Using graphic files in Word - Best Practices

[mcd]

Hello -

I'm struggling with determining the what the best graphic file type is to
use in Word. In particular, I'm starting with a vector .eps file. I've tried
inserting jpegs, tifs, gifs, pngs and the original .eps file into a word
document. They all range in quality - but the png file looks the best and is
transparent - which is a requirement for me.

The trouble is, when I either print the file to a pdf, or save as a pdf, the
png file loses quality and looks worse.

Are there any resources to help me figure out what the recommended practices
are for using graphics in Microsoft Word?

Thanks!