Using image formats in Word (Word XP)

The answer is not the image format, but the image file size.

Most images that people use are of a much higher bit density than is needed for use in a document.

What you need to do, is train people to edit the image file down to the size required for the document before inserting it.

For use in a document, the image does not need to be any higher in density than 600 DPI at the size it will be in the finished document.
Typically, you will not see the difference if the image density is between 100 and 200 DPI.

A rule of thumb. If you need to make the image smaller to fit the page, the image file is too big.

Chas

well this is first time ever did nost agree with Chas or defer to him if i didn't but i think you *might* just have an image format issue. Word very strange about inserted jps (have you considering linking not inserting?) in my experience anyway. see for yourself. take a jpg into photoshop. save it as a wmf then as a low res jpg per Chas then go into word and make three documents. into each one insert either the wmf the low res jpg and the high res jpg. compaare the file sizes...
my 2 cents is: why you using word for whatever this is that has pictures in it? word for text editing, not for page layout, not for graphics manipulation, imho.

It can be a bit daunting, but try to develop an understanding of and start using the "Master Document" in Word. I believe most of your file size/saving problems will go away.

hb