These tips apply to MS PowerPoint versions 97/2000/2001/2002/OSX, both with Windows and Macintosh.

Restoring a photo back to its original size and proportions
When you insert an image (Insert, Picture, From File) into a presentation, there are several adjustments you can make to the picture. It can be resized, cropped, rotated, and compressed (see CS@Work PowerPoint Archive Cutting Your Images Down to Size  for more about compression).

It’s easy to get carried away as you alter and edit the image while indulging your creative side. You may decide, however, that you’d be better off starting over with the picture’s original size and proportions. Fortunately, you can easily undo all of the alterations to an image as long as you haven’t saved the file yet .

First, select the picture on your slide, and then click the “Format Picture” button on the Picture toolbar. (Choose “View,” then “Toolbars,” then “Picture” if your Picture toolbar isn't already visible.) Windows users can right-click on the picture itself to pull up the menu with the Format Picture selection.

In the Format Picture dialog box, click on the “Picture” tab and then click the “Reset” button. Click “Preview” to see the changes.

Now, click on the “Size” tab, making sure there isn't a check mark in the Lock Aspect Ratio and Best Scale for Slide Show check boxes in the Scale panel. Also make sure there's a check mark beside Relative to Original Picture Size, and then click the “Reset” button. Click “Preview” again to see the changes and click “OK” to accept your changes.

Your image should now look like it did you when you first inserted it into your slide. PowerPoint has been known to be a little finicky, so if this process isn’t entirely successful the first time, just go through the same steps again. Remember: This works only if you haven’t already saved the presentation file. If you have saved it, you must delete the image from your slide and then reinsert it to start over.