Best graphics format to import into Power Point?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Elizabeth O'Shea wonders: <<Can the Power Point experts out there 
recommend the best graphics format for images we import into Power 
Point.>>

There is no one "best" format: different types of image require 
different formats. For example, jpeg is best for photos, GIF or PNG for 
illustrations, and different video formats for different types of 
video. About the only ones you should never use are BMP and TIFF; the 
former are difficult to scale properly, and the latter are best saved 
for print production.

<<Ideally, we'd like sales reps to be able to scale the images if 
possible. You can also tell me if letting them scale images themselves 
is a bad idea.>>

In my experience, engineers and scientists are lousy at working with 
images, and I strongly suspect sales reps will be no better. You should 
also ask yourself whether letting them do whatever they want with 
images serves any useful purpose or whether the consistency and 
professionalism that comes from designing a standard template that 
looks good would be more effective.

These folk should be focusing on creating and presenting content, not 
fiddling with images and layouts--a task very few of them have any 
understanding of. One of my favorite Dilbert cartoons is the one where 
he spends an entire day fondling fonts in a presentation, and that is 
his only accomplishment. Leave image fiddling and visual design to the 
experts.

Moreover, scaling images in any program other than the program that 
created them (including PowerPoint) always adds to the size and 
complexity of the image: in addition to the raw image data, you add a 
whole layer of instructions that the software must decipher on how to 
resize and rescale the image. I've seen relatively simple, 40-slide 
presentations balloon to 30+ Meg because the creators had no 
self-discipline and no knowledge of how to create an effective 
presentation.

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Geoff Hart   ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca
(try geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com if you don't get a reply)
www.geoff-hart.com
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