
How were you viewing the images other than in PPT?
Can you describe the quality loss more specifically? What kind of images are
these?

Keep in mind that PowerPoint can't display any more image pixels than your
video is set for. In addition, it tries to antialias your images to reduce
jaggies. For many images this works out well but if you've got highly detailed
scans or maps or the like, it blurs the image.

 

[Robin Chapple]

My first question would be "As compared to what?"

I look at the image in PSP and I have imported into Publisher as a
full A$ image.

How were you viewing the images other than in PPT?
Can you describe the quality loss more specifically? What kind of images are
these?

They are very blurred as you describe below.

Keep in mind that PowerPoint can't display any more image pixels than your
video is set for.

I presume that the same video display is used for PP, PSP and
Publisher.

In addition, it tries to antialias your images to reduce
jaggies. For many images this works out well but if you've got highly detailed
scans or maps or the like, it blurs the image.

Thanks,

Robin Chapple

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

My first question would be "As compared to what?"

I look at the image in PSP and I have imported into Publisher as a
full A$ image.


They are very blurred as you describe below.

That would seem to be the root of the problem then? The anti-aliasing/blurring.
What's the intended use of the presentation? On-screen viewing only or will it
also be printed?

 

[Robin Chapple]

That would seem to be the root of the problem then? The anti-aliasing/blurring.
What's the intended use of the presentation? On-screen viewing only or will it
also be printed?

They will be on screen only

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

They are very blurred as you describe below.

They will be on screen only

Good ... in that case try the suggestion here:

MUSHY/BLURRY GRAPHICS in PowerPoint
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00065.htm

You want the dodge that involves embedding the image in a Windows Metafile.

I'd also downsample your images considerably; your target should be whatever the
maximum rez screen you'll display the presentation on. If that's, say 1024x768, any
resolution over that is pretty much wasted.

 

[Guest]

i think i know to the microsoft Power point Question ..in basic class

 

[Bill Dilworth]

We will need more information to help you.

What, specifically, was the question (since we are not in your class)? What
version of PowerPoint and what is it you were trying to accomplish?

--
Bill Dilworth
Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
===============
Please spend a few minutes checking vestprog2@
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answer most of our questions, before com
you think to ask them.

Change org to com to defuse anti-spam,
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