# Windows does not support semi transparency for enhanced metafiles (\*.emf)

**URL:** https://igraph.discourse.group/t/windows-does-not-support-semi-transparency-for-enhanced-metafiles-emf/1719
**Category:** Usage
**Tags:** R
**Created:** [11 December 2023 22:19 UTC](https://igraph.discourse.group/t/windows-does-not-support-semi-transparency-for-enhanced-metafiles-emf/1719 "2023-12-11T22:19:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![KeesP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@KeesP](https://igraph.discourse.group/u/KeesP)
#### Post date: [11 December 2023 22:19 UTC](https://igraph.discourse.group/t/windows-does-not-support-semi-transparency-for-enhanced-metafiles-emf/1719/1 "2023-12-11T22:19:18Z")

</div>

```auto
library(igraph)
n <- 4
g <- make_ring(n)

plot(g, 
     layout = layout_in_circle(g),
     vertex.label = letters[1:n],    
     edge.width = 4,
     edge.label = seq(n),
     edge.color = c(rep("#66666660", n-1), "#FF0000") 
# Save to .emf in Windows does not preserve semi-transparency.
# Only the red edge is visible in the saved file.
     ) 
## Select output window and save file as (*.emf)
## >warnings()
## Warning message:
## semi-transparency is not supported on this device: reported only once per page

```

Just curious: is semi transparency for (\*.emf) files supported on other platforms ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![tamas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/igraph.discourse.group/tamas/32/1261_2.png) [@tamas](https://igraph.discourse.group/u/tamas)
#### Post date: [14 December 2023 16:32 UTC](https://igraph.discourse.group/t/windows-does-not-support-semi-transparency-for-enhanced-metafiles-emf/1719/2 "2023-12-14T16:32:13Z")

</div>

As far as I know the file format itself supports full transparency and opacity only ([source](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22813312/does-emf-enhanced-metafile-support-opacity)). So I’d be highly surprised if it turns out that it works on other platforms but not on Windows (especially because `emf` isn’t really used outside the Windows world).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![KeesP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@KeesP](https://igraph.discourse.group/u/KeesP)
#### Post date: [14 December 2023 19:57 UTC](https://igraph.discourse.group/t/windows-does-not-support-semi-transparency-for-enhanced-metafiles-emf/1719/3 "2023-12-14T19:57:56Z")

</div>

EMF-plus supports semi-transparency (opacity). This could be implemented on other platforms. Both file formats have the extension .emf.

I am using RGui (64) under Windows.  
When I create a plot and select the active output device, under right-click (RMB) I see the following choices: copy as metafile, copy as bitmap, save as metafile and save as bitmap.

However, under File \> Save as \> more formats appear to be available, including PDF, Png and Jpeg. So using metafile is not necessary.