PPT2003 w/ Replaced Imgs = Bloated File Size

[phillr]

So in today's PPT adventure, I discovered that 48-bit TIFFs aren't supported
in PPT 2003, and with the white knights of the Microsoft support forum, they
helped me discover that they needed to be 24-bit instead.

So after converting all my images to 24-bit and putting them back into my
PPT, I discovered that my file size had actually *grown*!!!

Originally it was ~20 MB in size. Now it's ~35 MB. My image file sizes are
50% less than the originals. Any idea what's going on? Is my PPT somehow
'keeping' my old images?

 

[David M. Marcovitz]

Turn Fast Saves off. Then go to File menu and Save As under a different
name. That should bring your file size back down to normal.
--David

 

[Echo S]

What David said. Allow Fast Saves can be found in Tools | Options.

Turn it off. Leave it off.

 

[Echo S]

What David said. Allow Fast Saves can be found under Tools | Options.

Turn it off. Leave it off.

 

[T Lavedas]

Turn Fast Saves off. Then go to File menu and Save As under a different
name. That should bring your file size back down to normal.
--David

I also find that PPT tries too hard. That is, when you change a
setting on an image, it retains a copy of the original image, along
with its modified version. This has the effect of approximately
doubling the saved size of the presentation, regardless of the 'fast
save' setting. The compress images operation does little to fix this
problem.

The only workaround I have found is to CUT the image off of the slide
to the clipboard (Ctrl-X - not delete) when I have it just the way I
want it and then use Paste Special to add it back as an appropriate
image type - usually JPEG with pictures or PNG or GIF with line art.
If the picture fills the whole frame its position is maintained, but
its z-order needs to be restored - it moves to the top. I often use
pictures as a slide's background, which requires sending the image all
the way to the back. If the image is less than full screen, both its
position and order need to be restored. It's a pain, but the
resulting presentation can end up a small fraction of its original
size.

I find this is most effective when creating collages of small images
from a number of large images. I've seen as much as a ten to one
reduction in finished size using this technique. That might mean a 20
MB presentation would shrink to as little as 2 MB.

The one thing that is lost is the ability to restore the image to its
original state, so keep an original copy handy outside of the
presentation if you ever expect to need to retouch the presentation.
Editing the modified image will never be as good as starting over. I
suppose that's why PPT was built the way it was, but sometimes size is
more important than being able to edit. I keep a library of song
lyrics backed by images in PPT that I send around in emails and post
on an FTP site for others to access. Even with wideband, I find its
just easier to work with the smaller files.

Tom Lavedas
===========
http://members.cox.net/tglbatch/wsh/

 

[T Lavedas]

What specific settings? I'm trying to repro this and I'm not able to.
I inserted a 3mb image, saved the presentation under one name. Then I changed brightness,
contrast and so forth and saved to a new file name.

The resulting PPTs are the same size.

Can you walk me through the repro steps?

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

OK, I'm confused. I find that I need to retract everything I have
said. I know I have tried compressing images before and seem to
remember being unsatisfied with the result, but following your
challenge to reproduce the problem, I'm unable to do it. Further, the
file does not change size because I edit an image, just as you say -
so no copy is created.

I thought it resulted from shrinking large images, but today when I
apply PowerPoint's picture compression, the presentation did in fact
shrink by the identical factor to cutting and pasting special. So, I
am at a loss to justify myself. I guess I just screwed up (for the
last year or more - ugh).

Thanks for correcting my misconception. It's sure to save me loads of
time in the future.

Tom Lavedas
===========
http://members.cox.net/tglbatch/wsh/