By Deidre Bastian

“What resolution should I make my pictures for a PowerPoint slide show?” If you have asked this question and gotten answers such as: “Just scan your images at 96 dpi”, I’ll have to ask you to press your brain’s Restart button because, for PowerPoint purposes, it is incorrect.

OK, so what if I don’t know anything about the computer or the printer that will run the presentation? That is fine, because you will learn why resolution rules for the screen are different from printed slides.

Let me begin by explaining that image resolution is the number of pixels in an image, measured in pixels per inch. And figuring out the optimal image resolution in PowerPoint is vital, yet simple. This article will explain how to set the best image resolution for PowerPoint from both the Screen and Printer Resolution.

SCREEN RESOLUTION FOR POWERPOINT:

First, let’s learn a little about Screen Resolution. It is also called Display Settings, which refers to the number of pixels displayed across the width of your computer monitor or data projector image. The term dpi (dots per inch) is irrelevant with screen resolution, as it is simply an output resolution.

The most common display settings are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768, while the default resolution of PowerPoint is 720 x 540 (almost the same as digital video).

The problem is, your image in PowerPoint won’t get better displayed or projected when it exceeds the screen resolution. For example, if the slide image reaches 2048 x 1280, and the screen resolution is only 1024 x 768, then reducing image size in your presentation is necessary.

The solution to this problem: Create the size (in pixel) of slide images equal to the screen resolution of your target computer or projector. For instance, if your screen resolution is 1024 ? 768, youb would set your full-slide image size to 1024 ? 768. If the image is half the size of the slide, the optimal resolution for screen should be cut to 1024/2 pixels wide and 768/2 pixels high.

Have you noticed how often the number 1024 ? 768 has come up so far? There’s a reason for that, because 1024 ? 768 is a very common resolution for laptop displays and for video projectors.

Caution: The larger the image files, the larger your PowerPoint files will become, and the slower the images will display. But I suspect that all you really want is for your images to be just “big enough” to look good, and not a pixel bigger.

PRINTER RESOLUTION FOR PRINTING POWERPOINT:

Printer resolution refers to the number of pixels (or dots) across a line (the width) of your printed image. It is the only issue that DPI is significant with. DPI is the measure of printed image quality on the paper, while PIXEL dimensions are relevant to all images displayed on a computer or projector.

Before printing slide images, be aware of the resolution of your printer. It is not economic to print an image of 400 dpi on a 200 dpi printer. Just save the image at a resolution of 200 dpi.

But what about DPI?

In case somebody tells you stuff about DPI, pay no heed, as all that matters is pixels.

What is the best image file format for PowerPoint?

PNG and JPG are the best image considerations for your PowerPoint presentation. Use PNG for smaller size PowerPoint presentations, and JPG to minimise file size for e-mailing.

What about video projectors? The screen’s bigger; don’t they call for higher resolution images?

No. It doesn’t matter how large or small the screen, it is the resolution of the projector that counts, and most of them top out at 1024 ? 768. Slide image pixels may spread when displayed on a large screen, but the number of pixels remains the same.

How can I check display resolution of the target computer?

To check the display resolution of your PC; right-click on the Windows desktop, and choose Properties. You should see the Display Properties dialog box. Click the Settings tab. Under Screen Resolution, you’ll see the current setting; it will look something like ‘1024 ? 768,’ (meaning 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels high).

In a nutshell, the best resolution for image in PowerPoint is not the highest, but the one that fits to the output device (projector, screen and printer). Until we meet again, fill your life with memories rather than regrets. Enjoy life and stay on top of your game!

NB: Columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail.com

ABOUT COLUMNIST: Ms Bastian is a trained graphic designer who has qualifications of M.Sc., B.Sc., A.Sc. She has trained at institutions such as: Miami Lakes Technical Centre, Success Training College, College of the Bahamas, Nova Southeastern University, Learning Tree International, Langevine International and Synergy Bahamas.