AFF to G4 Converter

Convert AFF to G4 free — Group 4 fax compression

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Document Archival

AFF to G4 conversion produces Group 4 compressed images — the industry standard for efficient document storage and fax archival.

Secure Handling

Your AFF file is removed after conversion. G4 results are deleted within 24 hours — total privacy.

Web-Based

No fax software needed. The converter runs in your browser on any operating system.

How to convert AFF to G4

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose g4 or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your g4 file right afterwards

About formats

AFF (Acorn Draw) is a vector graphics file format native to Acorn Computers' RISC OS operating system, introduced with the Draw application bundled in RISC OS 2 in April 1989. The Draw application shipped as a standard component of every RISC OS installation, providing users with a capable vector illustration tool at no additional cost. AFF files store vector objects as a sequence of tagged data blocks, each containing object type, bounding box, and type-specific data — supported objects include paths with straight lines and Bezier curves, text objects with font references, sprite (bitmap) objects, groups, and tagged objects for application-specific extensions. Path objects use cubic Bezier curves with move, line, and curve elements, supporting variable line widths, join styles, dash patterns, and flat color fills. The coordinate system uses RISC OS draw units at 1/180 inch resolution, providing precision for both screen display and print output. One advantage is the straightforward binary structure — the tagged block architecture makes AFF files simple to parse and generate programmatically. Native operating system integration is another strength: RISC OS renders Draw files natively in its desktop environment, treating vector graphics as first-class objects alongside bitmaps. While Acorn Computers ceased operations in the late 1990s, RISC OS continues under active open-source development, and AFF files remain supported through the platform's drawing applications and conversion utilities.
Developer: Acorn Computers
Initial release: 1989
G4 is a monochrome image format based on the ITU-T Group 4 facsimile coding standard (Recommendation T.6), ratified by the CCITT in 1984 as an improvement over Group 3 for use on error-free digital networks like ISDN rather than analog telephone lines. G4 files contain 1-bit image data compressed using exclusively two-dimensional Modified Modified READ (MMR) coding, where each scanline is encoded as a set of differences (changing elements) relative to the line above it. By eliminating the one-dimensional coding fallback and the end-of-line synchronization markers required by Group 3, G4 achieves 20-50% better compression ratios on typical document pages while producing a simpler, more regular bitstream. The format is most commonly encountered as a compression method within TIFF files (TIFF compression tag 4), where it became the standard archival format for scanned documents in enterprise document management, government records, and legal imaging systems. G4 compression is specified at 200, 300, or 400 dpi depending on the scanning application, with 300 dpi being the most common for archival-quality document imaging. One advantage is exceptional compression efficiency for document content: G4's two-dimensional prediction exploits the strong vertical correlation in text and line art pages, typically compressing a 300 dpi letter-size page to 30-50 KB — roughly half the size of equivalent Group 3 encoding. The format's entrenchment in document management infrastructure is another strength — G4 TIFF is the mandated format for many government digital records systems, court filing systems, and corporate archives, supported by every enterprise imaging platform.
Developer: ITU-T (CCITT)
Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert AFF to G4?

AFF is inaccessible without the defunct Acorn Draw. G4 uses ITU Group 4 fax compression — the standard for high-quality document archival and fax storage.

What opens G4 files?

Document imaging systems, IrfanView, XnView, ImageMagick, and fax server software handle Group 4 compressed images.

How does G4 compare to G3?

Group 4 achieves better compression ratios than Group 3 by using two-dimensional coding. It is more efficient for document images.

Is it free?

Yes — free conversion without any registration. Premium features are optional.

Is the process fast?

Typically a matter of seconds. Cloud servers deliver consistent processing speed.