Frequently Asked Questions

When dealing with graphics files there are 3 properties that go into determining the resolution of a file.

Pixels:  The exact number of ‘dots’ both horizontally and vertically that make up the file.  This is the actual resolution of the file.  DPI and Inches affect only the size of the image as it is displayed or printed, but the actual pixels is finite in a bitmapped file.

DPI (Dots per inch):  The number of ‘dots’ or pixels per each inch of a printed or scanned document.

Inches:  The actual size (either printed or scanned) of an image.  Inches have no effect on size when displayed on a monitor or projected!

These three parameters have direct effect on one another.  With any 2 of the parameters known a simple mathmatical formula will give you the third.  Let’s look at a simple example:

An image created in Photoshop at 300 x 300 (that’s 300 pixels wide by 300 pixels high) with a DPI of 100 is exactly 3″ x 3″.  

Inches = Pixels/DPI

              300 /  100 = 3

If you look at the Image Size Menu in Photoshop you can see a little easier how these relate.

Notice the Resample Image check box.  This determines whether you want to actually resize the image.  With this box UNchecked, when you enter a new DPI, Photoshop will automatically change the DPI to compensate and vice-versa.

DPI = Resolution – A common mistake

Many people think DPI is all that matters.  They couldn’t be more wrong!  A person creating graphics for print often says “I need it at 300 DPI.”  That really doesn’t tell us much.  For example, if I am scanning something for that person that is 2″ x 2″ and I scan at 300 DPI, I will get an image that is 600 x 600 pixels.  If my original was 8″ x 10″, I will get a result of 2400 x 3000 pixels.  That is quite a difference in both resolution AND FILE SIZE.  What else is missing here.  Well, it doesn’t really matter what the original size of the image is (in inches), what matters is what the size of the output will be.  So if the person asking for 300 DPI also added that this image (when printed) will be 2″ by 2″, then we can do the math!  We know know that they want a final resolution of 600 x 600 pixels!  We can do the math when we scan based on the size of the original, or scan at a high enough resolution and resize it in Photoshop (or any graphics program).

How does this relate to PowerPoint?

Well that’s where it get’s a little tricky, because PowerPoint® does not really give the user an option to set the DPI, although the format of the presentation File | Page Setup is done in inches.  Moreover, PowerPoint® actually changes (behind the scenes) the DPI it is working in based on the PowerPoint® version and your Windows display setting (i.e. small fonts or large fonts).  This has really nothing to do with what resolution you have set-up in slide show settings and therefore your images rarely are imported at the correct size.

Moreover, there are issues with the file types being imported.  JPG files will sometimes have the DPI and inches in them, GIF’s will ONLY have the pixel information, and PNGs will ALWAYS (when exported from Photoshop) change the DPI to 72 no matter what resolution you were working in with Photoshop.

If you are creating for an on-screen presentation only the ONLY thing that really matters is the Slide Show Resolution shown here in the Slide Show | Set Up Show Pull-down menu.  

This is the resolution that you will be playing back in.  In many cases, this is set to 1920×1080.  So if you create all your photoshop files at 1920×1080 you are creating exactly what you want played back.  BUT, I’m sure many have noticed that when you export an image from photoshop as a JPG, PNG, etc… and insert them into PowerPoint, they are still not sized correctly.  This is where pptXTREME’s  comes in! 

If your PowerPoint page setup is at the 16×9 default of 13.333″ x 7.5″ and you are creating a show to be played back at 1920×1080… then, once again, it is simple math.  1920 / 13.333 = 144.0 DPI – Ditto for the Height.  So in the pptXTREME DPI setting set the DPI to 144. 

Now the images imported using pptXTREME PSDImport or Import/Export tools, will first look at the actual pixels being imported, adjust based on your DPI setting and BINGO they are imported at the RITE SIZE!

1. Run PowerPoint as Administrator
   1. Right-Click on PowerPoint in the Start Menu
   2. From the right-click menu choose Run As Administrator
2. Save Library AS  (from the effects library controls)– Save the current library in a new location outside Program Files.  We recommend c:\users\<your user>\Documents\pptXTREME
3. Quit PowerPoint
4. Reboot
5. Run PowerPoint normally (not as administrator)

It seems Adobe has changed some underlying controls in the Photoshop protocol with the 2018 update.  

