Graphics, Images, and Media Handling
Domain focus: choosing the right asset format, sizing it without distortion, and keeping the file portable.
Formats and resolution
PNG for transparency and screen captures; JPEG for photographs; SVG for icons and logos because it scales and can be recoloured in PowerPoint; never enlarge a small bitmap. Size images to roughly 150 ppi at final display size, which means about 1920 px wide for a full 16:9 slide. Compress Pictures can delete cropped areas and downsample to a target ppi - do this after cropping, not before.
Placement and editing tools
Crop to Shape, Crop to Aspect Ratio and Fill keep proportions intact; drag corner handles to scale and edge handles only when you intend to stretch. Align, Distribute and Group turn loose objects into a stable composition. Set as Background or picture fill avoids a separately floating image. Give every meaningful image alt text and mark decorative images as decorative. For video, MP4/H.264 is the safest codec; use Trim, Start automatically or On click, and Optimize Media Compatibility. Linked media breaks when the file moves - embed it or package it.
Worked example
A 4000×3000 photo will fill a 16:9 slide. Crop to 16:9, resize to 1920 px wide, then Compress Pictures at 150 ppi. Reasoning: cropping first removes pixels you would otherwise pay for, and the final pixel width matches the projector, keeping the deck email-friendly without visible quality loss.
Traps that cost marks
Dragging side handles and squashing faces; upscaling a 300 px logo; embedding a 200 MB video in an email deck; leaving linked files on a shared drive; decorative icons given verbose alt text.