FIG to G3 Converter

Convert FIG diagrams to G3 — crisp results

Choose Files

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Quick Translation

Transform FIG files into G3 in moments. The converter reads your Xfig data and produces accurate G3 output.

File Safety First

Convertio removes source files immediately after processing and clears converted output within 24 hours.

Multiple Files at Once

Convert a whole folder of FIG files in one session. Batch mode processes every file simultaneously for efficiency.

How to convert FIG to G3

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

Choose g3 or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

Let the file convert and you can download your g3 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

G3 is a monochrome image format based on the ITU-T Group 3 facsimile coding standard (Recommendation T.4), ratified by the CCITT in 1980 as the universal compression method for fax transmission over telephone networks. G3 files contain 1-bit (black and white) image data encoded using Modified Huffman (MH) one-dimensional coding, where each scanline is independently compressed by replacing runs of consecutive white or black pixels with variable-length codewords from a predefined Huffman table optimized for typical document content. The standard also defines an optional two-dimensional coding mode (Modified READ) that encodes each line as differences from the previous line, achieving better compression for pages with vertical redundancy. Standard G3 resolution is 204 pixels per inch horizontally and either 98 (standard) or 196 (fine) pixels per inch vertically, producing the characteristic slightly-stretched appearance of received fax documents. The encoding was carefully optimized for the real-time transmission constraints of 1980s modems operating at 2400 to 14400 bps, where encoding and decoding speed had to match the communication channel rate. One advantage is universal telecommunications compatibility: Group 3 encoding remains the mandatory baseline codec for every fax machine manufactured, ensuring that G3 image data can be transmitted to or received from any fax device worldwide. The format's efficiency for document content is another strength — the Huffman tables were statistically tuned to the run-length distributions found in business documents, and typical pages compress to under 30 KB. G3 files are supported by LibreOffice, ImageMagick, and fax server software.

Developer: ITU-T (CCITT)

Initial release: 1980

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert FIG to G3?

FIG is restricted to academic and Unix tools. G3 makes your diagrams viewable by anyone with a basic image viewer.

Where can I open G3 files?

You can open G3 files with fax software, IrfanView, XnView, and other image viewers.

How accurate is FIG to G3 conversion?

Convertio processes each file carefully to produce faithful G3 output. Results match the source drawing as closely as possible.

Does this converter handle complex FIG files?

Yes — Convertio processes FIG files with various elements including splines, arcs, text objects, and embedded images.

Is the FIG to G3 converter available 24/7?

Yes — Convertio runs around the clock. Convert FIG files to G3 any time, from anywhere with an internet connection.

How many FIG files can I convert at once?

You can upload and convert multiple FIG files in one session. Batch conversion processes all files simultaneously.

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 G3

PNG to G3

TXT to G3

PDF to G3

HTML to G3

JPEG to G3

DOCX to G3

PPTX to G3

BMP to G3

XLSX to G3

PSD to G3

DXF to G3

GIF to G3

BIN to G3

PLT to G3

WEBP to G3

ODT to G3

XPS to G3

PPS to G3

XCF to G3

TGA to G3

RTF to G3

PPSX to G3

PPSM to G3

ICO to G3

HEIC to G3

EPUB to G3

ABW to G3

DBK to G3

KWD to G3