how to avoid image scaling

[Guus]

When I import a perfect bitmap (png, bmp,
gif, or anything else) the image gets scaled
and becomes ugly.

How do I stop images from being scaled?

I have checked the size; word claims it
is 100%

Possibly, it's to do with the resolution,
as specified for example in a bmp. If
so, what resolution should the image
specify?

Is it 92dpi for the screen, or 300dpi
for the printer? Actually, I worry more
about the printout than the screen.

Can anyone help?

Cheers!

Guus.

 

[Guest]

By "scaled" do you mean it becomes expanded
and has jagged edges? That is called pixellated.
If that is it, the image is too small to begin
with. Best to have a larger image and scale it
down to preserve sharp edges, than a small image
and scale up, which results in pixellation.

 

[Guus]

By "scaled" do you mean it becomes expanded
and has jagged edges? That is called pixellated.
If that is it, the image is too small to begin
with. Best to have a larger image and scale it
down to preserve sharp edges, than a small image
and scale up, which results in pixellation.

No, it's nothing like that. The image has a
proper size, like 200x200 pixels and plenty
of space on the page. There is text in a True Type
font in the image, which is also distorted.

I simply want the image rendered as is, pixel by
pixel, on the printer. And possibly on screen as
well.

Any ideas???

Cheers,
Guus.

 

[pjl]

This sounds similar to what I have sometimes had happen
when importing files which are much wider than they are
deep, particularly if a true 100% would make them wider
than the page I'm importing them onto; the image is scaled
down left to right while correctly shown top to bottom,
giving a distorted image but claiming to be 100% both
ways. If this is what you are experiencing try opening the
file in an image editing program and add white space below
or above to make the file a more square shape.
Alternatively your left with printing the file out from
its original application, measuring it and then rescaling
the imported image in word in one direction only until the
relative dimensions are correct.
Joan

 

[EmileeSuzanne]

The resolution you want to target is high for print -- I recommend 30
dpi for photograph quality, and 150 dpi for clipart. Remember, you'r
not looking for "pixel" size when you're concerned about print qualit
-- that's for screen viewing. When you're putting it on a printed page
you actually have to look at inches or cm (depending on where you'r
from). For instance, if you have an image at 72 ppi (pixels per inch)
and it is 200 pixels wide, that's less than 3 inches. When the pictur
is expanded to fill the space you have designated, it become
"pixelated" and looks ugly (prints that way too).

I suggest increasing your resolution and size before placing th
graphic

 

[Guus]

This sounds similar to what I have sometimes had happen
when importing files which are much wider than they are
deep, particularly if a true 100% would make them wider
than the page I'm importing them onto; the image is scaled
down left to right while correctly shown top to bottom,
giving a distorted image but claiming to be 100% both
ways. If this is what you are experiencing try opening the
file in an image editing program and add white space below
or above to make the file a more square shape.
Alternatively your left with printing the file out from
its original application, measuring it and then rescaling
the imported image in word in one direction only until the
relative dimensions are correct.
Joan

Thanks for your help!

I understand that you are talking about
the rendering resolution.

But what resolution is 'native' to word???
For the screen and for the printer; because
they will be different.

I tried 92dpi and 300dpi, but they both get
mangled.

Cheers,
Guus.

 

[Guus]

The resolution you want to target is high for print -- I recommend 300
dpi for photograph quality, and 150 dpi for clipart. Remember, you're
not looking for "pixel" size when you're concerned about print quality
-- that's for screen viewing. When you're putting it on a printed page,
you actually have to look at inches or cm (depending on where you're
from). For instance, if you have an image at 72 ppi (pixels per inch),
and it is 200 pixels wide, that's less than 3 inches. When the picture
is expanded to fill the space you have designated, it becomes
"pixelated" and looks ugly (prints that way too).

I suggest increasing your resolution and size before placing the
graphic.

Thanks for your suggestions. I have tried them, but
without success.

Could you perhaps mail me an example word document
containing an unpixelated bmp file, PLUS the bmp
as a separate file ???

