FIG to CGM Converter

Online FIG to CGM — professional vector conversion

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Direct Conversion

Skip manual rebuilds — go from FIG to CGM directly. The converter preserves your diagram structure throughout.

No Installation Needed

Run the converter directly in your browser. No software downloads, plugins, or system requirements beyond a web browser.

Simple Workflow

Upload, pick a format, download. Three steps from FIG file to converted output — designed for clarity.

How to convert FIG to CGM

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

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

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

About formats

FIG is the native file format of Xfig, a free vector graphics editor for the X Window System, originally written by Supoj Sutanthavibul at the University of Texas at Austin in 1985. The format uses a plain-text structure where each graphic object is described on one or more lines with numeric parameters specifying object type, coordinates, line properties, fill attributes, and depth ordering. FIG supports compound objects (groups), polylines, polygons, splines, arcs, ellipses, text strings, and imported bitmaps, each with configurable colors, line styles, arrow heads, and area fills. Files begin with a header line declaring the format version (currently 3.2), followed by a resolution specification and the object definitions. One advantage is exceptional simplicity — the entirely text-based format is trivially parsed, generated, and manipulated by scripts, making FIG popular as an intermediate format in automated diagram generation pipelines. The rich ecosystem of conversion tools is another strength: fig2dev exports FIG files to dozens of output formats including EPS, PDF, SVG, LaTeX picture environments, PSTricks, and TikZ. This made Xfig and FIG especially popular in academic and scientific communities, where authors generate publication-quality figures that integrate seamlessly with LaTeX documents. While graphical tools have evolved since the 1980s, FIG remains in use among researchers who value its scriptability, LaTeX integration, and well-documented format stability.

Developer: Supoj Sutanthavibul

Initial release: 1985

CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile) is a vector graphics standard defined by ISO 8632, first published in 1987 and developed through the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 24 committee. The standard defines a device-independent format for storing and transferring two-dimensional vector graphics, raster images, and text. CGM supports three encoding methods: character encoding (compact text representation), binary encoding (efficient machine-readable form), and clear-text encoding (human-readable for debugging). The format describes graphical primitives including polylines, polygons, ellipses, circular arcs, splines, and text with associated attributes for color, line style, fill patterns, and clipping boundaries. CGM found its strongest adoption in technical documentation, particularly in aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors where long-term archival and precise technical illustration are critical. One advantage is formal standardization — as an ISO standard, CGM provides vendor-neutral, specification-driven interoperability guaranteed across compliant implementations. The format's adoption in specialized industries is another practical strength: WebCGM, a W3C profile of CGM, became the mandated illustration format for interactive electronic technical manuals in the aerospace industry (ATA iSpec 2200), ensuring CGM's continued relevance in aviation maintenance documentation. While general-purpose vector work has moved to SVG and PDF, CGM persists in regulated industries where certified, standards-based graphics interchange is mandatory.

Developer: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 24

Initial release: 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert FIG to CGM?

If you need to share or refine Xfig diagrams, converting FIG to CGM ensures compatibility with technical illustration and CAD tools.

Where can I open CGM files?

You can open CGM files with technical illustration tools, CAD viewers, and applications following the ISO 8632 standard.

Are my FIG files safe during conversion?

Convertio deletes uploaded files immediately after conversion. Converted results are purged from servers within 24 hours.

Can I batch convert multiple FIG files to CGM?

Absolutely. Add several FIG files at once and convert them all to CGM in a single batch — saves time on bulk tasks.

Does converting FIG to CGM preserve quality?

Convertio optimizes the conversion to retain as much quality as possible. The output closely matches your original FIG diagram.

How quickly does FIG to CGM conversion finish?

Most conversions complete within seconds. Larger files may take slightly longer, but cloud processing keeps it fast regardless of your device.

Related Conversions

FIG to JPG

FIG to PDF

FIG to PNG

FIG to EPS

FIG to SVG

FIG to JPEG

FIG to BMP

FIG to PSD

FIG to DOC

FIG to GIF

FIG to DXF

FIG to DOCX

FIG to TIFF

FIG to AI

FIG to EMF

FIG to HTML

FIG to ODT

FIG to WMF

FIG to PCX

FIG to SGI

FIG to SK

FIG to OTB

FIG to DOT

FIG to RGB

FIG to PS

FIG to CGM

FIG to SK1

FIG to PLT

FIG to JP2

FIG to WBMP

FIG to TGA

FIG to ICO

FIG to CUR

FIG to PBM

FIG to PGM

FIG to PPM

FIG to WEBP

FIG to EXR

FIG to FAX

FIG to FTS

FIG to G3

FIG to HDR

FIG to HRZ

FIG to IPL

FIG to MAP

FIG to MNG

FIG to MTV

FIG to PAL

FIG to PALM

FIG to PAM

FIG to PCD

FIG to PCT

FIG to PDB

FIG to PFM

FIG to PICON

FIG to PICT

FIG to PNM

FIG to RAS

FIG to RGBA

FIG to RGBO

Specific converters

JPG to CGM

PNG to CGM

AI to CGM

SVG to CGM

CDR to CGM

EPS to CGM

JPEG to CGM

DXF to CGM

PSD to CGM

WEBP to CGM

BMP to CGM

TIFF to CGM

GIF to CGM

AVIF to CGM

JFIF to CGM

HEIC to CGM

PLT to CGM

WMF to CGM

PS to CGM

PES to CGM

DST to CGM

EXP to CGM

JP2 to CGM

JPE to CGM

WPG to CGM

3FR to CGM

ARW to CGM

CR2 to CGM

CRW to CGM

CUR to CGM