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Image Conversion

Convert WMF to PS — Free Online Converter

Convert Windows Metafile (.wmf) to PostScript (.ps) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or registration....

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How to Convert

1

Upload your .wmf 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 .ps file when it's ready.

About WMF to PS Conversion

WMF (Windows Metafile) records Windows GDI drawing commands from the early Windows era — the format was the standard for clip art, diagrams, and vector graphics in Windows 3.0 through Windows XP. PS (PostScript) is Adobe's page description language for professional printing, predating WMF by five years (PostScript: 1985, WMF: 1990). Both formats describe graphics as drawing commands rather than pixels, but PostScript is a full programming language while WMF is a simple record format.

Converting WMF to PostScript translates Microsoft's GDI drawing commands into Adobe's PostScript page description language. This conversion is relevant for printing legacy Windows graphics on PostScript-compatible devices and for integrating WMF content into PostScript-based publishing workflows.

Why Convert WMF to PS?

PostScript-based printing systems provide the highest-quality output for vector graphics. Converting WMF to PostScript enables legacy Windows graphics to be printed at the maximum resolution of the output device — 1200 DPI, 2400 DPI, or even higher on professional imagesetters. The vector content scales perfectly because PostScript describes shapes mathematically, just as WMF does.

Desktop publishing workflows using TeX/LaTeX, Adobe FrameMaker, or older versions of QuarkXPress may require PostScript or EPS input for embedded graphics. Converting WMF to PostScript makes legacy Windows graphics compatible with these publishing systems.

Common Use Cases

  • Print legacy WMF graphics at maximum quality on PostScript-compatible printing systems
  • Convert WMF diagrams for inclusion in TeX/LaTeX documents as PostScript figures
  • Integrate WMF clip art into PostScript-based desktop publishing workflows
  • Produce high-resolution PostScript output from WMF technical drawings for engineering prints
  • Create PostScript versions of WMF graphics for EPS embedding in publication layouts

How It Works

The WMF GDI records are translated to PostScript drawing commands. GDI LineTo maps to PostScript lineto, Rectangle to rectstroke/rectfill, Ellipse to arc-based paths, TextOut to PostScript show operator with font selection, and StretchDIBits to PostScript image operator. The output conforms to PostScript Level 2 for broad device compatibility. Font mapping translates Windows font names to PostScript font names (e.g., Arial to Helvetica, Times New Roman to Times-Roman). Coordinate systems are transformed between GDI's top-down and PostScript's bottom-up orientation.

Quality & Performance

Since both WMF and PostScript describe graphics as vector commands, the conversion preserves vector precision. The PostScript output can be rendered at any resolution — the quality is limited only by the output device. This is one of the few WMF conversions that truly preserves the resolution-independent nature of the source. Font substitution (Windows fonts mapped to PostScript equivalents) may cause minor text spacing differences.

SHARP EngineFastMinimal Quality Loss

Device Compatibility

DeviceWMFPS
Windows PCPartialPartial
macOSPartialPartial
iPhone/iPadPartialPartial
AndroidPartialPartial
LinuxPartialPartial
Web BrowserNoNo

Tips for Best Results

  • 1PostScript preserves WMF's vector nature — the output scales to any resolution without pixelation
  • 2Font mapping (Arial→Helvetica) may cause minor spacing differences — verify text-heavy documents
  • 3Use Ghostscript to preview PostScript output on screen before sending to a printer
  • 4For modern workflows, consider converting WMF to SVG or PDF instead of PostScript
  • 5PostScript from WMF can be embedded in TeX/LaTeX documents as figures

WMF to PostScript conversion translates legacy Windows vector graphics into Adobe's page description language, preserving vector precision for high-quality printing and publishing integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Both WMF and PostScript describe graphics as drawing commands. The conversion translates between the two command sets without rasterization. The output remains resolution-independent.
Windows font names are mapped to PostScript equivalents (Arial→Helvetica, Times New Roman→Times-Roman). If exact matches are not available, close substitutes are used.
Yes. Ghostscript (ps2pdf) converts PostScript to PDF. This is a common two-step pathway: WMF → PS → PDF for publishing.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is a subset of PostScript designed for embedding in other documents. It includes a bounding box and is limited to a single page. Full PS files can contain multiple pages.
PDF is preferred for modern workflows. PostScript is needed for legacy systems and some specialized printing equipment. Use PDF unless your workflow specifically requires PostScript.

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