Formatting and Design Considerations for Graphics

File Extensions

• Definition: Groups of letters after a period in a file name indicating file format.
• Common Graphic File Extensions:
  • .png
  • .jpg
• Other File Types:
  • .pdf for Adobe PDF documents
  • .docx for Microsoft Word documents
  • .xlsx for Microsoft Excel documents

Finding File Extensions

• Windows OS:
  • Right-click file > Select 'Properties' > Read 'Type of File' in 'General' tab.
• Mac OS:
  • Click file > Select 'File' from the top menu > Get Info > Read file name and extension in the 'Name & Extension' section.

Graphics Quality

• Graphics should be:
  • Sharply rendered
  • Free from extraneous elements
  • Free from pixelation

Graph Creation

• Microsoft Excel Tips:
  • Use the 'Format' tab to adjust graph size.
  • Consider how graph appears on an 8.5 x 11 sheet.
  • Recommended size: 6 inches tall x 10 inches wide.
  • Avoid extra white space around the graph.
• MS Paint Tips:
  • Drag canvas background squares to reduce size.
  • Recommended canvas size: Less than 300x300 pixels.
  • To paste Excel graph into MS Paint:
    • Right-click graph > Copy > Open MS Paint > Right-click canvas > Paste.
  • Save as standalone graphic: File > Save As > Choose file extension.
  • Avoid resizing in MS Paint to prevent pixelation and distortion.

Using Screen Snipping Tools

• Snip graph cleanly.
• Avoid including cells and draggable anchors behind the graph.