What happens when you convert EMF to EPS
- The EMF is opened by Inkscape, the open-source vector editor, on our conversion server and saved as a PDF, and Ghostscript writes that as an EPS.
- Shapes and text stay vectors, so the EPS scales to any size for print.
- EPS has no transparency, so semi-transparent areas are flattened into the picture.
- This conversion runs on our server: the file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept. Files up to 25 MB are accepted.
How to convert EMF to EPS online
- Press "Choose EMF files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. Files up to 25 MB each can be converted.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to EPS". The file is uploaded to our conversion server, converted in a few seconds, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result is sent back.
- Save each EPS with its download button. Our server has already deleted both your EMF and the EPS by then.
Why convert EMF to EPS?
EMF files usually come from charts and clip art copied between Windows programs, and vector pictures in Office documents. People convert them to EPS because EPS is what many printers, sign makers and older design software still ask for when you send artwork.
In short, EMF is good at what it was made for, and EPS is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. EMF does not open in browsers; Windows shows it, and Word, PowerPoint, LibreOffice and Inkscape open it, while EPS does not open in browsers; Illustrator, Inkscape and Affinity Designer open it, and macOS Preview converts it to PDF.
How to convert EMF to EPS on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your EMF files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each EPS is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the EMF files from Finder onto the drop zone and the EPS files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose EMF files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted EPS appears in Files, in the Downloads folder; to put it in your photo library, open it there, tap Share and choose Save Image.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose EMF files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The EPS is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for EMF to EPS
There are no settings: the drawing is converted at its own size, with every shape kept as a vector.
Keep the EMF as the master copy, and convert from it again whenever you need another format.
EMF vs EPS: the differences
| EMF | EPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Enhanced Metafile | Encapsulated PostScript |
| Type | image | image |
| Created by | Microsoft | Adobe |
| First released | 1993 | 1987 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Transparency | No | No |
| Animation | No | No |
| Vector or raster | Vector | Vector |
| Colour | Windows drawing commands, which can also hold bitmaps | vector drawing, which can also hold raster images |
| In a browser | does not open in browsers; Windows shows it, and Word, PowerPoint, LibreOffice and Inkscape open it | does not open in browsers; Illustrator, Inkscape and Affinity Designer open it, and macOS Preview converts it to PDF |
| Common uses | charts and clip art copied between Windows programs, and vector pictures in Office documents | logos and artwork for print, and stock vector graphics |
| MIME type | image/emf | application/postscript |
About EMF and EPS files
What is an EMF file?
An EMF is a recording of the drawing commands a Windows program sends to the screen, played back to redraw the picture at any size. It replaced WMF with 32-bit Windows, and Office still uses it when charts and diagrams are copied between programs.
What is an EPS file?
An EPS is a small PostScript program that draws one page of artwork, with a bounding box so it can be placed inside other documents. Printers and designers still ask for it, but it is gradually being replaced by PDF and SVG.
EMF to EPS not working? Common problems
- "Files up to 25 MB can be converted." Server conversions have a size limit. Compress the images inside the file, or split it, and try again.
- "The conversion took too long and was stopped." Very long or complex files can pass the 90 second limit. Split the file and convert the parts.
- "This file is not really in EMF format." The converter checks every file before it runs anything, so a file of another format renamed to .emf is refused. Choose the page for its real format.
Convert EMF to EPS from the command line
Inkscape does the same on your own computer:
inkscape input.emf --export-type=eps --export-filename=output.epsConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
EMF to EPS converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting EMF to EPS?
Shapes and colours stay vectors, so nothing is lost to pixels. Each vector format supports a slightly different set of effects, so gradients, transparency and filters may be simplified.
Why is the EPS a different size from the EMF?
Both store drawing instructions, so the EPS is usually of a similar size to the EMF; embedded pictures make the biggest difference.
Are my EMF files uploaded?
Yes, for this conversion. A faithful EMF to EPS conversion needs Inkscape and Ghostscript, two open-source tools, which cannot run in a browser. The file travels over an encrypted connection, is converted in a private temporary folder, and is deleted together with the EPS as soon as the result has been sent back to you. We do not keep, read or share it.
Can I convert several EMF files to EPS at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open an EPS file?
EPS does not open in browsers; Illustrator, Inkscape and Affinity Designer open it, and macOS Preview converts it to PDF. EPS is common for logos and artwork for print, and stock vector graphics.
Is this EMF to EPS converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Because this conversion uses our server, there is a fair-use limit of 25 MB per file and a number of files per hour, which stops the service being overloaded.
Can I convert EMF to EPS on my phone?
Yes. It works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. The conversion happens on our server, so it is as fast on a phone as on a computer; the EPS is saved to your Downloads folder.