Extract images from a Word document

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Simple extraction of images from Word

Once an image is included in a Word document (as opposed to being linked to it), it becomes part of that document and there is no way of extracting that image for re-use, while it remains part of that document. You can, however, save the image as a web page, which will separate the component parts out of the document as files (from Word 2000 on).

Use the file > save as dialog to select the correct web page option - i.e. Web Page (*.htm; *.html) as opposed to Single File Web Page (*.mht: *.mhtl)

Note:

The File menu has an option to save as a web page. The default option for this function is the single page web format, hence the suggestion to save the document in the manner described.

 

The images will be saved in a sub folder of the folder into which the document is saved which will have a name based on the filename chosen i.e. <Filename>_files. This is the default setting and is controlled from Tools > Options > General > Web Options (see illustration).

 

In Word 2007 access to the above dialog is from the Word Options via the Office Button see below

 

In the following example, I have used the name Extract.htm. The sub folder in this case will therefore be called Extract_files.

 

The files will not be visible in the 'save as' dialog, but you can view them in the file > open dialog with the file type set to 'all files' (as below), the Insert Picture dialog or by using Windows Explorer.

Note:

This alone will extract the images, but the original resolution no longer applies. You can improve the resolution of the extracted images by setting the web options from the 'Tools' sub menu of the file save window (or from Word Tools > Options > General > Web Options - Word Options > Advanced in Word 2007).

Select the 'Pictures' tab and choose the largest screen size available, and in the 'Pixels per inch' box, type '300' - see illustration:

 

The resulting image may not have the resolution of the originally inserted image, but it should produce an acceptable image file.

PowerPoint

 

Word users with PowerPoint can use that application as an aid to extracting images individually with the possibility of improving the resolution compared with the above quick and dirty method.

Select the image in the Word document and paste it into an otherwise blank PowerPoint slide. Right click the resulting image and choose Save as Picture.

 

This provides the option to save the image in a number of compatible formats of which EMF (Enhance Windows Metafile) may produce the best results.

Note: An alternative approach has been developed by fellow MVP Stephen Lebans, which is well worth investigating.