Extract images from PowerPoint

Problem

You have an image in PowerPoint and need to use it elsewhere. When you copy and paste the image to other programs, you get a low resolution image.

Solution

If you have PowerPoint XP or 2003:

• Right-click the image, choose "Save as image" from the pop-up menu. The Save As Picture dialog box appears.
• Select a location for the picture and give it a name
• Click the downward-pointing arrowhead next to the Save button and choose "Save original".

If you have an earlier version of PowerPoint, then it's MS PhotoEditor to the rescue. PhotoEditor is included in Office 97-2002, so if it's not already installed, re-run Setup and install it.

• Click the image in PowerPoint to select it, then choose Edit, Copy or press Ctrl+C.
• Start PhotoEditor and choose Edit, Paste As New Image.
• Save the image from PhotoEditor to the format of your choice.

If you have PaintShop Pro (formerly from JASC but now sold by Corel) you'll probably find that it works well for this also.

Problem

When you copy and paste images from PowerPoint to most other programs, you get the image as it's currently displayed in PowerPoint, not at its original resolution.

For example, if you have a 1024x768 pixel screen capture that you've imported into PowerPoint and reduced to 1/4 screen size and you're working on a system running at 800x600, when you copy and paste, you'll get 400x300 pixels, not the original 1024x768 image.

Apparently, PowerPoint also puts the full original image on the clipboard, but in a format that most other apps don't understand, so they can't paste it. MS PhotoEdit understands this special format, so you get the full original image resolution.

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