Using Pic Resize to Optimize Images for PowerPoint
Pic Resize is a useful web-based app to optimize images for presentations, that is FREE. Images can be resized, cropped and have many editing options applied. This is a good, quick solution in the process of making images sized for a presentation and not jumbo multi-megabyte sized files from a digital camera or print project. TLC designer, Michelle, put together this overview of how Pic Resize is used and some of its options.
To get started, go to the Pic Resize webpage (here).
Click From Computer and then the Browse button. Locate a image on your computer and click Open.
Once you have selected the image, click the Continue (Resize, Crop & Special Effects) button.
On the top portion of the next page, you can crop or rotate your image, if needed. Continue on to the second section to resize your image. The website defaults to resizing the image to 50% of the original size. If you need a different size, click on the drop down menu and select another preset percentage or resolution. You can also select Custom Size… to enter in the dimensions of your choice.
To optimize this image for use within PowerPoint, I will resize this image to 800 pixels wide. By leaving the Height field empty, Pic Resize will automatically keep the image proportionate by determining the correct height value. You can also select a custom percentage of the original image by selecting Percent from the drop down image next to the Width or Height fields. The new dimensions of the image can be found on the right next to Estimated Final, which will be highlighted in green.
In the next section, you can select one of many special effects to enhance the image, if desired. Some of these special effects include Oil Paint, Scorched, Grayscale, and Sharpen, which can be seen below.
In the last step, you will select the format, quality (if JPEG) and maximum file size (optional) to save your image as. The original format of the image will be automatically populated but JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP are all supported. PNG images with alpha transparency are supported, so transparency will be maintained if resized. If resizing to a JPG as the format, you can also select the quality of the image being saved.
Once you have selected the format and quality, click the I’m Done, Resize My Picture! button. When successfully resized, you can select View Image to preview, Resume Edit to continue editing, Save to Disk to save onto your computer, or Save to Web to upload the image onto a social media website of your choice. For this instance, we would save the image to the desired location by clicking Save to Disk.
Once saved, you now have an optimized version of your image that can be easily used within PowerPoint. Below, you can see the new, optimized image, which was resized from 5184 x 3456 pixels down to 800 x 533 pixels.
– Michelle @ TLC
All Curved Screens in Hollywood
This week was a large show at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA (home of the Oscars). Staging was fantastic, client – production company – and AV crew were all great. This meeting featured all screens being curved – and almost all had movement during the meeting. Lots of fun presentation design that was integrated into video and other media sources.
– Troy @ TLC
Spell Check and ALL CAPS
In PowerPoint 2013, the default settings can limit some of Microsoft’s helpful features. With the default settings if you type a word in lower case, spell check automatically lets us know if there is a typo. But if you type the same word in all caps, spell check is not used. Here is my example, which according to Microsoft Office only has 1 misspelled:
The setting to change is to go to FILE >> OPTIONS >> PROOFING tab
In the WHEN CORRECTING SPELLING IN MICROSOFT OFFICE PROGRAMS section, uncheck IGNORE WORDS IN UPPERCASE
Now All Caps or Lower Case words are par of the spell check feature.
– Troy @ TLC
Replace Font Dialog, PowerPoint 2010 vs. 2013
PowerPoint is very weak in the area of font management. One of the few features PowerPoint does offer, Replace Font, has unfortunately become even less useful in PowerPoint 2013.
Here is the Replace Font dialog in PowerPoint 2010 (it remains the same for PowerPoint 2003 and 2007):
Note that the drop down menu provides some good information. It indicates the type of font (True Type, Open Type, etc.) and if the font is not installed on the computer (indicated by a “?” next to the font name).
Here is the Replace Font dialog in PowerPoint 2013:
The drop down menu no longer displays any of the icons indicating format and if missing from computer (arghh!).
Hopefully I will be able to update this post in the future with a note that Microsoft has returned these features to the dialog (or better, they have implemented new features to provide true font management!).
– Troy @ TLC
Write It To Win It, Book Cover
Here is another book cover design project completed by TLC Creative Services. The author, Sean Hinchey, is a really great person and after getting a summary of the book’s message, he let us develop the creative direction from colors and fonts, to accent graphics.
This book is available on Amazon.
– Troy @ TLC
Zsa Zsa Book Cover
TLC was contracted by a wonderful gentleman that worked with the famous Zsa Zsa Gabor to develop an elegant book cover for his new book. Metallic text, subtle fabric cover texture, classic silver picture frame, and a gradient to draw the eye down the content. This is a PowerPoint presentation, but a design that presents a story.
For TLC Creative Services, another graphic design project, with the added benefit of working with a true character of Hollywood. The book is available on Amazon.
– Troy @ TLC
Microsoft MVP for PowerPoint Again!
A personal note, but one I am very proud of – Microsoft sent the below email this week awarding/renewing me as a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) for PowerPoint for 2014! There are approximately 35 PowerPoint MVPs globally and I have been awarded by Microsoft annually since 2004. I am honored to have Microsoft recognize and support all of the PowerPoint work, expertise and community (that’s you!) contributions.
– Troy