paste Powerpoint objects to GIMP

HPE007 · **Joined:** Nov 21, 2018 **Posts:** 5

GIMP Version: 2.8.22
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

I want to use GIMP to create transparent PNG images. I want to copy/paste text, boxes & arrows from MS Powerpoint into GIMP 2.8.22, then export to PNG so these can be put onto a video timeline. I've got it to work perfectly except the objects pasted into GIMP aren't located properly. I have a 1920 x 1080 very thin box around the objects in MS Powerpoint. I was hoping to copy the 1920 x 1080 very thin box with the objects inside into my 1920 x 1080 GIMP file and have it all line up, but it is shifted and larger. Any solutions ? Thanx for the help !!!

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:45 pm **(#2)**

HPE007 wrote:

GIMP Version: 2.8.22
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

I want to use GIMP to create transparent PNG images. I want to copy/paste text, boxes & arrows from MS Powerpoint into GIMP 2.8.22, then export to PNG so these can be put onto a video timeline. I've got it to work perfectly except the objects pasted into GIMP aren't located properly. I have a 1920 x 1080 very thin box around the objects in MS Powerpoint. I was hoping to copy the 1920 x 1080 very thin box with the objects inside into my 1920 x 1080 GIMP file and have it all line up, but it is shifted and larger. Any solutions ? Thanx for the help !!!

I've never used MS Powerpoint.
However,
with that said.
This is what I have to offer.
As a possible solution.

The object seems to not be 1920x1080 in size.
You say the object is 1920x1080,
but then say the object is very tiny.
The size you're referring to is not tiny.
Which is confusing to me.

Perhaps putting a 1920x1080 box/outline as part of the object,
within MS Powerpoint.
Much like an actual boarder of 1920x1080.
Would keep the object the correct size,
when brought into a 1920x1080 canvas in GIMP.
You can then remove the outline/boarder from the object,
while in GIMP.
Then export the 1920x1080 file as a PNG image with transparency at 1920x1080.

HPE007 · **Joined:** Nov 21, 2018 **Posts:** 5

Ok let me explain a bit further. I have objects - text and arrows, etc. I put a 1920 x 1080 box around it with the outline being very thin. It's fine if the thin outline makes it to the video, it won't be noticed. I copied and pasted the objects and the box outline into GIMP and it doesn't line up with the 1920x1080 window in GIMP. I just updated to the latest version of GIMP and the same problem happens.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:17 pm **(#4)**

HPE007 wrote:

Ok let me explain a bit further. I have objects - text and arrows, etc. I put a 1920 x 1080 box around it with the outline being very thin. It's fine if the thin outline makes it to the video, it won't be noticed. I copied and pasted the objects and the box outline into GIMP and it doesn't line up with the 1920x1080 window in GIMP. I just updated to the latest version of GIMP and the same problem happens.

If the image form MS Powerpoint is a PNG image.
Why can't you use it?
Is it the transparency that is the issue?

Also,
if the image from MS Powerpoint is indeed a PNG image of 1920x1080.
It should fit onto a canvas within GIMP that is of the same size.

Prehaps the DPI is more than 72,
or that MS Powerpoint is adding a boarder around the image,
which is making it larger?

Can the image be recreated entirely from scratch using GIMP?
Can the object be exported from MS Powerpoint as a png,
or are you using a copy and paste feature within MS Powerpoint?

Maybe,
if you can post the image,
that you get from MS Powerpoint.
We can help to make it as is needed for your video.

* * *

One more thing.
Don't create an empty canvas in GIMP.
Just copy the image from MS Powerpoint.

Open GIMP and go to,
Edit>Paste and paste it into GIMP,
without creating a canvas.

HPE007 · **Joined:** Nov 21, 2018 **Posts:** 5

My 2010 version of powerpoint won't do pngs with transparent background. If they did, that would be perfect. If you save a powerpoint png it will have a white background that will cover the other images in Movie Studio.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:36 pm **(#6)**

HPE007 wrote:

My 2010 version of powerpoint won't do pngs with transparent background. If they did, that would be perfect. If you save a powerpoint png it will have a white background that will cover the other images in Movie Studio.

Do you think you can post the image,
that you want on a transparent background?

I'd be willing to put the object,
where you want it to be.
With a transparent background for you.

Or,
I can just create the image from scratch within GIMP,
with the correct size and also transparency.
So you can use it as an overlay in a video.

racer-x · **Joined:** Apr 15, 2017 **Posts:** 1837

You should be able to key out the white background in your video editor assuming it has a chroma key filter. Or overlay in a track above and use Screen Mode blending mode, assuming your video editor supports blending modes.

Pocholo · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2018 10:23 pm **(#8)**

HPE007 wrote:

My 2010 version of powerpoint won't do pngs with transparent background. If they did, that would be perfect. If you save a powerpoint png it will have a white background that will cover the other images in Movie Studio.

Hi HPE007. I work a lot with Powerpoint and there is a way to do it. You have to Group the Objects:

1. Click on one of the object press and hold the Ctrl key. Now holding the Ctrl key click on all the other objects to select each one until you have all selected.

2. On the top menu of the Powerpoint click on Format, the click on Group and select Goup. That will group all your Object into one Object.

3. Right click on the the selection of the Object and save it as PNG. That is it, and just open it in Gimp and you should have a transparency in your Image. I hope this help you.

sallyanne · **Posted:** Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:52 am **(#9)**

That's strange that 2010 powerpoint wont do transparency. 2010 publisher does, even has an option to change a particular colour to transparency.

Pocholo · **Posted:** Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:41 am **(#10)**

Well, if you try to Copy and Paste initially in PowerPoint, you're just going to Paste the Slide as jpeg. But if you group the Objects, as I illustrated you can save it as a Png.

HPE007 · **Joined:** Nov 21, 2018 **Posts:** 5

Pocholo - Awesome !!! Grouping and saving as png does make a transparent image !!! It saves a step - no need for GIMP, the png goes right into Movie studio. Powerpoint also names the slides as picture3, 4, 5, etc, so it saves the step to name files too - even faster. It's not doing it cleanly though - when the image is put on the timeline in Movie Studio it is scaled a little smaller and lower. It should work fine as is but is off (F()<k!) I'll play with this - there might be a setting to fix this too. Can't do it now, got to go to Thanksgiving. Thanx !!

Pocholo · **Posted:** Thu Nov 22, 2018 1:44 pm **(#12)**

Your're welcome HPE007. That is why we joined placed like this place, to learn more about this awesome program :hi5

. Happy Thanksgiving to you! :cheers

HPE007 · **Joined:** Nov 21, 2018 **Posts:** 5

After trying settings and properties and lots of tests with no solutions, I brutally slammed through trial and error. Final solution (I hope) - I set my powerpoint page to 12.79" x 7.19". I put a small circle in top left and bottom right corners. I made their color match my backdrop with a transparency of 99% so they won't be seen.

Copy snapshot to clipboard from Movie Studio and paste onto my powerpoint slide.
stretch the snapshot to fit the powerpoint slide
Add text/boxes/arrows (stay away from the edges).
Delete the snapshot
Ctrl-A to select all
right click Group
right click Save as picture (png is already chosen as file type in window that pops up, file location is the same as last save and new file will have new number)
Drag file to Movie Studio timeline (window for subdirectory where files will be is kept open. It's fast once it's all setup