Embedded Word docs have fuzzy fonts in slide show - any solution?

[Kasama]

I have embedded Word docs in Powerpoint becuase they include equation objects
as inline graphics mixed with text, which don't copy and paste into
PowerPoint text boxes. As embedded Word docs they look fine in PowerPoint
editing mode, but are terrible when running the actual slide show -- font
edges are all fuzzy. Is there a solution other than laboriously converting
all Word docs into bitmaps (which can't be edited subsequently and make file
size huge?). The Word docs are fine when embedded into Excel, why so bad with
Powerpoint?

 

[Echo S]

How are you embedding the documents?

If you right-click one and choose Format Object, is the size proportionate
on the Size tab, or is the aspect ratio off?

 

[Bill Dilworth]

Or, if you paste special as a JPG, you will get the typical JPG pinging that
happens near color changes. If you paste special => image type, try using a
PNG, EMF or other non-lossy compression format image.


--
Bill Dilworth
A proud member of the Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
http://billdilworth.mvps.org
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
vestprog2@ Please read the PowerPoint FAQ pages.
yahoo. They answer most of our questions.
com www.pptfaq.com
..

How are you embedding the documents?

If you right-click one and choose Format Object, is the size proportionate
on the Size tab, or is the aspect ratio off?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

I have embedded Word docs in Powerpoint becuase they include equation
objects
as inline graphics mixed with text, which don't copy and paste into
PowerPoint text boxes. As embedded Word docs they look fine in PowerPoint
editing mode, but are terrible when running the actual slide show -- font
edges are all fuzzy. Is there a solution other than laboriously
converting
all Word docs into bitmaps (which can't be edited subsequently and make
file
size huge?). The Word docs are fine when embedded into Excel, why so bad
with
Powerpoint?

 

[Kasama]

Thanks for reply. In one of two ways. If the Word doc is already saved, I use
Insert>Object>From file. Otherwise, I use Insert>Object>MS Word and write the
doc in the Word box. I do not change the size at all, the object is at 100%
width and height. Most of the time the result is fine, but if I then apply
Custom Animation to the slide, and run the Slide Show, the fonts in the
embedded Word doc look as if they've been bitmapped. They look fine in PPT
editing mode/normal view, they are fine if there's no animation but if I aply
animation, those fonts go jagged again.
--
Kasama

How are you embedding the documents?

If you right-click one and choose Format Object, is the size proportionate
on the Size tab, or is the aspect ratio off?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

I have embedded Word docs in Powerpoint becuase they include equation
objects
as inline graphics mixed with text, which don't copy and paste into
PowerPoint text boxes. As embedded Word docs they look fine in PowerPoint
editing mode, but are terrible when running the actual slide show -- font
edges are all fuzzy. Is there a solution other than laboriously converting
all Word docs into bitmaps (which can't be edited subsequently and make
file
size huge?). The Word docs are fine when embedded into Excel, why so bad
with
Powerpoint?

 

[Kasama]

Thanks for your reply. If you see my answer to the q above you'll see I'm not
embedding them as images but as Word docs (so they can be edited in future).
I should add tha I'm finding the same problem with Mathtype Equation Objects,
they also go jagged when the slide show runs if Custom Animation has been
applied.

--
Kasama

Or, if you paste special as a JPG, you will get the typical JPG pinging that
happens near color changes. If you paste special => image type, try using a
PNG, EMF or other non-lossy compression format image.


--
Bill Dilworth
A proud member of the Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
http://billdilworth.mvps.org
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
vestprog2@ Please read the PowerPoint FAQ pages.
yahoo. They answer most of our questions.
com www.pptfaq.com
..

How are you embedding the documents?

If you right-click one and choose Format Object, is the size proportionate
on the Size tab, or is the aspect ratio off?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

I have embedded Word docs in Powerpoint becuase they include equation
objects
as inline graphics mixed with text, which don't copy and paste into
PowerPoint text boxes. As embedded Word docs they look fine in PowerPoint
editing mode, but are terrible when running the actual slide show -- font
edges are all fuzzy. Is there a solution other than laboriously
converting
all Word docs into bitmaps (which can't be edited subsequently and make
file
size huge?). The Word docs are fine when embedded into Excel, why so bad
with
Powerpoint?

 

[Echo S]

Ahhh, I didn't realize animation was part of the issue.

