Do PNG files take longer to print??

[Guest]

A template I have created uses PNG files on the masters in order to allow the
user to change background colours / add background images. Although the
actual PNG files are only approx 100KB they seem to take forever to print
(when printing a large presentation - say over 20 slides) - the file takes
ages to process thru the printer - sometimes up to 1 hour.

Is there a known problem with printing PNG files??

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Baret,

Something that can make your presentation takes ages to print is
'transparency / alpha channels'.

Does your background contain any 'transparency' areas?

Or can you do a test and insert the same image as a JPG - print it - time
it - what's the result?
if it's the same - then it's not a png issue

cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
http://www.awesomebackgrounds.com
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints, tips and more...

 

[Guest]

Yes there is transparency in order to allow the user to change background
colours or place image behind the png file (logo and a frame png file).

Thats a good idea to replace with jpg and see if it makes a difference in
order to establish if it is the png or not. I will try that!

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

A template I have created uses PNG files on the masters in order to allow the
user to change background colours / add background images. Although the
actual PNG files are only approx 100KB they seem to take forever to print
(when printing a large presentation - say over 20 slides) - the file takes
ages to process thru the printer - sometimes up to 1 hour.

Is there a known problem with printing PNG files??

Not PNGs specifically but any time you use an image instead of a flat color or
vector graphics, it results in WAY more data being sent to the printer so it
takes longer to print.

Also, the size of the image file is never a very good indicator of the amount of
data involved; PNGs and JPGs are both compressed, though in very different ways,
but the data may have to go to the printer uncompressed.

A 100kb PNG or JPG might actually turn into several megabytes of data for the
printer to handle.

If you only need the image for flat color as opposed to a detailed picture, it
can be MUCH smaller than you'd think. A 100x100 pixel image might be enough.

And as Taj mentions, transparency can be a real killer.