PowerPoint auto-shrink the Slide Master background graphic during print out.

Question

PowerPoint auto-shrink the Slide Master background graphic during print out.

Anonymous

Hi,

I notice that since 16.0.7167.2026 built, the PowerPoint would auto-shrink the slide master background graphic, during printout to the printer.

This is how it presents in PowerPoint:

This is the printed out (see the scanned printout):

This is what happened in the Slide Master, which it had a solid rectangle to patch/cover the text (which was revealed in the physical print out due to the background image shrinkage)

I shall send the pptx file via PM, as it is my company's slides.

Please assist.

Thanks.

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10 answers

Answer 1

>> Both printer properties do not have "Scale to Fit" options.

That's an option in the PowerPoint print dialog, not the printer properties.

To find it, choose File | Print then click the downward-pointing triangle next to "Full Page Slides". The "Scale to Fit Paper" option is there. Try printing with that enabled and disabled (or rather, since we know it doesn't work right however it's set now, set it oppositely and try that).

It'd be worth changing the "High Quality" option (same place) as well.

I can't repro the problem here (Win7, PPT 16.0.7070.2036) with an HP OfficeJet 8100 printer (both fit to page settings work ok).

ISTR that a number of people have had problems with FujiXerox printers (or let's say PowerPoint has had problems with the printer?).

In any case, it's worth checking to see if there are updated printer drivers available.

Possible workarounds until you find a real solution:

Save the file as a PDF, then print from the PDF.
Copy the background elements on the master slide then Paste Special, As PNG and then delete the original. Use the PNG version instead. That "flattens" the rather complex graphic you're starting with ... as a test, I ungrouped it several times to get to its base components. It's got bazillions of individual objects. That might be what's making the printer driver throw wobblies.

Bazillions. Wobblies. Pardon the extreme technojargon. ;-)

Answer 2

Thanks for the help John.

Cropping did not solve the issue, now the shrinking "position" has changed slightly (see the scanned printout)

On a side note, i've done another test on a HP printer (the previous printouts were on FujiXerox)

The HP P1606dn LaserJet could print as it is.

But the FujiXerox DocuCentre C6680 or C4475 still won't work.

Answer 3

It prints OK here BUT ...

The image on the layout has transparent areas that extend beyond the slide and covering text with a shape is probably not the way to go.

Why not use the crop tool to crop out the transparent area and the select both the cover and the image > CUT and paste as a PNG (On a copy of course) then see if that prints as expected.

Answer 4

Hi Steve,

The current slide size is Standard 4:3

I've tried both Letter & A4 paper size, the result are the same.

These settings were printed out out on both FujiXerox printers, i.e. DocuCentre-IV C4475 & C6680

Both printer properties do not have "Scale to Fit" options.

I've removed some company related info from the slide master - you may download an copy from here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw90Q5kIQyx-VWtGbGxkVndJaFk/view?usp=sharing

Thanks very much for the help!

Answer 5

Very odd, indeed.

It looks like the rectangle on the Master printed at the correct size but the rest of the master and slide content got shrunk.

What is the current slide size (in PowerPoint)?

What paper size did you choose in the Print dialog | Printer Properties?

In the print dialog, did you choose Scale To Fit Paper or was that left unchecked?

We don't have PM for sending files but if the file you used for the screenshots has no other information in it, you could post a copy of it on DropBox/OneDrive or the like and reply with the link here.