PPT2001: Cannot Set Custom Size Setting on GIF Exports from PowerPoint (271119)

SYMPTOMS

You can save a Microsoft PowerPoint 2001 document as a series of Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) files (one file for each slide). When you save the document, PowerPoint allows you to specify the image size as something other than the default 720 x 540 pixels (10" x 7.5") by clicking the Options button. However, the GIF files that are created are always 720 x 540 pixels (10 inches x 7.5 inches), regardless of the dimensions you set in the Options dialog box before you save the file.

CAUSE

The GIF filter bases the pixel size of the image on the size of the slide itself at 72 DPI. Therefore even though you may have set the pixel dimensions to a value different than the default, the GIF always has the dimensions in pixels of:

Height in inches x 72 dpi = height in pixels
Width in inches x 72 dpi = width in pixels.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, resize the slide before saving it as a GIF. By manipulating the slide size before saving it as a GIF, you can increase the number of pixels in the final GIF.

Click Page Setup on the File menu.
In the Height and Width boxes, select the size in inches to get the pixel size that you want for the final GIF image. Use the formula: Pixel Size You Want, divided by 72.

For instance, if you want your GIF to be 1024 x 740, the page size would need to be 14.22" x 10.28".
Click OK, and then save your presentation as a GIF as you normally would.

WORKAROUND

Save the presentation in another graphic format (PNG or JPEG) and use a graphic converter to change the images to GIF format, with the image size you want.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior only occurs with GIF files. You can successfully set the dimensions for all other graphic formats.