I would be most greatful!

Cheers,
Guus.

 

[ppt]

Emilee -
I really think this is a bug... Word should not be scaling graphics when you have included a graphic at 100% of the real pixel size. I tried to post this problem yesterday but for some reason it didn't post. Can someone please dump the source code of these two pages and let me know if I have missed something

The first page was created in FP 2002 - http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/adulted/new/imagetest.ht
Looking at the code you can see the image is 94x95 pix

The second page was created in Word2002 - http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/adulted/new/imagetestword.ht
Looking at the code can see the image is 94x95 pix. However, it appears biggers as Word has scaled it approx 25%

The graphic is same and absolute sized 94x95 created at 72psi

As webmaster, I support the upper level pages of our sites using FP and pure HTLM tweaking... however, the rest of the the district staff support the underlying subpages in Word. All word pages have been scaling our graphics 25% so if I change the setting in Word to 75% all looks the same in IE browsers. However, in other Browsers the 25% difference shows.

This is a real problem that I don't remember ever experiencing with previous versions of Word. I regularly load updates and did not find a Knowledge Base Entry on this. Did I overlook a new setting in Word or have I missed something else
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
ppt

 

[Tim Murray]

But what resolution is 'native' to word???
For the screen and for the printer; because
they will be different.

No resolution is "native" to Word. It doesn't care if it's 1 or 1000 dpi. But
making a file divisible into 600 (75, 150, 300, 600) is a good rule of thumb
for better reproduction on desktop laser printers

You never mentioned the version of Word. Word 2000, for instance, natively
stores JPEG images and converts all raster formats to portable network
graphics (PNG). But usually they are very clean.

It also tends to bring in graphics at a size that it sees fit-- you may need
to check the actual sizes after import. But I've never seen Word (upon
import) scale a graphic unevenly by more than a percent or two. I see lots
of 49/50, 100/101, etc., but never anything obviously skewed.

 

[ppt]

"It also tends to bring in graphics at a size that it sees fit-- you may need
to check the actual sizes after import. But I've never seen Word (upon
import) scale a graphic unevenly by more than a percent or two. I see lots
of 49/50, 100/101, etc., but never anything obviously skewed.

Tim - Obviously skewed is just what I am experiencing....

The first page was created in FP 2002 - http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/adulted/new/imagetest.ht
Looking at the code you can see the image is 94x95 pix

The second page was created in Word2002 - http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/adulted/new/imagetestword.ht
Looking at the code you can see the image is 94x95 pix. However, it appears biggers as Word has scaled it approx 25%

The graphic is same and absolute sized 94x95 created at 72psi

See my full post in response to Emilee below..
Any suggestions? Thainks, ppt

 

[Tim Murray]

However, it appears biggers as Word has scaled it approx 25%.The graphic
is same and absolute sized 94x95 created at 72psi.

I almost hate to tell you this, but I viewed it on my PowerBook in Safari and
IE, and they both looked the same size to me.

The Word version has, of course, a ton of useless and Microsoft-centric junk
around it -- I have GoLive plugins to remove it -- perhaps a Windows-based
browser pays attention to that stuff and changes the image. But for me,
they're both the same.

 

[ppt]

Thanks for the review ! I didn't check it on a Mac yet.
But unfortunately, they really are different in IE
6.026. I did check it in Netscape 4.x and if I force the
scaling to 75% in Word then in IE they look the same but
in Netscape the scaling shows.

And yes it is a great example of the amount of usless
code that Word adds (make me long for the days of Word 95
or even 97) I reviewed the tangled web of code in Word
and didn't see anything....Unfortunately, in Education,
we are governed by our lack of healthy budgets. We have
designed the site based on the sub pages being supported
by district staff and they must use applications that
they already own - Word.

Maybe I am old fashioned (read anal developer ;-} but, I
do honestly believe an absolute image at 94x95pix should
appear as 94x95pix in whatever application you are using.

Any help anyone can give would be appreciated!
ppt