Office 2003 Picture Manager questions

[Ron Polak]

Hello.

I've been evaluating Office Picture Manager since installing Office System
2003 (official release version) and have a couple of questions.

1. When selecting "Compress for Web pages" from the Compress Pictures task
pane it defaults to creating an new image of 448x336 without any option to
adjust the size of the output file. I can't find where this default can be
modified if at all. Can it be changed? If so where?

2. The Resize task pane, which on the surface might help with the above
question, only adds to the confusion by behaving in a non-intuitive way.

For example: using an image of 1200x800 I click "Custom width x height" and
type 600 in the width field. The height field doesn't change but the New
size shows as 768x512 in the Size setting summary area. The docs say that
Picture Manager will ALWAYS maintain the aspect ratio, which it is doing,
but not using the value I typed in! I would expect the new size to reflect
the entered value with the non-entered value automatically adjusted based on
the aspect ratio. Am I missing something here? Can someone explain the logic
behind this feature?

TIA

Ron Polak

 

[Paul Ballou]

1. When selecting "Compress for Web pages" from the Compress Pictures task

pane it defaults to creating an new image of 448x336 without any option to
adjust the size of the output file. I can't find where this default can be
modified if at all. Can it be changed? If so where?

====================================================
It doesn't appear that it can be changed.


2. The Resize task pane, which on the surface might help with the above

question, only adds to the confusion by behaving in a non-intuitive way.

For example: using an image of 1200x800 I click "Custom width x height" and
type 600 in the width field. The height field doesn't change but the New
size shows as 768x512 in the Size setting summary area. The docs say that
Picture Manager will ALWAYS maintain the aspect ratio, which it is doing,
but not using the value I typed in! I would expect the new size to reflect
the entered value with the non-entered value automatically adjusted based on
the aspect ratio. Am I missing something here? Can someone explain the logic
behind this feature?

======================================================
To get the Pixel Aspect Ratio divide the width by the height and 1200/800
gives you an aspect ratio of 1.5. If you divide 768 by 512 you will get the
same aspect ratio of 1.5. Even though you are entering 600 for the width the
program is correcting your number in order to maintain the aspect ratio for
the image.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

If those are his only complaints, he's lucky. It does too, too many things
illogically for my use.

If you set 600 for the width, it should use 600 (or as close to 600 as it
can), not 512. I have one that is 1600x1200 - choose 600 width changes it
to 768x576. I can choose 600x800 as a predefined size but not by entering it
as a custom width? Then it wants to use 5 pixels on the height if try to
leave it blank - a good image editor takes the 600 and calculates the other
measurement for you, dispalying the correct figure in the selection fields.

 

[Ron Polak]

To get the Pixel Aspect Ratio divide the width by the height and 1200/800
gives you an aspect ratio of 1.5. If you divide 768 by 512 you will get the
same aspect ratio of 1.5. Even though you are entering 600 for the width the
program is correcting your number in order to maintain the aspect ratio for
the image.

[snip]

Paul,

With all due respect I know how to calculate the aspect ratio. But why
should I have to. Isn't that what computers are for?

When I enter the desired width I expect the application to use MY
value NOT force some irrelevant value it "thinks" I want.

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that every graphics
manipulation package out there will use the entered figure to
determine the correct paired value - except, it seems, Picture
Manager!

Ron Polak

 

[Paul Ballou]

Ron,
With all due respect I know how to calculate the aspect ratio. But why

should I have to. Isn't that what computers are for?

==================================================
Programs can only perform based on info you enter or your interaction.

I will try to find you a more positive answer as to what the program is
doing.


--
Paul Ballou
MVP Design Gallery Live
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://www.paulsgiftshop.com/

"Paul Ballou" <[email protected]> wrote in message

[snip]
To get the Pixel Aspect Ratio divide the width by the height and 1200/800
gives you an aspect ratio of 1.5. If you divide 768 by 512 you will get the
same aspect ratio of 1.5. Even though you are entering 600 for the width the
program is correcting your number in order to maintain the aspect ratio for
the image.

