Google Slides adds an annoying amount of compression on my imported images. I want to avoid compression so I want to upload my schematics in a vector format. I can basically export to any vector format possible.

How do I do this in Google Slides?

  • I can't get any vector formats to work - tried SVG, and EMF, but Sheets only seems to only support png, gif, and jpeg. Try exporting your graphic as a PNG, and use that. PNGs are lossless, so compression shouldn't be an issue. – Billy Kerr Oct 8 '18 at 10:53
  • .PNG doesn't seem to look any better unfortunately :( – Gerlof Leuhof Oct 8 '18 at 14:07
  • I just noticed a mistake. I confused Slides with Sheets, I'm talking about Google Slides. Sorry for the confusion – Gerlof Leuhof Oct 8 '18 at 14:16
  • Apparently you can import a emf to google draw and then move that to Slides – joojaa Oct 8 '18 at 14:25
  • @joojaa I just tried that, Google Graw doesn't seem to support EMFs either, sadly. However I notice that LibreOffice Impress, which is similar to Google Slides/MS Powerpoint does support import of SVGs. Since it's free, it might be a solution to the OPs problem. – Billy Kerr Oct 8 '18 at 14:59

This method works flawlessly for me.

  1. Upload your images/icons to Google Drive

  2. Open it with CloudConvert

    • Choose export format : vector / emf.
    • Make sure that you have the checkbox to save the converted file to your Google Drive enter image description here
    • Click on button Start conversion.
  3. Open emf file with Google Drawing

  4. Copy/paste SVG icon into your Slides.


enter image description here

  • Thanks! Are you sure it's not pasted as a bitmap? Even when more complex schematics with a font are pasted? – Gerlof Leuhof Oct 10 '18 at 11:49
  • @GerlofLeuhof Yep, when pasted there was a black circle behind the + and I was able to select it and delete it. – Ovaryraptor Oct 10 '18 at 14:19
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    Thank you for this very detailed and useful technique. Embarrassing that Google Slides still doesn't natively support SVGs in 2019, but at least there is this workaround. – Dan Kohn Apr 20 at 1:24
  • 1
    This trick does not seem to work anymore ... – Arkeen Jun 29 at 15:09

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