Problem with size of signature GIF file

[Mary]

I have a number of signatures which I've been asked to scan and save in GIF
format so that they can be inserted into Word files. I've scanned them to
PhotoShop at 360dpi and saved them first as PSD files in grayscale mode.
Next I used two different methods to create the GIF files: (1) Save for Web
.... in GIF format (2) Save as GIF.

Method 1 automatically reduces the resolution to 72 dpi and whereas my
original physical dimensions are about 2" high x 0.5" wide, because of the
dpi reduction, the dimensions increase to 10" x 2.3". When inserted into
Word as a picture, the graphic extends right across the page. It can of
course be resized but I would prefer that it come in at the right size. I'm
guessing that when saved as a GIF for the web the default is 72dpi and there
is no way of controlling that.

Method 2 maintains the original physical dimensions and resolution, i.e.,
the GIF image is still 2" x 0.5" 360dpi. However, when I bring it into Word
as a picture, I get a big fuzzy graphic rather than the small higher
resolution graphic.

I'm not sure whether I'm doing something wrong in creating the GIFs or does
Word automatically display imported GIFs at 72dpi? I could resize the
signatures each time I bring them into Word, but there must be a better way
of controlling the size.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Mary,

Some graphics formats can store a pixel per inch
value in them that an app using the graphic can read
to determine the size of the graphic. JPEG is one that
can (but doesn't always) store a value in the graphic,
as can PNG graphics, but GIF is one format that does
not store a value. (It's supposed to always be 96 ppi <g>)

When a graphic does not have a stored value in it
then Word uses the setting in
Tools=>Options=>General=>Web Options=>Pictures
for pixels per inch to determine the display size
of the graphic.

To get a specific size for a GIF file you can
size it to match the value in Word Web Options
or choose a format that supports a stored PPI value
set and include that in the graphic's properties.


=======
I have a number of signatures which I've been asked to scan and save in GIF
format so that they can be inserted into Word files. I've scanned them to
PhotoShop at 360dpi and saved them first as PSD files in grayscale mode.
Next I used two different methods to create the GIF files: (1) Save for Web
.... in GIF format (2) Save as GIF.

Method 1 automatically reduces the resolution to 72 dpi and whereas my
original physical dimensions are about 2" high x 0.5" wide, because of the
dpi reduction, the dimensions increase to 10" x 2.3". When inserted into
Word as a picture, the graphic extends right across the page. It can of
course be resized but I would prefer that it come in at the right size. I'm
guessing that when saved as a GIF for the web the default is 72dpi and there
is no way of controlling that.

Method 2 maintains the original physical dimensions and resolution, i.e.,
the GIF image is still 2" x 0.5" 360dpi. However, when I bring it into Word
as a picture, I get a big fuzzy graphic rather than the small higher
resolution graphic.

I'm not sure whether I'm doing something wrong in creating the GIFs or does
Word automatically display imported GIFs at 72dpi? I could resize the
signatures each time I bring them into Word, but there must be a better way
of controlling the size. >>
--
I hope this helps you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

The Office 2003 System parts explained
http://microsoft.com/uk/office/preview/system.asp

MS on 'Why Office System 2003'
http://microsoft.com/mscorp/execmail/2003/10-13productivity.asp

 

[Mary]

Thank you Bob, sorry for not replying sooner. Since the requirement is that
these sigs be saved in GIF format, I'm sticking with that. If I scale the
sigs to size before inserting them into the Word docs, I find that although
they look OK on screen, they look poor when printed and even worse when the
Word files are saved as PDFs (which is how these files will eventually end
up). However, if I insert them at at two or three times the required size
and then scale them down in Word, the quality is much better.

You say "To get a specific size for a GIF file you can size it to match the
value in Word Web Options" -- since this is a user setting, wouldn't the
inserted GIFs vary depending on the user?

I would like to be able to provide the owners of the signature with GIFs
which they could insert into their Word files, without having to resize
them, but yet have them of reasonable quality. It seems as though that's not
possible. I suppose I could supply them as larger GIFs with instructions to
scale down and save as autotext, so they wouldn't have to insert the graphic
and resize it every time.