Inconsistent images displayed with PowerPoint

Hi Steve,

I do use Insert->Picture. Sorry for the slip in terminology.

I've not tried using a PNG. Worth a try. Generally use hi-res JPEGs.

The problem for photo pros like myself is that we must be able to count on
consistent rendering, in my own case stricly to a projector. Many of us have
gone to other programs, such as ProShow, when we're doing strictly
presentation of images. The quality is always there, slide after slide. The
drawback being programs of this type are terrible as interactive presentation
or instructional tools.

So when you say 'size it to the max projector resolution plus a little bit
extra' what is actually going on? If you're feeding it additional pixels
somebody is doing an interpolation, with a resulting loss in quality. Is
there any way to figure out exactly what PowerPoint is looking for to make
the highest quality output?

Thanks for your help!

"Steve Rindsberg" wrote:

> In article <32A8E960-8DFE-42B7-BB42-B367DCB741E7 RemoveThis @microsoft.com>, Adkman wrote:
> > I have never been able to get PowerPoint to consistently display photographs
> > that I've dropped onto slides.
>
> To begin with, don't drop photos onto slides. Use Insert, Picture, From File
> to bring them in.
>
> > Some are sharp, some are not. Two different
> > photos, the originals of which are perfectly fine, but sized to the same
> > dimensions, one looks great, the other does not.
> >
> > Is anyone aware of any info regarding what exactly goes on when a photo
> > image is rendered by the program? Is there a how-to about and pre-processing
> > that needs to be done to get max quality of photo images? What should images
> > be sized to for max quality? Is one file format better than another?
>
> How are you using the presentation? The requirements are different for
> on-screen presentations and, say, print presentations.
>
> For on-screen use, size the images to the maximum resolution supported by your
> projector ... usually 1024x768 ... plus a bit extra. Say 1200 pixels wide.
>
> For max quality, file size not an issue, use PNG.
>
> For good quality, generally smaller file sizes, use JPG with low compression.
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
> PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
> PPTools: www.pptools.com
> ================================================
>
>
>

> I do use Insert->Picture. Sorry for the slip in terminology.

No problem. It's just one of my pet rants and notion of dropping pictures triggers
it. Can't help myself. <g>

> I've not tried using a PNG. Worth a try. Generally use hi-res JPEGs.
>
> The problem for photo pros like myself is that we must be able to count on
> consistent rendering, in my own case stricly to a projector. Many of us have
> gone to other programs, such as ProShow, when we're doing strictly
> presentation of images. The quality is always there, slide after slide. The
> drawback being programs of this type are terrible as interactive presentation
> or instructional tools.
>
> So when you say 'size it to the max projector resolution plus a little bit
> extra' what is actually going on? If you're feeding it additional pixels
> somebody is doing an interpolation, with a resulting loss in quality. Is
> there any way to figure out exactly what PowerPoint is looking for to make
> the highest quality output?

Well here's the thing ... no matter *what* you do, PPT is going to do a certain
amount of antialiasing to images. All images. For most people, most uses, that
can be A Good Thing, because by and large it smooths images, helps eliminate the
jaggies. Unfortunately, you can't turn it off, even if you promise it that you're
a Trained Professional, know what you're doing, don't try this at home, kids, and
all that.

Given that it WILL antialias, I've always had better luck giving it some more
information to work with. The result is a bit more like downsampling from a high
rez image to the final needed size, rather than just blurring the image.

I know. That doesn't qualify as "exactly what PowerPoint is looking for" but it's
the best I got. <g>



