.WMF File Extension

WMF files originally appeared in 1988 with the release of Windows 2.0. Microsoft later published the WMF file format specification with the Windows 3.0 release in 1992 and then published a subsequent specification in 2006. Microsoft continues to regularly publish updates to the format.

What is the Windows Metafile (WMF) format?

WMF is primarily used as a container for vector graphics but also supports raster image data. It supports 16-bit image data that can be scaled and output at a higher definition, which is especially useful when modifying graphics in an image editor and printing high-quality images.

Image data contained in WMF files are stored in a series of metafile record structures. Each of these records stores drawing commands, object definitions, and configuration settings.

WMF was commonly used in the 1990s, especially in Windows applications, such as Microsoft Word, Publisher, and PowerPoint. However, due to its 16-bit data limitation and device-dependence, Microsoft replaced WMF with the Enhanced Windows Metafile (.EMF) format in 1992 with the release of Windows NT 3.1.

WMF and EMF files are still used to save vector graphics by various image editors. However, the formats have largely been replaced by the Scalable Vector Graphics (.SVG) and Encapsulated PostScript (.EPS) formats.

NOTE: Microsoft developed the .WMZ and .EMZ formats to reduce the file sizes of WMF and EMF files and make it easier to transfer the graphics between applications. These formats utilize gzip compression to compress the files.