Native high-quality PC image formats?

[Michael Rooz]

Greetings All:

For imagery created on the Mac (but intended to be opened/inserted into
Excel/PowwerPoint files on a PC) what are the best file formats for:

1 Vector Images (i.e. Created in Illustrator)
2 Raster Images (Photoshop)

I know Excel and PowerPoint support a wide array of image file formats but I
was curious to know if Microsoft had a proprietary format excellent in
quality. Thanks much!

Michael

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Michael-

It isn't so much a matter of platform as it is a matter of intended output.
Both PC & Mac support pretty much the same image formats.

IMHO, if the images will be used for on-screen display, .gif (predominantly
solid color areas, ex. logos) & .jpg (continuous tone images, ex.
photographs) keep the file size down and offer all the resolution a monitor
can handle. However, they do not print or translate to 35mm slides well at
all (.gifs in particular).

For higher resolution output (print, 35mm, overheads), .tif is the better
way to go. The premiums you pay are much larger file size & additional
resolution that displays can't use.

One suggestion- In addition to file format, the images should be sized to
the appropriate dimensions and 'finished' before being supplied to the PPt
user. Any more than minor adjustments to the finished images can't induce
distortion & degradation.

HTH |:>)

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Greetings All:

For imagery created on the Mac (but intended to be opened/inserted into
Excel/PowwerPoint files on a PC) what are the best file formats for:

1 Vector Images (i.e. Created in Illustrator)

EMF or WMF. Ick. Try enlarging the Illo graphic a good bit before exporting
to see if that gives you smoother looking curves.

In some cases, you'll find that you're better off with PNGs, even for some
vector graphics.

2 Raster Images (Photoshop)

PowerPoint's "native" formats are PNG and JPG (GIF also, but that doesn't seem
like a good idea for most images)

JPG is probably best for photo-type images, PNG for most others (a *very*
broad, general rule, that)

I know Excel and PowerPoint support a wide array of image file formats but I
was curious to know if Microsoft had a proprietary format excellent in
quality. Thanks much!

Michael

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

 

[Michael Rooz]

Thanks CyberTaz:

I'm pretty 'there' with all the basic image prep stuff, size and so forth. I
thought (and where did this thought come from?) that maybe a proprietary PC
image format would be best (regardless of output) over a tif, gif, jpg, or
png.

I think I may have to make 3 versions of this PPT, one for web, one for
overhead, and one for print. And do exhaustive image/file experimentation
throughout. This cross-platform stuff can be most challenging. Thanks again.

Michael

 

[Michael Rooz]

JPG is probably best for photo-type images, PNG for most others (a *very*
broad, general rule, that)

Yeah, it's kinda looking that way. Thanks Steve (and hello again!)

 

[TAJ Simmons]

I was curious to know if Microsoft had a proprietary format excellent in
quality.

2 Raster Images (Photoshop)

For part 2 of your question, these formats would all give the SAME quality
(assuming the image contained the same amount of pixels and color depth)

TIF
PNG
BMP

BMP is a microsoft format
I've seen many cases where TIFs give problems (particularly cross-platform)
PNG gets my vote any day.

GIF gives less quality, with it only supporting a max of 256 colors
JPG throws away information.

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
http://www.awesomebackgrounds.com
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints, tips and more...

 

[Michael Rooz]

Thank you so very much Taj. It looks like a consensus of sorts on Tif, PNG,
and BMP has been reached. I have been advised. Thanks again.

Michael

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thank you so very much Taj. It looks like a consensus of sorts on Tif, PNG,
and BMP has been reached.

I'd read that as PNG, BMP and notTIF



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

 

[TAJ Simmons]

I'd read it as PNG