Should I use a bitmap, metafile, or other graphic file to display a picture?

You can use bitmap files (.bmp or .dib extensions), metafiles (.wmf or .emf extensions), or other graphic files such as GIF and JPEG to display background pictures or pictures in bound object frames, unbound object frames, or image controls.

When to use metafiles

• If you need to adjust the size of your picture, it's better to use a metafile. Metafiles scale better than bitmaps because they're made up of collections of lines rather than patterns of individual dots.
  
  
• Metafiles are usually much smaller than bitmaps, so if you need to conserve disk space, use a metafile.

Many graphics programs allow you to save files as metafiles. See the documentation that came with your graphics program for details. Note that if you paste a bitmap into a graphics program and save it as a metafile, it will still be a bitmap — it's just embedded in the metafile. You must create the graphic in the graphics program and save it as a metafile.

When to use bitmaps

• If scaling and disk space aren't concerns, or if you don't have access to a tool that creates metafiles, use a bitmap.
  
  
• If you want to create a tiled background picture, a bitmap will work well because it won't be scaled.
  
  
• If you want to be able to make small changes to the picture, use a bitmap. With bitmaps you have pixel-level control, so that you can make very small adjustments to the picture.

Notes  

• In forms and reports, if you need to adjust the size of a picture, set the PictureSizeMode property (background pictures) or the SizeMode property (bound object frames, unbound object frames, and image controls) to Zoom. When you set the PictureSizeMode or SizeMode property to Zoom, Microsoft Access retains the proportions of the picture when you size the form or control.
  
  
• In a data access page, use the Height and Width properties to adjust the size of a picture. In the Height and Width property boxes, enter values in pixels (px), points (pt), centimeters (cm) or inches (in). For instance, if you type 25px in the Height property box, the image will be 25 pixels high.
  
  
• Learn about other graphics file formats you can use with Microsoft Access.