pptx to pdf conversion issues with EMF graphics

Question

pptx to pdf conversion issues with EMF graphics

Anonymous

When I create graphics using mathematical software (Igor Pro), my preferred method is to paste figures into powerpoint using an EMF file type.

This format by far looks the best, especially because when zooming in to examine close details, the vector graphics scale nicely.

Two problems with this format though:

my colleagues using Macs cannot view the figures
when converting to PDF, the figures shrink or get rearranged.

To be clear, there are several EMF options available to me when exporting graphics.

I can choose from the different graphics modes: GDI, GDI+, and QT graphics

The EMF, GDI mode looks bad in pptx format, but converts to pdf and looks great

The EMF, GDI+ mode looks great in pptx format, but is shrunk when converted to pdf

The EMF, QT mode looks great in pptx format, but is shrunk when converted to pdf

I can paste graphics as a PNG (or other file types) in any of the graphics modes as well; they all look bad in pptx format but convert to pdf at the right size, but still look bad.

Note - I am using Windows 10, and up to date office 365

Why are these EMF files shrunk when converting to PDF?

Is there some setting that will make these convert to pdf appropriately?

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

10 answers

Answer 1

Thanks for making the info/PPTX available. I'll have a look at the EMF + PDF aspect of it later, but for a more immediate workaround ....

>> I also tired the advanced settings options suggested to improve the png quality.

You tried one of the two suggestions I made. The one you missed is the one that's messing up your PNGs. You've pasted the images onto slides with blank content placeholders. If you doubt this, click one of the images, then press DEL to delete it. It'll revert to a blank placeholder. If the image is correctly inserted, it'll disappear, leaving nothing.

When you do this, PowerPoint ignores your compression settings and compresses the images regardless (and for "compresses" read "resamples to lower resolution" or "throws away the information that would have made the PNG look a lot better than it now does").

As I suggested above, if there are any blank content or picture placeholders on the slide, DELETE them, then add your images.

Answer 2

Anonymous

Thanks for the clarification.

Performing this second step of deleting the blank content placeholders before pasting helps a little.

This is a reasonable stop-gap.

I appreciate the advice.

Answer 3

Steve Rindsberg 99,086 MVP Volunteer Moderator

Here's another option to try, thanks to a friend at Microsoft who's been investigating this problem:

Instead of using Save As PDF, choose File | Print and under Printer, select "Microsoft Print to PDF"

Let us know how that works out.

Answer 4

Here's another option to try, thanks to a friend at Microsoft who's been investigating this problem:

Instead of using Save As PDF, choose File | Print and under Printer, select "Microsoft Print to PDF"

Let us know how that works out.

The combination of "Microsoft Print to PDF" looks good for the EMF with GDI, but not the other graphics modes.

This is unfortunate as GDI looks the worst in Powerpoint among the graphics modes I can choose from.

I'll take this as a win though, as at least there is one combination that achieves the desired pdf result.

Thanks!

Answer 5

Steve Rindsberg 99,086 MVP Volunteer Moderator

Glad to hear that we have a win, if only a partial one.

Thanks!

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pptx to pdf conversion issues with EMF graphics

10 answers