WMF
Windows Metafile
WMF is a vector and raster image format developed by Microsoft, primarily used for storing clip art and vector graphics in Windows applications.
What is Windows Metafile?
Windows Metafile (.wmf) is a 16-bit vector image format introduced by Microsoft in the early 1990s for Windows 3.0. It acts as a collection of drawing functions that can be replayed to display an image. While largely succeeded by EMF (Enhanced Metafile) and modern web formats, WMF is still found in legacy documents, Microsoft Office clip art galleries, and vector design software.
Advantages
- Scalable vector graphics without quality loss
- Small file size for simple drawings
- Native support in legacy Windows applications
- Easily convertible to modern formats like SVG using ConvertX
Limitations
- Outdated 16-bit architecture
- Limited support in modern web browsers
- Potential security vulnerabilities in older parsers
- Inconsistent cross-platform rendering
How to open Windows Metafile files
Microsoft Paint
Adobe Illustrator
CorelDRAW
LibreOffice Draw
XnView
Common use cases
- Storing Microsoft Office clip art
- Exporting vector graphics from legacy Windows software
- Embedding technical drawings in old documentation
- Migrating legacy assets via WMF to SVG conversion
WMF converters
Explore other formats
Frequently asked questions
A WMF file is a 16-bit vector image format created by Microsoft for storing graphics and clip art in Windows environments.
You can open WMF files using Microsoft Paint, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or LibreOffice Draw.
Yes, you can easily convert WMF files to scalable vector graphics (SVG) using ConvertX for better compatibility.