using EPS files in Microsoft Office apps

[Vicles]

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hi,
I need to find out how Word and Powerpoint support vector EPS files. I think they do allow vector EPS files to be inserted into the docs, but you only get the benefit of the vectors when you print, not when you zoom on screen. I also want to know what happens when you convert a Word file containing a vector EPS file into a PDF file.

Basically, I want to understand the issues of image quality on screen and in print with respect to inserted vector EPS images.

Thank you

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hi,
I need to find out how Word and Powerpoint support vector EPS

files. I think they do allow vector EPS files to be inserted into
the docs, but you only get the benefit of the vectors when you
print, not when you zoom on screen.

That's the way EPS are supposed to work ... there's the PostScript
portion, which really contains the graphics, and there's a preview
graphic (usually but not always an image, and usually a fairly low
resolution image).

For screen display and printing to non-PostScript printers, you get
the preview image; when you print to PS printers, you get the
PostScript portion of the EPS.

That's the theory. That's how Adobe, who invented the whole thing,
says it's supposed to work. MS sometimes does things differently
... in at least some versions of PPT, the import filter tries to
interpret the PostScript portion of the EPS and convert it to a
bitmap at reasonable rez for screen display. That might give you a
bit nicer preview image than the one supplied by the EPS and may
also print better to non-PS printers.

I also want to know what happens when you convert a Word file

containing a vector EPS file into a PDF file.

If you convert using a process that behaves like a PS printer (ie,
Adobe Acrobat/Distiller) then you get vector graphics; if the
process doesn't interpret PostScript to make PDF, you get the
preview image.

Basically, I want to understand the issues of image quality on

screen and in print with respect to inserted vector EPS images.

And basically, the answer is "It depends." ;-)
But at least now you have some idea what it depends ON.

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Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
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