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Image Conversion

Convert SVG to WMF — Free Online Converter

Convert Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg) to Windows Metafile (.wmf) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or registration....

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Works Everywhere

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How to Convert

1

Upload your .svg file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.

2

Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.

3

Click Convert and download your .wmf file when it's ready.

About SVG to WMF Conversion

SVG to WMF conversion transforms scalable vector graphics into Windows Metafile format, the legacy vector standard for older Windows applications. WMF uses 16-bit GDI records to describe drawing operations and is compatible with virtually every Windows application produced in the last 30 years, including legacy versions of Microsoft Office, enterprise software, and industrial systems.

Our converter processes the SVG through ImageMagick's rendering pipeline and outputs WMF with proper GDI records. While WMF lacks the advanced features of SVG and EMF, its universal Windows compatibility makes it the necessary target for legacy system integration.

Why Convert SVG to WMF?

Legacy Windows enterprise applications built in the 1990s and 2000s accept only WMF for vector graphics. These include document management systems, report generators, label printers, and industrial control interfaces that have never been updated to support EMF or SVG. Converting SVG to WMF makes modern web-standard graphics accessible to these systems.

WMF is also the most compatible vector format for Windows clipboard operations. Graphics in WMF can be pasted into virtually any Windows application with predictable rendering results.

Common Use Cases

  • Providing vector graphics to legacy Windows enterprise applications that only accept WMF
  • Creating graphics for older document management and report generation systems
  • Enabling clipboard-based vector graphics transfer between Windows applications
  • Supporting mixed-vintage Windows environments where EMF support is not guaranteed
  • Generating graphics for industrial and manufacturing systems on legacy Windows platforms

How It Works

WMF uses 16-bit GDI records (MoveTo, LineTo, Polygon, Ellipse, TextOut, etc.) with a device-dependent coordinate system. The 16-bit precision limits coordinate resolution compared to EMF's 32-bit records. Color support uses the RGB model with 24-bit color depth. Our conversion translates SVG elements to equivalent WMF drawing operations, mapping paths to polylines/polygons, fills to brush patterns, and strokes to pen objects.

Quality & Performance

WMF quality is limited by 16-bit coordinate precision — fine detail in complex SVGs may lose sub-pixel accuracy. Simple SVG content (logos, icons, basic diagrams) converts cleanly. Advanced SVG features (gradients, transparency, filters, blend modes) have no WMF equivalents and are simplified or omitted. For legacy system compatibility, the quality is sufficient for standard business graphics.

SHARP EngineFastMinimal Quality Loss

Device Compatibility

DeviceSVGWMF
Windows PCPartialPartial
macOSPartialPartial
iPhone/iPadPartialPartial
AndroidPartialPartial
LinuxPartialPartial
Web BrowserNativeNo

Tips for Best Results

  • 1Use WMF only when the target system cannot accept SVG or EMF — it is inferior to both in every way
  • 2Simplify the SVG before converting — remove gradients, transparency, and filters that WMF cannot represent
  • 3Test the WMF in the exact target application before batch converting
  • 4Convert text to paths in the SVG to avoid font dependency issues in the WMF output
  • 5Keep the SVG as your editable master — WMF is a compatibility format for legacy Windows systems only

SVG to WMF provides the legacy Windows vector format needed for older enterprise applications. Use WMF only when EMF and SVG are not supported by the target system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use EMF for any modern Windows system. WMF is only needed for very old applications that do not support EMF.
WMF has binary transparency only — fully opaque or fully transparent. Alpha blending is not supported.
WMF has very limited gradient support. Complex gradients are simplified or replaced with solid fills.
Yes, using Inkscape or LibreOffice Draw. However, quality may be lost in the round-trip due to WMF's simpler feature set.
Only for legacy systems. New applications should use SVG (web) or EMF (Windows). WMF persists only for backward compatibility.

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