Support says it's a bug. But I don't understand why isn't everyone complaining about blurry images here? I can't believe hundreds of users are suffering in silence, so am I the only one?

I am suffering too. I am utterly tired of how terrible Storyline can be when it comes to rendering high quality images. Maybe back in 2012 it wasn't so pertinent, but here we are, on the cusp of 2022, when even 4k is yesterdays news, and Articulate refuse to acknowledge the problem. I have submitted a feature request (and everyone else should do the same) that Articulate stop focusing on adding new features to Storyline, but instead, devote their resources to getting the basics right. Images should not be blurry. Period. The Zoom function should use the native resolution of the image, and not just magnify the screen render. We should be able to screen record a full 4k monitor. I am so tired of this. Articulate... PLEASE do something about this. This is not right.

Here's a link to a similar thread from 3 years ago. During the discussion, it was suggested by Articulate that the issues stemmed from us users not adhering to 'best practice', which is, quite frankly, bizarre. I mean, 2 years AFTER the initial posting, Articulate jump in with the amazing announcement: "Fixed: Arrows and dashed lines were blurry when previewed or published." Let that sink in. We, the users of Storyline, have been creating workarounds and hacks to get something as simple as an arrow or dashed line to view pin-sharp, and kind of forced it into our workflow. Unless the client didn't mind (or notice) the blurriness. It took untold years and innumerable complaints to get something as simple as non-blurry arrows to be presented to us like it was some kind of damned achievement level unlocked. This is all really basic stuff. I mean, REALLY REALLY basic stuff - MS Painter level stuff. How can you trumpet 360 panoramic interactivity when one cannot make a simple mask within Storyline? Why herald a 'feature', such as Importing SVGs as an image file, when its functionality is different to any other image instance, with regards Points 6 and 7 mentioned by Matt above? After importing even a simple, single colour icon, one cannot alter the transparency of the SVG, to use, as, say, a watermark, in a course. It's nonsense. One cannot even use the old PNG trick of importing the icon as a white line SVG and select Format > Recolour. The previously trumpeted 'feature' of being able to Import SVGs From Powerpoint, which allowed SO MUCH AWESOME flexibility, despite being a technical process, was actually a much better solution than what is now offered, and even that methodology has now been broken. Instead of importing as shapes, the SVG is now an awkward uneditable, un-tweakable, fully-opaque image. The ability to do basic stuff WITHIN a software programme is kind of the point of most software programmes I use. Not many ask the user to use another, possibly more highly specialised third-party product to do basic stuff like creating bespoke shapes (c'mon, why can't we combine, break apart, tweak any shape combo within Storyline itself?), Masks (seriously, it's almost 2022 now!), import and/or store bespoke gradients, the ability to specify corner roundness/bezel values of ANY corner, (and not have to rely on flipping, inverting and rotating a shape to get the desired result thereby rendering all the internal geometry of the shape out of whack)... There are so many basic features being asked for, including getting features that are actually in Storyline to work (Hello Format Picture > Picture > Blend > Mode... I mean, seriously WT-ACTUAL-F is it there for? It does not work, never has and shows such sloppy attention to detail, UX and interface design, and what Articulate really think of its user base). Launching SVG Direct Import as a major achievement and to have the reality of it be so utterly disappointing and fundamentally broken clearly illustrates that Articulate is simply relying on loyalty (and fear of the unknown) to maintain revenues without addressing some nearly decade-old issues that are so blatantly, inanely, absurdly rudimentary to functionality is beyond depressing. It's despairing. It shows such a lack of vision, such a lack of understanding of who uses this software and what it is there for, and such a lack of respect to these same users who for years have been pleading to "get things fixed first, new features later". Also, anytime something new is announced, something old gets broken, such as the annoying glitch whereby if one clicks on VIEW > SLIDE MASTER and then VIEW > FEEDBACK MASTER the screen jumps to the SLIDE VIEW. Sloppy.

What I would like to see is just some transparency from Articulate. Honestly, I would admire them if they came out and said, 'yes, we know there's a problem', and then provide us with a timeline to fix it. If it's 6 months, a year, two years, well fine... I'll work around these bugs, or just use other tools in the meantime. Over to you Articulate.

I logged on with hopes of reading some good news, but to no avail. I’ve been asking this question for way too long with no answers. I had to sell my company on SL and have been using it for the past 5-6 years. And now I’m still trying to convince them to keep it because of cost. AND in addition, my credibility is being questioned because “my work” looks so blurry. That’s not cool at all! I have resorted to skipping the interactive aspect and have gone to videos in our LMS. And get this, I’m using PPT to produce the step by step videos because the images remain crystal clear. Cmon Articulate, this is basic stuff. Perhaps give the folks at Microsoft a ring for some tips? 🤷🏽♂️ HELP, I’m barely hanging on here.

Deleted a post kind of critical of something Michael said: "there is some resizing going on which isn’t ideal for image formats that do not scale well like SVGs, EMFs, or WMFs" After re-reading that line a few times I realised he was saying "like" to mean "as well as"... Apologies.

Blurry images in Storyline 360 November 2021

94 Replies

MauraSullivan-9
Community Member
4 years ago
Thanks for all of the humor. I also wait several months to upgrade.
RandySimmons1
Community Member
4 years ago
I'm sorry to report that I see no difference in image quality. They are still blurry. Bring in the holy hand grenade.
- Justin
  Staff
  4 years ago
  Really sorry to hear this, Randy!
  
  Can you please send us a copy of (1) your .story project file and (2) the original image file?
  
  We've essentially stopped touching images upon publish unless you explicitly ask us to reduce quality, so we'd love to take a closer look at what might be going on here!
  - RandySimmons1
    Community Member
    4 years ago
    Hi,
    
    I am unable to send a storyline file as it is too large for our restrictions. I have attached the original image and a link to the review 360 file.
    
    https://360.articulate.com/review/content/53fe95e8-2eb6-497e-b6fc-f6b3c75478ed/review
    
    Hope this helps. Thanks!
    Randy Simmons, M.Ed., CRCR
    Senior Revenue Cycle Solutions Educator
    [email protected]
    (239) 777-9673 cell
    http://www.experian.com/health
    [cid:[email protected]]
    
    We use data-driven insight
    to connect and simplify
    healthcare for all
LisaAnderson-3f
Community Member
4 years ago
Any updates - now May 10, 2022
- Justin
  Staff
  4 years ago
  Thanks for checking in, Lisa!
  
  About 3 weeks ago, we released another update for Storyline 360. In Update 63, we’ve included important fixes and new features.
  
  One of the fixes we’ve included is:
  
  We improved how Storyline 360 handles images during import and in the published output, resulting in crisper images.
  
  To take advantage of this update, launch the Articulate 360 desktop app on your computer and click the Update button next to Storyline 360. You'll find our step-by-step instructions here.
  
  Please let us know if you have any questions by reaching out to our Support Engineers directly.
  - RandySimmons1
    Community Member
    4 years ago
    Hi,
    I update when it tells me there is a new update. Here is the version I’m on.
    
    [cid:[email protected]]
    
    Randy Simmons, M.Ed., CRCR
    Senior Revenue Cycle Solutions Educator
    [email protected]

Forum Discussion

Blurry images in Storyline 360 November 2021

94 Replies

Related Content

Getting Started with Storyline 360

Get Started Quickly with Storyline

Overview of Storyline's Interface

Storyline 360: Create Content with AI Assistant

URGENTLY revert to November 7,2023 Version 3.81.31200.0

Learn

Community Blog

Connect

Community

Company

Trust Center