Convert an image into WMF with .NET?

Question

There are plenty of examples of converting a wmf into a bitmap like: Reliable .wmf/wmf to Pixel based image conversion

But I need the reverse operation. I do not look for a vectorizer. I just want to embed a picture inside a wmf file without having to bother about the bits and bytes of the wmf format. I need a solution for .NET preferably in C#.

I first thought this would do the job:

using (Image img = Image.FromFile (path)) {
    img.Save (myStream, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Wmf);
}

But this complains at runtime that the encoder is null. Where/How can I build such an encoder? I do not need a complicated one, just one that wraps an image into a wmf. Are there some requirements on the supported formats in WMF? I suppose png and bmp are supported but is gif also supported?

Answer 1

Here is the full answer to the question including my modifications. Vincent's answer is fully correct. Only some definitions and one enum were missing. That is why I post here the "clean" working code in the hope it can be useful for someone else.

        [Flags]
        private enum EmfToWmfBitsFlags {
            EmfToWmfBitsFlagsDefault = 0x00000000,
            EmfToWmfBitsFlagsEmbedEmf = 0x00000001,
            EmfToWmfBitsFlagsIncludePlaceable = 0x00000002,
            EmfToWmfBitsFlagsNoXORClip = 0x00000004
        }

        private static int MM_ISOTROPIC = 7;
        private static int MM_ANISOTROPIC = 8;

        [DllImport ("gdiplus.dll")]
        private static extern uint GdipEmfToWmfBits (IntPtr _hEmf, uint _bufferSize,
            byte[] _buffer, int _mappingMode, EmfToWmfBitsFlags _flags);
        [DllImport ("gdi32.dll")]
        private static extern IntPtr SetMetaFileBitsEx (uint _bufferSize,
            byte[] _buffer);
        [DllImport ("gdi32.dll")]
        private static extern IntPtr CopyMetaFile (IntPtr hWmf,
            string filename);
        [DllImport ("gdi32.dll")]
        private static extern bool DeleteMetaFile (IntPtr hWmf);
        [DllImport ("gdi32.dll")]
        private static extern bool DeleteEnhMetaFile (IntPtr hEmf);

        private static MemoryStream MakeMetafileStream (Bitmap image)
        {
            Metafile metafile = null;
            using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage (image)) {
                IntPtr hDC = g.GetHdc ();
                metafile = new Metafile (hDC, EmfType.EmfOnly);
                g.ReleaseHdc (hDC);
            }

            using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage (metafile)) {
                g.DrawImage (image, 0, 0);
            }
            IntPtr _hEmf = metafile.GetHenhmetafile ();
            uint _bufferSize = GdipEmfToWmfBits (_hEmf, 0, null, MM_ANISOTROPIC,
                EmfToWmfBitsFlags.EmfToWmfBitsFlagsDefault);
            byte[] _buffer = new byte[_bufferSize];
            GdipEmfToWmfBits (_hEmf, _bufferSize, _buffer, MM_ANISOTROPIC,
                    EmfToWmfBitsFlags.EmfToWmfBitsFlagsDefault);
            IntPtr hmf = SetMetaFileBitsEx (_bufferSize, _buffer);
            string tempfile = Path.GetTempFileName ();
            CopyMetaFile (hmf, tempfile);
            DeleteMetaFile (hmf);
            DeleteEnhMetaFile (_hEmf);

            var stream = new MemoryStream ();
            byte[] data = File.ReadAllBytes (tempfile);
            //File.Delete (tempfile);
            int count = data.Length;
            stream.Write (data, 0, count);
            return stream;
        }