Managing Graphics to Reduce Size

If you have a presentation with many images, you may find that it gets too large to e-mail and may even freeze when you try to deliver. Two causes of this problem are:

• BMP image files (which are very large) or JPG photos taken at very high resolution
• Images on backgrounds or the slide master

You can compress images from within PowerPoint:

1. Select the image.
2. Usually the Picture toolbar displays, but if not, right-click any toolbar and choose Picture. (In PowerPoint 2007, click the Format tab that appears.)
3. Click the Compress Pictures button on the Picture toolbar. (In PowerPoint 2007, click Compress Pictures in the Adjust group.
4. In the Compress Pictures dialog box, choose whether you want to compress the selected image or all images in the presentation.  You can also change the resolution and delete the cropped portion of pictures. (PowerPoint stores the cropped portion of pictures in case you decide to restore them.) Click OK.


Compress Pictures dialog box

(In PowerPoint 2007, check the check box to apply the compression only to selected pictures. Then click the Options button. Here you can choose to automatically compress pictures when you save; note that this can reduce the quality of your photos without you being aware of it. You can also choose to delete the cropped portion of pictures and choose a resolution. Click OK twice.)

5. You may see a message warning you that compression can reduce the quality of your images. (If you want to play it safe, don’t compress all your images at once.) If so, click Apply to compress the image(s).

Related posts:

1. Reduce the size of your presentation files
2. Create cutouts
3. Rotation tips
4. Create an instant background from a photo
5. Layer two fill effects