Free online EMF to PS converter

PostScript printers, RIPs, and legacy publishing systems may require .ps files but cannot place or print Windows EMF graphics directly. Converting the drawing lets that workflow receive a page-description file while retaining vectors where the EMF features can be translated.

What EMF files contain

EMF (Enhanced Metafile) is a Microsoft Windows graphics format that records GDI drawing operations such as paths, fills, text, clipping, and bitmap placement. It is commonly produced by Microsoft Office, Visio, Windows clipboard operations, reporting tools, and applications that use the Windows print subsystem.

An .emf file is often vector-based, but it can include raster images. Some files contain EMF+ records, which use GDI+ features including alpha transparency, gradients, and advanced image operations; non-Windows importers do not always support these records completely.

What PS files are for

PS (PostScript) is Adobe's page-description language and file format. PostScript files are used by PostScript printers, print servers, RIP software, and older desktop-publishing and prepress workflows.

PS can describe scalable paths, text, fills, and raster images independently of a particular output device. A converted file is most useful when the receiving printer or application specifically requests PostScript; PDF is usually a better choice for general modern viewing and exchange.

Convert an EMF file to PS

Upload the .emf file to the converter on 101convert.com, choose PS as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting .ps file. The conversion is available free of charge and does not require software installation.

Open the downloaded file in the target PostScript viewer, RIP, or print application before production use. Check page dimensions, line weights, text, clipping, gradients, and any embedded images against the original.

Desktop conversion with Inkscape

Inkscape is a practical desktop option when it imports the particular EMF correctly. Open the file with File → Open, inspect the artwork on the canvas, then use File → Save As and select PostScript (*.ps) if that export format is available in the installed version.

For command-line processing, Inkscape installations that support PS export can use:

inkscape input.emf --export-type=ps --export-filename=output.ps

Do not rely on pstoedit for this conversion: it is primarily used to translate PostScript or PDF input into editable vector formats and is not a general EMF-to-PS converter. LibreOffice Draw also should not be assumed to provide PS export in all versions.

On Windows, another option is to open the source document in the application that created it and print through an installed PostScript printer driver with Print to file enabled. This produces PostScript for the document's printed page, not necessarily a reusable standalone vector illustration.

Compatibility and quality limits

EMF and PostScript do not have a one-to-one feature mapping. EMF+ effects, alpha transparency, complex clipping, pattern brushes, gradients, embedded fonts, and Windows-specific drawing operations can be approximated, flattened, rasterized, or omitted.

Text may remain selectable PostScript text only if the converter can map the source font to an available font. Otherwise it may become outlines, which preserve shape but are no longer editable as text, or raster pixels, which can look soft at insufficient resolution.

If the artwork is rasterized, use at least 300 dpi for typical print output and 600 dpi or higher for fine line work. Rasterized PS files are larger than vector PS files and cannot scale beyond their conversion resolution.

Files containing photographs or screenshots will remain raster content even when surrounding paths convert as vectors. For critical print jobs, supply the printer with the converted PS file and the original EMF or source document so unexpected font substitution and rendering differences can be checked.