I am having a problem exporting wmf (vector clipart) files...The problem is that the exported file (no matter what type) have a dark background...I think it has something to do with the transparency because they are white backgrounds in the original wmf. Does anyone have a free tool or advice in programs as to what could be changing the background from white to black?

I've tried a number of different programs...Just none of the big one's..Like photoshop, but I have used ImageMagick in Linux, and a couple of free one's in windows but no luck, they all go in with a white background, and come out with a black one which makes the picture complete awful looking.

Thanks guys
-Brian

Ok, I don't know whether this helps for the system you're using but they talk about the problem you're having on this page:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/for...3-fdd35469d155

Other solutions... I'm afraid I have no experience with WMF files (in fact, this is the first time I've heard of them - you learn something every day!) but I assume you can edit them? Is it possible to insert a white rectangle behind them in the editing program, which will effectively replace the background?

Or you could try the print screen key and then paste, crop and save in an image manipulation program like Photoshop or GIMP?

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

in fact, this is the first time I've heard of them

You obviously have never used clipart in Microsoft Office - most of their clipart is WMF format.

You're going to need a program like Illustrator or XaraXtreme, something that is capable of rendering and editing vector artwork - and can 'save as' other graphics formats.

sounds to me like your .Wmf file isn't 100% lines paths, if it was, it would convert fine. it sounds more like you have an embedded raster in the .Wmf file. I work with cross platforming on a daily basis, .Wmf being my primary transfer method for vectors from one software to another.

I can export a 100% lines/paths .Wmf from any software & convert it to over 78 different file extensions without any issues. The only issues that arise are those that had a solid raster in the original vector work that got rendered with it on the original .Wmf.

Naturally, .Wmf's do NOT have a background at all. If you are rendering them with solid white backgrounds, then the issue might be that the bg is somehow embedding itself as a solid raster, rather than lines/paths.

You also need to make sure the software that created the original is vector orientated & that you are not using any filters / effects. Filters / Effects 9 times out of 10 will convert to embedded bitmaps when rendering as a .Wmf.

There are several reasons as to why your final .Wmf may have the black background, but they all involve the original not being 100% vector.

You mentioned photoshop as one you haven't tried yet, don't.. Photoshop is not a vector software & does NOT render in vector formats. Even though it has a vector pen tool, don't be fooled, it's still a Raster (Paint / Photo manipulation) software.

As mentioned above - Illustrator or XaraXtreme are vector softwares, you can also get the same results from Serif DrawPlus x2 or CorelDraw x3. One thing to keep in mind though, is no matter what software you choose, if the original file has rasters in it & is NOT 100% lines/Paths, you won't be able to get the conversion results you're looking for.

Hope that helps some. Good luck. It's just hard to say without actually seeing the master file itself.