Saving screenshot of a spreadsheet

[gloriad64706371]

What file format would make the sharpest image of a screenshot of a spreadsheet?

I want to insert it into a blog post.

I've only tried a JPG, and it looks blurry.

[Derek Cross]

JPG is the raster format that can be read on all email attachments. What are the image dimensions in pixels of your JPG?

A PDF would be the clearest – are you able to include PDFs?

[anita1390]

PDF (as an end product) can not be read on mobile devices, even if blog allows it as an upload.

[anita1390]

What type of spread sheet, excel or google drive or other, can you output PDF and them crop and resave in PS? Excel allows PDF save.

Because PS is pixel-based, I would take the PDF into AI (IIlustrator) and save PNG which I feel is "better" then a JPG for this. Yes PNG can be saved in PS but I feel AI will give you better quality since hopefully PDF will be imported as vector into AI. PS deals in pixels/dots, AI can deal with vector/line or pixels/dots.

Alternately, it depends on the size of your screen if you want a decent screenshot. On a desktop there is no issue IMHO.

[Per Berntsen]

anita1390  wrote

What type of spread sheet, excel or google drive or other, can you output PDF and them crop and resave in PS? Excel allows PDF save.

Because PS is pixel-based, I would take the PDF into AI (IIlustrator) and save PNG which I feel is "better" then a JPG for this. Yes PNG can be saved in PS but I feel AI will give you better quality since hopefully PDF will be imported as vector into AI. PS deals in pixels/dots, AI can deal with vector/line or pixels/dots.

Yes, PNG is the best choice - the text will be sharper and crisper than in a jpg, which works best with photographic images.

And there should be no difference in quality between a PNG from Photoshop and a PNG from Illustrator.

PDF (as an end product) can not be read on mobile devices, even if blog allows it as an upload.

All my Android devices can open PDFs, but it's kind of irrelevant here, since the OP wants to post the screenshot on a blog, and not a link to a PDF. Web browsers can't open PDFs, whether on a computer or a mobile device.

gloriad64706371 - just save the screenshot as PNG in Photoshop, and you'll be fine.

[Derek Cross]

Do you have to save it from a screen shot?

Try this instead, export the spreadsheet from Excel as a PDF then open the PDF in Photoshop and save it as a JPG.

[Nancy OShea]

How about Export Excel to HTML?  That will give the clearest results that can also be read by translators, search engines and screen readers.   Images can't be translated.

Nancy

[Per Berntsen]

Good point, Nancy.

But if this is merely meant to be an illustration, PNG would be the best alternative for a screenshot.

I should also clarify what I wrote earlier about web browsers and PDFs.

Web browsers can open PDFs that are linked on the web page, but they cannot display a PDF image on a web page the same way they display jpgs or PNGs.

[gloriad64706371]

Thank you all for your replies.  Nothing seems to work.

I want to insert a clear photo into a blog post.

Saving as HTML inserts a link.

All other methods end up with a blurry picture.

I tried PS, AI, Paint - savings in different formats.

I guess it's really not necessary, but it certainly would look better.

[anita1390]

Gloria,

If you send me a link to the spreadsheet as a PDF so I can download I will work with vector. However it seems like your text is so tiny... What is your required width in pixels for the end result....

Just trying to understand the benefit of showing an image with the text so small... what are you trying to convey to the reader with the image? It is just to be used as a Call To Action to support the download request?  If this is the case, why not use a button as art with a link below it.  The button can read DOWNLOAD SPREADSHEET  and the link below the art can include the benefit of the download. For example, Experience how etc etc etc

- Anita

[Nancy OShea]

Looks like Facebook or Blog software is stepping on the image quite a bit.   I post screenshots in these forums all the time with much better results than that.