ICT PD/Multimedia

Multimedia

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Tips for managing file size

When you are producing resources for students you need to bear in mind the size of the files, especially if you are uploading the resources onto Moodle. Ideally files should not be larger than 1 or 2 MB.

Graphics are usually what increases your file size. If you are including graphics in your document you should resize these BEFORE you add them to your document. If you resize the images from within your word or powerpoint document, this will make the pictures look smaller but the file size will still be large.

It is also a good idea to avoid coloured or patterned backgrounds in your documents.

Adding videos to your documents will also increase the file size dramatically.

What can I do?

Powerpoint: In Powerpoint you can use the Compress pictures option when you save the file. This is in the Tools button in the Save As dialogue box, and in the Pictures toolbar.

Video: Instead of embedding a video into your Powerpoint, you could upload the video to Youtube (or similar) and just link to the video from your presentation.

Resizing Images

Using Microsoft Picture Editor to resize an image
Note: any image editor can be used. Look for Image Resize or Resize Image commands in the editor.

1. Make sure the image you want to use in is copied and pasted or saved to your my Documents > My Pictures folder as this is the folder whose image contents automatically display in Office Picture Manager.
   
2. Start > All Programs > Microsoft Office > Microsoft Office Tools > Microsoft Office Picture Manager
   
3. Locate the image you want to resize in the main window of the Picture Manager
   
4. Click the Edit Pictures button (in either location in which it appears on screen)
   
5. Click the Resize button
   
6. Click the ‘Percentage of original width x…’ button. This allows you to enter a lower percentage than 100% to reliably reduce the image without distorting it. As you assign a percentage, look at the ‘new size’ pixel dimensions. For Learn, the maximum width should be 300 pixels. If much wider, this can force the left and right hand blocks (e.g. the Course Menu and Calendar block) to squeeze up. The first value shown is the width, the second is the height.
   
7. Adjust the percentage value (click the up/down arrows to do this) until the pixel width is approximately 300pixels.
   
8. Click OK
   
9. Finally, click File > Save As [give it a name and save it to a location in My Pictures]. From here, the image can be uploaded into your resource.
   
   

Resizing an image on a Mac
The easiest way to resize and image using a Mac is to drag the image into iPhoto. Click on the image in iPhoto and select export from the File dropdown menu. Here you can choose the photo format (usually jpeg is best), JPEG quality and the image size. After clicking export you will be asked where you would like to save the image.