>
> Thanks for your help!
>
> "Steve Rindsberg" wrote:
>
> > In article <32A8E960-8DFE-42B7-BB42-B367DCB741E7.TakeThisOut@microsoft.com>, Adkman wrote:
> > > I have never been able to get PowerPoint to consistently display photographs
> > > that I've dropped onto slides.
> >
> > To begin with, don't drop photos onto slides. Use Insert, Picture, From File
> > to bring them in.
> >
> > > Some are sharp, some are not. Two different
> > > photos, the originals of which are perfectly fine, but sized to the same
> > > dimensions, one looks great, the other does not.
> > >
> > > Is anyone aware of any info regarding what exactly goes on when a photo
> > > image is rendered by the program? Is there a how-to about and pre-processing
> > > that needs to be done to get max quality of photo images? What should images
> > > be sized to for max quality? Is one file format better than another?
> >
> > How are you using the presentation? The requirements are different for
> > on-screen presentations and, say, print presentations.
> >
> > For on-screen use, size the images to the maximum resolution supported by your
> > projector ... usually 1024x768 ... plus a bit extra. Say 1200 pixels wide.
> >
> > For max quality, file size not an issue, use PNG.
> >
> > For good quality, generally smaller file sizes, use JPG with low compression.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------
> > Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
> > PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
> > PPTools: www.pptools.com
> > ================================================
> >
> >
> >
>

-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

Thanks for giving me a little better idea what I'm dealing with. I will try
your suggestions...

"Steve Rindsberg" wrote:

> > I do use Insert->Picture. Sorry for the slip in terminology.
>
> No problem. It's just one of my pet rants and notion of dropping pictures triggers
> it. Can't help myself. <g>
>
> > I've not tried using a PNG. Worth a try. Generally use hi-res JPEGs.
> >
> > The problem for photo pros like myself is that we must be able to count on
> > consistent rendering, in my own case stricly to a projector. Many of us have
> > gone to other programs, such as ProShow, when we're doing strictly
> > presentation of images. The quality is always there, slide after slide. The
> > drawback being programs of this type are terrible as interactive presentation
> > or instructional tools.
> >
> > So when you say 'size it to the max projector resolution plus a little bit
> > extra' what is actually going on? If you're feeding it additional pixels
> > somebody is doing an interpolation, with a resulting loss in quality. Is
> > there any way to figure out exactly what PowerPoint is looking for to make
> > the highest quality output?
>
> Well here's the thing ... no matter *what* you do, PPT is going to do a certain
> amount of antialiasing to images. All images. For most people, most uses, that
> can be A Good Thing, because by and large it smooths images, helps eliminate the
> jaggies. Unfortunately, you can't turn it off, even if you promise it that you're
> a Trained Professional, know what you're doing, don't try this at home, kids, and
> all that.
>
> Given that it WILL antialias, I've always had better luck giving it some more
> information to work with. The result is a bit more like downsampling from a high
> rez image to the final needed size, rather than just blurring the image.
>
> I know. That doesn't qualify as "exactly what PowerPoint is looking for" but it's
> the best I got. <g>
>
>
>
> >
> > Thanks for your help!
> >
> > "Steve Rindsberg" wrote:
> >
> > > In article <32A8E960-8DFE-42B7-BB42-B367DCB741E7 DeleteThis @microsoft.com>, Adkman wrote:
> > > > I have never been able to get PowerPoint to consistently display photographs
> > > > that I've dropped onto slides.
> > >
> > > To begin with, don't drop photos onto slides. Use Insert, Picture, From File
> > > to bring them in.
> > >
> > > > Some are sharp, some are not. Two different
> > > > photos, the originals of which are perfectly fine, but sized to the same
> > > > dimensions, one looks great, the other does not.
> > > >
> > > > Is anyone aware of any info regarding what exactly goes on when a photo
> > > > image is rendered by the program? Is there a how-to about and pre-processing
> > > > that needs to be done to get max quality of photo images? What should images
> > > > be sized to for max quality? Is one file format better than another?
> > >
> > > How are you using the presentation? The requirements are different for
> > > on-screen presentations and, say, print presentations.
> > >
> > > For on-screen use, size the images to the maximum resolution supported by your
> > > projector ... usually 1024x768 ... plus a bit extra. Say 1200 pixels wide.
> > >
> > > For max quality, file size not an issue, use PNG.
> > >
> > > For good quality, generally smaller file sizes, use JPG with low compression.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----------------------------------------
> > > Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
> > > PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
> > > PPTools: www.pptools.com
> > > ================================================
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
> PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
> PPTools: www.pptools.com
> ================================================
>
>
>