FIG to GIF Converter

FIG to GIF — clean image output, free online

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Instant Transform

Upload a FIG file, receive GIF output — the conversion pipeline handles Xfig format specifics automatically.

Bulk Processing

Handle many FIG files in one go. Add them all to the queue and convert the entire batch without repeating steps.

Data Protection

Your privacy matters. Uploaded FIG files are deleted post-conversion, and all results are removed within 24 hours.

How to convert FIG to GIF

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your gif 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.
Initial release: 1985
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was introduced by CompuServe on June 15, 1987 as a platform-independent image format for transmitting color graphics over the CompuServe online service's modem-speed connections. The format uses LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch) lossless compression on indexed-color images with a palette of up to 256 colors selected from a 24-bit RGB color space. GIF's most distinctive capability is animation: multiple image frames can be stored sequentially within a single file, each with independent delay timing, disposal methods, and local color palettes, enabling short looping animations without any video codec or player. The format also supports binary transparency (one palette entry designated as fully transparent) and interlaced display for progressive rendering. GIF became synonymous with web culture — animated GIFs proliferated across early websites, messaging platforms, and social media, evolving into a communication medium in their own right. One advantage is universal animation support — GIF animations play natively in every web browser, email client, messaging app, and social platform without plugins, codecs, or compatibility concerns, a level of ubiquity no other animation format has achieved. The lossless compression on palette-based images provides another strength: graphics with flat colors, text, and sharp edges (logos, diagrams, UI elements) compress efficiently without the artifacts that affect JPEG. Although the LZW patents that once threatened GIF's use expired in 2004, and newer formats like WebP and AVIF offer superior compression with full-color animation, GIF's cultural entrenchment keeps it irreplaceable for casual animated content.
Developer: CompuServe
Initial release: June 15, 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert FIG to GIF?

Need to include an Xfig drawing in a report? Converting FIG to GIF produces an image that any application can display.

What opens GIF files?

You can open GIF files with all web browsers, image viewers, and social media platforms.

Does converting FIG to GIF preserve quality?

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

Does FIG to GIF conversion work on mobile?

Yes — Convertio works in mobile browsers on iOS and Android. Upload your FIG file and get GIF output on any device.

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 upload FIG files from cloud storage?

Yes — Convertio supports uploads from Google Drive and Dropbox, in addition to local files and direct URL links.

FIG to GIF Quality Rating

3.8 (7 votes)
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