On Sunday 08 Dec 2002 1:13 pm, Jan Wilson wrote: > * Anne Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [021207 15:26]: > > The Paragon util sounds interesting, but I'm really trying to get rid of > > the dual-boot, so I don't want to buy another hd manager if I can help > > it. The main problem now is that I'm picking up the odds and ends - like > > most of my clip-art collection being .wmf or .cgm, which I would like to > > convert to .gif or .jpg, or .png, I guess. The only tools I have are > > windows tools. > > Your .wmf files are vector image files, so if you convert them to .jpg > or .png you will be losing the ability to scale them to any size, and > also to be able to edit them as individual objects. I don't recall > what format .cgm files are, but probably vector also. > > I would recommend you keep them as .wmf files ... you can always > convert them when you need a bitmap file. > > OpenOffice.org Draw does a fine job of editing (and converting to .png > or .jpg) most .wmf files. That way you can export whatever size > bitmap you need without losing information. > > I do a lot of work with OOo Draw and The GIMP together ... using Draw > to create the vector stuff, like text, and then pull it into The Gimp > for fine tuning on the bitmap background, etc. Works great! > > Draw can import a bitmap but can only do simple things with it, like > brighten or darken, etc. The GIMP can import some vector graphics, > and actually uses vectors (very briefly) when you are creating text, > but neither begins to compare with the other's strength in working > with the other image format type. > > If you really need to convert the .wmf (vector) files to .png (bitmap) > in a batch, you might try convert, from the ImageMagick suite: > > convert myimage.wmf myimage.png > > Depending on how complex your .wmf is, this may actually work ;-) > > Incidentally, most .wmf files will do better as .png's than as .jpg's. > > And don't use .gif's ... they use a patented compression method which > the patent holder (Unisys?) is using to extort unjustified profits > from the world. I recently saw a nonprofit website that inquired > about getting the rights to use .gifs on their website. The company > replied that it would cost $10K US per year PLUS 1% of any sales from > the website!
I generally try to avoid .gif's for this reason. I have never investigated OOo Draw - when I get back on Friday I'll do that. It sounds most interesting. Is there any way of viewing a collection of .wmf files? Or will I have to use ImageMagic to produce composite reference sheets for this? Thanks for this new pointer Anne
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
