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Information: FAQs
Where are the official EPRI slide templates?
I can't open this gif, tif, eps, jpg, etc. in Word or Powerpoint. What do I do?
Do you have a picture of .......?
Can I borrow your stock CDs or access them online?
I have a horrible picture--can you "fix" it?
I found a great image in a magazine--can you scan it for me?
Since we're nonprofit, copyright issues don't apply to us, right?
Why can't you use this photo I downloaded from the web for my exhibit?
Why does my picture look pixelated or blocky?
What do you need to know to make a good scan for me?
How do I get a videotape duplicated?
What are some common graphics formats?
Send comments and questions to the Graphics Webmaster
Where are the official EPRI slide templates?
They can be downloaded from either
http://www.epri.comforms/ or http://www.epri.com/corporate/discover_epri/epri_facts/design/I can't open this gif, tif, eps, jpg, etc. in Word, Powerpoint. What do I do?
Many graphics file types are meant to be placed into other applications for viewing rather than to be opened directly. In that case they must usually be inserted, rather than opened. Use the Insert menu to place the file into your document.Do you have a picture of .......?
EPRI Graphics has a collection of nearly 3000 color images that can be used with relatively few restrictions. These images are part of the PhotoDisc stock library. The images are suitable for various publishing projects, presentations, exhibits, and the web. Our designers can also combine multiple images for a more customized look.
Currently we have the following volumes on hand:
1. Business and Industry
4. Science, Technology, and Medicine
7. Business and Occupations
14. Business and Transportation
26. Homes and Gardens
29. Modern Technologies
35. Business Today
39. Industry and Transportation
SS2. Signature Series 2: Urban Perspectives
BS15. Background Series 15: ElementsWe also have several CD collections of clip art line drawings.
Can I borrow your stock CDs or access them online?
No. Our license agreement does not permit online access to the images. A thumbnail catalog is available in Graphics to make your selections. A designer can then provide the images to you in whatever format you require.I have a horrible picture - can you "fix" it?
Maybe. Some images can be improved dramatically with the proper application of photo-editing tools. However, there must be enough good quality digital information within the file. In many cases, such as a poor scan or low-quality digital camera image, there is little or nothing that can be done to improve an image.How fast can you do this?
See the Pricing and Scheduling page.I found a great image in a magazine--can you scan it for me?
Not unless you have the express permission of the copyright holder. Any unauthorized use of material puts EPRI at legal risk.Since we're nonprofit, copyright issues don't apply to us, right?
They still apply. Copyright applies to any unauthorized use of intellectual property.Why can't you use this photo I downloaded from the Web for my exhibit? It looked fine on screen.
Because the photo was set up for a different display media. Images designed for on-screen viewing often don't contain enough image data for other uses. While they may be good enough for presentation purposes, they generally aren't of sufficient quality for professional printing or large displays.What is a bitmapped image?
There are basically two types of computer graphics: bitmapped and object-oriented.Bitmapped or raster images are collections of dots (pixels) laid out on a grid. The number of dots varies and each dot can be a different color. Generally, the more dots (information) you have the better the quality. Bitmapped images usually come from scanners, video cameras, digital cameras, applications like Photoshop or Paint, or screen captures. If you enlarge the image, you still have the same number of dots on your grid. A 2 x 2 inch square at 300 dpi will be 600 dots tall and wide.
Object-oriented or vector graphics define shapes by placing points in specific locations and drawing lines to connect the points. A 2 x 2 inch square will be defined mathematically by only 4 points connected by lines. It can be enlarged virtually without reduction in quality other than the limitations of the specific output device.Why does my picture look pixelated or blocky?
Your image is probably too low in resolution for your intended use or viewing size, i.e., there is not enough picture data. This lack of visual data significantly limits what can be done to improve the image file.What do you need to know to make a good scan for me?
EPRI Graphics has 2 digital scanners and can provide quality scans from both reflective art and 35-mm slides.When requesting scanning services it's important to provide us with the following specifications to give you the best results: Intended Use, Dimensions, Resolution, File Type, Color, Computer Platform. If you're unfamiliar with any of the terms you can either contact someone in Graphics or ask your contractor (designer, publisher, etc.).
Intended Use: the primary information needed when scanning an image. Will the image be used in a high-level brochure, on the Web, in Powerpoint, all of the above? None of the other factors can be determined without knowing how an image is going to be used. This sometimes means providing several versions of the same image to cover multiple uses.
Dimensions: the approximate width and height in inches of the scanned image in its intended use. For online use, a specific pixel width is usually more appropriate. This enables us to give you the optimum balance of quality and file size. If you use an image at anything other than 100% you're either losing quality (enlargement) or have a less efficient file size than needed (reduction).
Resolution: most scanned image needs can be met with one of four resolutions.
- On-screen and Internet use: 72 dpi
- Powerpoint presentations for overheads
and slides: 125-150 dpi
- Medium-quality internal publishing: 200 dpi
- High-quality offset publishing: 300 dpi
File Type
- JPEG files are appropriate for most general
uses of photographic images.
- TIFF files are usually preferred for
high-quality publishing. It's often necessary to
save them in CMYK color mode rather than
RGB. Many applications, including Powerpoint,
are designed for RGB files and can't properly
handle CMYK.
- GIF files are most appropriate for
non-photographic images destined
for the Web.
Color: is the image needed in color, black and white, or both?
Computer Platform: although EPRI is almost exclusively Windows-based, most designers and publishers work with Macintosh applications so if your scanned files are going to be passed on to a contractor you'll need to determine what they require.How do I get a videotape duplicated?
We don't currently have the ability to duplicate videotapes in-house but we have several vendors that can provide this service.What are some common graphics formats?
BMP (Windows BitMaP): Widely used in the PC world. It is also supported by some Macintosh programs (Adobe Photoshop) and can be opened by QuickTime's translators (use MoviePlayer or the PictureViewer application.) BMP files support a range of color depths (B&W, 16 colors, 256 colors, 16 bit and 24 or 32 bit true color.) These graphics are usually not compressed; there is a compression option, but it is not supported by all applications.DXF (Data eXchange Format): Autodesk created this format for CAD programs. Can be a 2D or 3D file.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): A high quality file for postscript printers. It has two components--a preview for placing in your document with a link to the printer data. When these two are separated, i.e., crossing platforms or copy/pasting into another application, only the low-resolution preview is printed.
GIF (Graphic Interchange Format): Lossless compression that works best on solid color graphics. Supports transparency and can have mulitple images for animating on Web pages.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): Lossy compression method that works best on photographic images.
PDF (Portable Document Format): These files created by Adobe Acrobat are ideal for cross-platform use. PDFs are compact and support postscript for high-quality printing. They allow the viewer to see a document as it was orignially designed regardless of the software used to create it.
PICT (on the PC, its 3 letter extension is pct): Graphics format developed by Apple for storing both bitmap and (low quality) vector graphics. It is the most common graphics format on the Macintosh, and is supported by most applications that support graphics. Windows users can open PICT files using either Adobe Photoshop or the PictureViewer application included with QuickTime 3.0
TIF (Tagged-Image File): Commonly used for high-resolution graphics, layout, and desktop publishing needs.
WMF (Windows MetaFile): A metafile supports both bitmap and vector information. However, it can't support the smooth and subtle vectors that are found in an EPS file.