[snip]

Paul,

With all due respect I know how to calculate the aspect ratio. But why
should I have to. Isn't that what computers are for?

When I enter the desired width I expect the application to use MY
value NOT force some irrelevant value it "thinks" I want.

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that every graphics
manipulation package out there will use the entered figure to
determine the correct paired value - except, it seems, Picture
Manager!

Ron Polak

 

[Paul Ballou]

Ron,
See this

You're not typing in a width, you're typing in one dimension of a box. When
you're typing in 600 and I assume that the 2nd value is still 768 (the
default value for ths field). Because the aspect ratio of the selected
image (1200:800) is GREATER than the aspect ratio of the custom dimensions
(768:600), the LARGER of the two custom dimensions becomes the determining
factor to calculate the SMALLER dimension of resized image as follows::
(768/1200)*800 = 512

| B. Original: 640wX480h. Type: 375 in width, result: 500wX375h
|
Remember, you're not typing in a width, you're typing in one dimension of a
box. When you're typing in 375 and I assume that the 2nd value is still 768
(the default value for ths field). Because the aspect ratio of the selected
image (640x480) is LESS than the aspect ratio of the custom dimensions
(768:375), the SMALLER of the two custom dimensions becomes the determining
factor to calculate the LARGER dimension of resized image as follows::
(375/480)*640=500

The reason it works this way is because the resize feature can be used to
batch resize images of multiple aspect ratios and orientations at the same
time which is why you are simply defining a box into which the selected
images will be resized fit instead of actually specifying the actual
horizontal and vertical dimension of each of the images when resized.

John Langhans

Supportability Program Manager
Microsoft Office PowerPoint for Windows
Microsoft Office Picture Manager for Windows<<

--
Paul Ballou
MVP Design Gallery Live
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://www.paulsgiftshop.com/

"Paul Ballou" <[email protected]> wrote in message

[snip]
To get the Pixel Aspect Ratio divide the width by the height and 1200/800
gives you an aspect ratio of 1.5. If you divide 768 by 512 you will get the
same aspect ratio of 1.5. Even though you are entering 600 for the width the
program is correcting your number in order to maintain the aspect ratio for
the image.

[snip]

Paul,

With all due respect I know how to calculate the aspect ratio. But why
should I have to. Isn't that what computers are for?

When I enter the desired width I expect the application to use MY
value NOT force some irrelevant value it "thinks" I want.

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that every graphics
manipulation package out there will use the entered figure to
determine the correct paired value - except, it seems, Picture
Manager!

Ron Polak

 

[Ron Polak]

Paul,

I appreciate your efforts in digging up an answer but reading through John's
explanation has given me a headache so for the sake of my health, I think
I'll give Picture Manager a miss.

Ron

Ron,
See this

You're not typing in a width, you're typing in one dimension of a box. When
you're typing in 600 and I assume that the 2nd value is still 768 (the
default value for ths field). Because the aspect ratio of the selected
image (1200:800) is GREATER than the aspect ratio of the custom dimensions
(768:600), the LARGER of the two custom dimensions becomes the determining
factor to calculate the SMALLER dimension of resized image as follows::
(768/1200)*800 = 512

| B. Original: 640wX480h. Type: 375 in width, result: 500wX375h
|
Remember, you're not typing in a width, you're typing in one dimension of a
box. When you're typing in 375 and I assume that the 2nd value is still 768
(the default value for ths field). Because the aspect ratio of the selected
image (640x480) is LESS than the aspect ratio of the custom dimensions
(768:375), the SMALLER of the two custom dimensions becomes the determining
factor to calculate the LARGER dimension of resized image as follows::
(375/480)*640=500

The reason it works this way is because the resize feature can be used to
batch resize images of multiple aspect ratios and orientations at the same
time which is why you are simply defining a box into which the selected
images will be resized fit instead of actually specifying the actual
horizontal and vertical dimension of each of the images when resized.

