Excel: Copy Picture Changes Size of Graphic

SUMMARY

When you copy a portion of a Microsoft Excel chart as a picture (by holding down SHIFT, then choosing Copy Picture from the Edit menu), the graphic may paste in an unexpected size. Specifically, a graphic copied using the As Shown When Printed option may print out larger or smaller from the application it is copied to than it does from Excel.

This behavior occurs when the chart has been reduced or enlarged under Page Setup in Excel and the Fit To Page or Full Page option under Size has been chosen. If the chart has been reduced, it will paste (and print) larger than expected and if it has been enlarged, it will paste (and print) smaller.

This behavior does not occur when Screen Size is selected under Size in Page Setup.

MORE INFORMATION

Fit To Page expands a chart horizontally and vertically until a margin restriction is reached (either horizontally or vertically).

Full Page expands a chart horizontally and vertically until all margins are reached, to take up the maximum printable area on the page.

When a chart is reduced in Excel, the margins are reduced along with it. The Fit To Page or Full Page attributes expand the chart back out to the margins, which are now smaller. Copy Picture As Shown When Printed will incorporate this into the graphic and the pasted object will become larger to fill the printable area.

When a chart is enlarged in Excel, the margins are enlarged along with it. The Fit To Page or Full Page attributes expand the chart back out to the margins, but now the margins are larger. Copy Picture As Shown When Printed will incorporate this into the graphic and the pasted object will become smaller to fill the printable area.