Reduce PowerPoint File Size

Reduce PowerPoint File Size

Compress Pictures tool to the Rescue

Adding images to a presentation makes the presentation better but the file size of a presentation grows as images are inserted.

Often the original image size is larger than PowerPoint requires and the image is sized to a reduced viewing size in the slide. 

Though the image now looks smaller than the larger original, the actual file size is the same. The more images in the presentation the larger the file size becomes.

To reduce the actual image file size to match its new viewing size use the Compress Picture tool. This tool was added to PowerPoint XP/2002 to optimize images within a presentation.

To use the Compress Pictures tool:
1. Select the image and the Picture tool bar is activated.

2. Select the Compress Pictures icon on the tool bar to activate its dialog box. It looks like the insert image icon with four arrows pointing to each corner.

In the Compress Pictures dialog box change the Change resolution option from Print to Web/Screen.

To reduce the file size of only the selected image, leave the Apply to option set to, Selected pictures.

To reduce the file size of all the images in the presentation, change the Apply to option to All pictures in document.

3. Click OK to apply the settings.

4. Click Apply to confirm the Compress Pictures operation.

The Compress Pictures tool only reduces the size of jpeg images. It does not change the original image, only the image in the presentation.

I tend to use this tool towards the end of the presentation build. If you add images after the Compress Pictures tool was used you will need to run Compress Pictures again (it will not alter images previously reduced).