This is a known issue with no good resolution -- or even really any good
workarounds, other than removing the animation.

Even some fonts in PPT textboxes become jagged when animated. It seems to be
worse with dark text on light backgrounds and some font faces seem to be
worse than others.

Oh, another workaround would be to copy the object, Edit | Paste Special and
choose PNG (as Bill mentioned). This creates an image of the text, and the
image won't be jagged when you animate it. Drag your Word object off the
edge of the slide where it won't show, but where you'll have it if you need
to make changes to it later. But yes, as you mentioned, this will increase
the size of your file, and yes, it's tedious.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

Thanks for reply. In one of two ways. If the Word doc is already saved, I
use
Insert>Object>From file. Otherwise, I use Insert>Object>MS Word and write
the
doc in the Word box. I do not change the size at all, the object is at
100%
width and height. Most of the time the result is fine, but if I then apply
Custom Animation to the slide, and run the Slide Show, the fonts in the
embedded Word doc look as if they've been bitmapped. They look fine in PPT
editing mode/normal view, they are fine if there's no animation but if I
aply
animation, those fonts go jagged again.
--
Kasama

How are you embedding the documents?

If you right-click one and choose Format Object, is the size
proportionate
on the Size tab, or is the aspect ratio off?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

I have embedded Word docs in Powerpoint becuase they include equation
objects
as inline graphics mixed with text, which don't copy and paste into
PowerPoint text boxes. As embedded Word docs they look fine in
PowerPoint
editing mode, but are terrible when running the actual slide show --
font
edges are all fuzzy. Is there a solution other than laboriously
converting
all Word docs into bitmaps (which can't be edited subsequently and make
file
size huge?). The Word docs are fine when embedded into Excel, why so
bad
with
Powerpoint?

 

[Kasama]

OK, thanks to you both. Do you know if it's fixed in PPT 2007? Also I found
an article in the solutions center which referred to the problem happening
with the fonts on graphs in animated slides, and said to fix it, just give
the graph a solid background colour -- it seems to be related to handling
graphics with transparent backgrounds. My slides or white, so I've tried
giving the Word docs solid white shading applied to all docs, and it works!
Unfortuantely, MathType does not include the ability to change the
background, so this trick doesn't work for the equation obijects. I have to
convert them to GIFS with a solid white background, and this is easier in
MathType than converting to PNG. The fonts have very slightly fuzzy edges,
but not jagged like before. Regards
--
Kasama

Ahhh, I didn't realize animation was part of the issue.

This is a known issue with no good resolution -- or even really any good
workarounds, other than removing the animation.

Even some fonts in PPT textboxes become jagged when animated. It seems to be
worse with dark text on light backgrounds and some font faces seem to be
worse than others.

Oh, another workaround would be to copy the object, Edit | Paste Special and
choose PNG (as Bill mentioned). This creates an image of the text, and the
image won't be jagged when you animate it. Drag your Word object off the
edge of the slide where it won't show, but where you'll have it if you need
to make changes to it later. But yes, as you mentioned, this will increase
the size of your file, and yes, it's tedious.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

Thanks for reply. In one of two ways. If the Word doc is already saved, I
use
Insert>Object>From file. Otherwise, I use Insert>Object>MS Word and write
the
doc in the Word box. I do not change the size at all, the object is at
100%
width and height. Most of the time the result is fine, but if I then apply
Custom Animation to the slide, and run the Slide Show, the fonts in the
embedded Word doc look as if they've been bitmapped. They look fine in PPT
editing mode/normal view, they are fine if there's no animation but if I
aply
animation, those fonts go jagged again.
--
Kasama

How are you embedding the documents?

If you right-click one and choose Format Object, is the size
proportionate
on the Size tab, or is the aspect ratio off?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/


I have embedded Word docs in Powerpoint becuase they include equation
objects
as inline graphics mixed with text, which don't copy and paste into
PowerPoint text boxes. As embedded Word docs they look fine in
PowerPoint
editing mode, but are terrible when running the actual slide show --
font
edges are all fuzzy. Is there a solution other than laboriously
converting
all Word docs into bitmaps (which can't be edited subsequently and make
file
size huge?). The Word docs are fine when embedded into Excel, why so
bad
with
Powerpoint?

 

[Echo S]

Hey, that's great news about the solid background! Thanks for the info!