For the time being we recommend uninstalling Photoshop 2018 and going back to 2017.

Here is a link with instructions for installing a previous version of any Creative Cloud application.
http://blogs.adobe.com/kevinmonahan/2014/01/29/revert-to-a-previous-version-of-premiere-pro-cc-or-any-creative-cloud-application/ 

There may be a few different reasons that your pptXTREME Photoshop Import cannot connect to Photoshop. Here we will list possible solutions that have been successful for others. Please try them all in order (they are in order of what is most likely).

Please take notes (and screen captures) as you go along. In the rare occurrence, that none of these sequences fixes your issue, we will need this information to determine next steps.

1. Make sure your versions match. If you are running PowerPoint 64 bit, then make sure you are using Photoshop’s 64 bit version. If you are running PowerPoint 32 bit, then make sure you are using Photoshop’s 32 bit version. (Windows x64 or x32 does not matter, just Office and Photoshop must match)
2. Try the following sequence:
   • Close Photoshop and PowerPoint (make sure there are no hidden windows still open)
   • Start PowerPoint
   • DO NOT LAUNCH Photoshop manually, click the Photoshop Import tool from pptXTREME in PowerPoint.
     If Photoshop is not currently running, pptXTREME will launch it automatically, this is the best way to ensure you are attempting to use the properly matched versions of PowerPoint and Photoshop.
3. REBOOT computer, then try sequence in #2 above again.
4. Repair Photoshop Installation
   • Uninstall Photoshop
   • Reboot computer
   • Re-install Photoshop (make sure to match the bitness (32 or 64 bit) to match your Office Installation
   • Test Photoshop Scripting
     • Launch Photoshop
     • From the pull down menu choose File | Scripts | Image Processor
     • If the Image Processor opens, then scripting is working properly, you can close the window. (sometimes this function will automatically restore a previously nonworking scripting connection).
     • Exit Photoshop
     • Open PowerPoint
     • Launch pptXTREME Photoshop Import

If you have tried all the solutions above, and pptXTREME still cannot connect to Photoshop, please head over to this forum.

pptXTREME 2015 can be installed independently of earlier versions and they can co-exist if you so choose.
To uninstall pre-2105 versions:
1. Open Programs and Features by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Programs, and then clicking Programs and Features.
2. Select each legacy pptXTREME product, and then click Uninstall.

To install 2015 (and above) products, follow the instructions in the help section.

Each pptXTREME licensing is for 1 concurrent user. For each license you purchase, you may install on 1 laptop computer and 1 desktop computer as long as they are not used at the same time.

See more about how to transfer licenses to another computer here.

You may transfer your license(s) as often as you like by following this procedure.

First, To remove your license from 1 computer:

1. Choose Product Installation/Activation from the About/Register menu on the pptXTREME Ribbon
2. For each product you wish to move click the Remove License ling in the last column of the table

Next, Install the license(s) on the second computer

1. Choose Product Installation/Activation from the About/Register menu on the pptXTREME Ribbon
2. Paste registration codes for all products you wish to activate into the large text box
3. Click Activate Registration Code(s) button

Unfortunately we are not  setup for resellers at this time.  It is something we are hoping to do in the future, but for now, please have your customer buy direct.

 If you have a customer requesting a bulk order please contact us at quote@pptxtreme.com.

Recent updates from Microsoft office have made changes on how their system works in a multi-monitor multi-DPI environment.  You may see the following issues with our current build of pptXTREME software:

• The pptXTREME Shortcut Bar may become shown on a wrong monitor, outside of PowerPoint’s main window and cannot be moved.

Until we have a chance to remedy the situation, here is a work-around:

In PowerPoint choose:

File > Options > General>

User Interface Options:

When using multiple displays

Choose Optimize for compatibility

Restart PowerPoint.

The Shortcut bar should now function properly.