John Langhans

Supportability Program Manager
Microsoft Office PowerPoint for Windows
Microsoft Office Picture Manager for Windows<<

--
Paul Ballou
MVP Design Gallery Live
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://www.paulsgiftshop.com/

"Paul Ballou" <[email protected]> wrote in message

[snip]
To get the Pixel Aspect Ratio divide the width by the height and 1200/800
gives you an aspect ratio of 1.5. If you divide 768 by 512 you will

get

the

width

the

ratio

for

the image.

[snip]

Paul,

With all due respect I know how to calculate the aspect ratio. But why
should I have to. Isn't that what computers are for?

When I enter the desired width I expect the application to use MY
value NOT force some irrelevant value it "thinks" I want.

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that every graphics
manipulation package out there will use the entered figure to
determine the correct paired value - except, it seems, Picture
Manager!

Ron Polak

 

[Paul Ballou]

Ron,

I know it can be difficult to understand.
--
Paul Ballou
MVP Design Gallery Live
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://www.paulsgiftshop.com/

Paul,

I appreciate your efforts in digging up an answer but reading through John's
explanation has given me a headache so for the sake of my health, I think
I'll give Picture Manager a miss.

Ron

Ron,
See this


You're not typing in a width, you're typing in one dimension of a box. When
you're typing in 600 and I assume that the 2nd value is still 768 (the
default value for ths field). Because the aspect ratio of the selected
image (1200:800) is GREATER than the aspect ratio of the custom dimensions
(768:600), the LARGER of the two custom dimensions becomes the determining
factor to calculate the SMALLER dimension of resized image as follows::
(768/1200)*800 = 512

| B. Original: 640wX480h. Type: 375 in width, result: 500wX375h
|
Remember, you're not typing in a width, you're typing in one dimension

of

a
box. When you're typing in 375 and I assume that the 2nd value is still 768
(the default value for ths field). Because the aspect ratio of the selected
image (640x480) is LESS than the aspect ratio of the custom dimensions
(768:375), the SMALLER of the two custom dimensions becomes the determining
factor to calculate the LARGER dimension of resized image as follows::
(375/480)*640=500

The reason it works this way is because the resize feature can be used to
batch resize images of multiple aspect ratios and orientations at the same
time which is why you are simply defining a box into which the selected
images will be resized fit instead of actually specifying the actual
horizontal and vertical dimension of each of the images when resized.

John Langhans

Supportability Program Manager
Microsoft Office PowerPoint for Windows
Microsoft Office Picture Manager for Windows<<

--
Paul Ballou
MVP Design Gallery Live
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx
http://www.paulsgiftshop.com/

"Paul Ballou" <[email protected]> wrote in message

[snip]
To get the Pixel Aspect Ratio divide the width by the height and 1200/800
gives you an aspect ratio of 1.5. If you divide 768 by 512 you will

get

the
same aspect ratio of 1.5. Even though you are entering 600 for the

width

the
program is correcting your number in order to maintain the aspect

ratio

for
the image.
[snip]

Paul,

With all due respect I know how to calculate the aspect ratio. But why
should I have to. Isn't that what computers are for?

When I enter the desired width I expect the application to use MY
value NOT force some irrelevant value it "thinks" I want.

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that every graphics
manipulation package out there will use the entered figure to
determine the correct paired value - except, it seems, Picture
Manager!

Ron Polak

 

[Cong Trinh Nguyen]

Hi

I have the same problem as Ron Polak, that mean I want to convert the ratio of the picture from 3:4 to 2:3 but the option of resize in MS Picture Manager does not work. I remembered when using Beta version of MS 2003 Picture Manager it worked as I wanted. I think Mr. Paul Ballou do not answer the question of Ron Polak, and the option custom width x height of resize in MS Office 2003 Picture Manager is not logic enough

Cong Trinh Nguyen