I was curious about this in 2007 since the text engine was rewritten, so a
couple of months ago I was at a big show and took the opportunity to slap
2007 up on the big screen with the rear projector and take a look. The text
looked good and seemed to animate fine -- no real jaggies like we'd often
see with animated text in 2003 and prior.

I can't say that will always be the case, of course, but my test slides
looked good.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

OK, thanks to you both. Do you know if it's fixed in PPT 2007? Also I
found
an article in the solutions center which referred to the problem happening
with the fonts on graphs in animated slides, and said to fix it, just give
the graph a solid background colour -- it seems to be related to handling
graphics with transparent backgrounds. My slides or white, so I've tried
giving the Word docs solid white shading applied to all docs, and it
works!
Unfortuantely, MathType does not include the ability to change the
background, so this trick doesn't work for the equation obijects. I have
to
convert them to GIFS with a solid white background, and this is easier in
MathType than converting to PNG. The fonts have very slightly fuzzy edges,
but not jagged like before. Regards
--
Kasama

Ahhh, I didn't realize animation was part of the issue.

This is a known issue with no good resolution -- or even really any good
workarounds, other than removing the animation.

Even some fonts in PPT textboxes become jagged when animated. It seems to
be
worse with dark text on light backgrounds and some font faces seem to be
worse than others.

Oh, another workaround would be to copy the object, Edit | Paste Special
and
choose PNG (as Bill mentioned). This creates an image of the text, and
the
image won't be jagged when you animate it. Drag your Word object off the
edge of the slide where it won't show, but where you'll have it if you
need
to make changes to it later. But yes, as you mentioned, this will
increase
the size of your file, and yes, it's tedious.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

Thanks for reply. In one of two ways. If the Word doc is already saved,
I
use
Insert>Object>From file. Otherwise, I use Insert>Object>MS Word and
write
the
doc in the Word box. I do not change the size at all, the object is at
100%
width and height. Most of the time the result is fine, but if I then
apply
Custom Animation to the slide, and run the Slide Show, the fonts in the
embedded Word doc look as if they've been bitmapped. They look fine in
PPT
editing mode/normal view, they are fine if there's no animation but if
I
aply
animation, those fonts go jagged again.
--
Kasama


:

How are you embedding the documents?

If you right-click one and choose Format Object, is the size
proportionate
on the Size tab, or is the aspect ratio off?

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/


I have embedded Word docs in Powerpoint becuase they include equation
objects
as inline graphics mixed with text, which don't copy and paste into
PowerPoint text boxes. As embedded Word docs they look fine in
PowerPoint
editing mode, but are terrible when running the actual slide show --
font
edges are all fuzzy. Is there a solution other than laboriously
converting
all Word docs into bitmaps (which can't be edited subsequently and
make
file
size huge?). The Word docs are fine when embedded into Excel, why so
bad
with
Powerpoint?

 

[Bob Mathews]

OK, thanks to you both. Do you know if it's fixed in PPT
2007?

The text issue seems to be better in PPT 2007, but animated
equations may still have jagged edges. Like has already been
mentioned, this depends on the slide background and the animation
technique, but sometimes they'll still be jaggy. I've had better
success with "appear" animation techniques (such as "appear" and
"dissolve") than with "movement" animations (such as "zoom" and
"fly from right").

Unfortuantely, MathType does not include the ability to
change the background, so this trick doesn't work for the
equation obijects. I have to convert them to GIFS with a
solid white background, and this is easier in MathType
than converting to PNG. The fonts have very slightly
fuzzy edges, but not jagged like before.

If you're going to use MathType GIFs in PPT slides, I recommend
using high-resolution GIFs rather than the default. In MathType's
Preferences menu, click on "Web and GIF Preferences". Set the
resolution to 384dpi. When the equation is in PPT, reduce the
size to 25% of the original. Don't drag the corner of the
equation to do this. You'll have better and more consistent
results if you right-click the equation, then select "Size and
Position". Set the scale to 25%. Equations have excellent quality
when produced this way, and animate just fine.

--
Bob Mathews
Director of Training
Design Science, Inc.
bobm at dessci.com
http://www.dessci.com/free.asp?free=news
FREE fully-functional 30-day evaluation of MathType 5
MathType, WebEQ, MathPlayer, MathFlow, Equation Editor, TeXaide

 

[Echo S]

This is great info, Bob. Thanks for posting it!