Eeekkk!! you are doing everything wrong here. But since you have admitted to being new to PM, we'll forgive you. Plus the fact you've been sensible enough to come and ask here. In addition to the excellent post made by 111011, I would like to add a couple of points. Starting with the graphic.
If you are scanning a photo, save it as a TIF, although it will be a larger file size than a JPG. This is because JPGs are a file format that compresses the image (it's designed for web graphics) and in order to do so, it throws out some of your pixels. So use of JPGs for print graphics - where every pixel is important - is not recommended. The resolution should be 300ppi (if commercially printed) although 200ppi is OK for printing at home on a desktop printer. But here's the important bit - 300ppi is the general rule - but only if the image is already at 100 percent of the final size. If you must 'stretch' your photo to fit the spot reserved for it, then you must rethink how you are doing this. If you already know the final size you wish your photo to be, then make allowances in your scanning. If you don't know in advance, then scan at a high enough resolution to take care of upsizing. For example, say your final printed photo size is to be 8" x 6". But your original is only 4" x 3" (half the size). Either you scan at 600ppi, or if your scanning software is capable, increase the scale at which you are scanning to 200 percent and scan at 300ppi. Either way, when you double the dimensions of your photo, you still have 300ppi resolution. If you plan on cropping any part of the photo, and your scanning software will allow it, do it before you scan. Remember to take into account the change in size and thus any necessary scaling, if you crop. By the way, if you plan to crop part of the photo, do the cropping in Photoshop, not Pagemaker.
It is no good stretching your photo to fit after scanning, as you are just spreading your existing pixels further apart, and lowering the resolution necessary to provide crisp, clear non-pixelated images in print. Pixelation is caused by (usually) having your resolution too low.
Now on to the second isue - getting the graphic into Pagemaker....
The golden rule is to use the File>Place command. Never copy/paste. It is also usually recommended not to embed, but to link graphics to the PM publication. The tricky part here is that as well as the PM file, you need to supply your printer with the graphics files as well. But this workflow keeps the PM file size down. Also, remember to convert your graphics to CMYK from RGB if the publication is to be commercially printed. It is not so critical for home printing if the graphics are left as RGB.
You will also need to supply the printer with copies of any fonts you have used. Do you know about the 'Save for Service Provider' utility in PM? It will firstly do a check of your publication and if all is OK, package all graphics and fonts used in to the one folder, ready for delivery to the printer.
Post back if you want to know any more, or if you need a point clarified.
