Word 97 and quirky graphics

[Scott Cover <COVER_SCOTT_L -at- CAT -dot- COM>]

     Hello everyone,

     Let me ask for help on yet another bizarre problem I'm having with
     Word.

     I am making a users guide with screen captures as graphics.  In trying
     not to use the memory eating .bmp format, I tried other formats and
     came across a very annoying problem.  Sometimes the graphics print
     just fine and are nice and clear.  Other graphics come out looking
     like the resolution or dithering or something is messed up even though
     they are the same format. (looks like I spilled salt and pepper on the
     picture)

     If a graphic prints nice once, it always prints nice and if it prints
     bad once it always prints bad.  I tried placing graphics using .gif,
     .jpeg, .tiff, .pict, and even .bmp formats , but each screen grab
     seems random on whether it will print badly or not.

     Now for the odd part, (odder part?) I can look at the graphic at
     whatever resolution on my machine in Word, Paint or Imager and it
     looks just fine.  Only when I print does it look odd so it is pretty
     time consuming to check the graphics.  Two of my co-workers can print
     the exact same page and the graphic prints fine.  My machines settings
     are exactly the same as theirs, I don't have any prgrams that change
     resolution running concurrantly with Word and I reboot every morning.

     Any ideas on how to solve this problem or is my machine just cursed?

     Note:  I am assuming the problem started when I switched formats, but
     I am not positive.

     Thanks,

     Scott Cover
     Technical Writer
     Caterpillar

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