# Converting a .wmf to .jpg **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394 "2001-11-14T21:52:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/1 "2001-11-14T21:52:43Z")
I am in charge of updating my dept’s web site. I have some .gif and .jpg images but I find that usually they are not quite the image I had in mind. So I dug up an old software package I had bought back in 1995 called “Art Explosion 40,000,” which has a whole slew of images and a reference catalog. Unfortunately most of the images are in .wmf (windows metafile) format, which my web browser doesn’t support. Does anyone know a relatively simple way to convert a .wmf image to a .jpg? I tried to simply give the file a new .jpg extension, but no go. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/2 "2001-11-14T22:04:29Z")
Did you try importing them into Photoshop and saving them as a new file in the jpeg format? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/3 "2001-11-14T22:11:24Z")
I don’t have Photo Shop, though I could get it, I suppose. Do you think that’s the easiest way? ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/4 "2001-11-14T22:17:30Z")
Well, maybe. Looking at the formats I can save images in in Photoshop, I don’t see any .wmf option. But if you can open it… Do you have Microsoft Photo Editor? Try opening your .wmf’s in that, then do a save as .jpeg. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/5 "2001-11-14T22:35:06Z")
Photoshop is too expensive for the average person…try PaintShop Pro at [http://www.jasc.com](http://www.jasc.com) – they have a 30 day trial version and only costs about $100 versus $600 for Photoshop. I use both programs and oddly enough I use PaintShop Pro about 90% of the time. It has an easy interface and people with little or no graphics training can figure it out pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/6 "2001-11-14T22:40:46Z")
If all you want to do is convert formats, get [IrfanView](http://www.irfanview.com). It’s free. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/7 "2001-11-14T22:42:56Z")
Mac or PC? On a Mac, I’d use GraphicConverter, hands down. Use Convert More…from the File menu, select source folder, select destionation folder (or create one), select format (JPEG), click Convert All. On a PC, my inclination would be to reach for Paint Shop Pro, especially if you don’t have Photoshop. (PSP may do better format conversions anyway–format conversions isn’t what made Photoshop famous, that’s for sure!) ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/8 "2001-11-14T23:13:22Z")
FYI, we’re on PC’s. Windows 98, if I’m not mistaken. Thanks for the advice. I think I might have the company pony up for Paint Shop Pro. I think it’s ~$100, but the company will pay for it. I might also download the Irfanview. It’s freeware for private use, but he asks you to send $10 cash if you’re using it for a business. Heck, for that amount, I might even throw in a tip. 🙂 L- ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-wmf-to-jpg/93394/9 "2001-11-15T00:01:23Z")
There is a shareware package available called Graphics Workshop Pro that is hands down the best conversion utility I’ve ever seen. It is available at [http://www.mindworkshop.com/alchemy/alchemy.html](http://www.mindworkshop.com/alchemy/alchemy.html). It will convert literally ANY graphics format into any other format including .mpg, .avi, animated .gifs, etc.