FIG to PCT Converter

FIG to PCT converter — clear, accurate images

Choose Files

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up

Seamless Conversion

Move from FIG to PCT in seconds — Convertio handles the format translation so your diagrams arrive intact.

Straightforward Flow

The interface guides you step by step. No menus to dig through — conversion is clean and intuitive.

Any Modern Browser

Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — the converter works in all of them. No browser-specific dependencies.

How to convert FIG to PCT

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

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

Let the file convert and you can download your pct 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

PCT (also known as PICT) is a metafile graphics format originally developed by Apple Computer and introduced alongside the original Macintosh in January 1984. PCT files can contain both vector drawing commands and raster bitmap data, encoded as a sequence of QuickDraw drawing operations — the same graphics primitives used by the Macintosh operating system for all on-screen rendering. The format evolved through two major versions: PICT 1, which recorded basic QuickDraw operations (lines, rectangles, ovals, text, 1-bit bitmaps) in a compact format suitable for the original Macintosh's limited memory, and PICT 2, introduced with Color QuickDraw in 1987, which extended the format to support 24-bit color, multiple color spaces, and embedded JPEG-compressed data. PCT files begin with a 512-byte header (originally used for resource fork information), followed by the picture size, bounding rectangle, and a sequence of opcodes that define the drawing operations. During the Macintosh's commercial ascendancy, PICT was the universal graphics interchange format on Mac OS — the system clipboard used PICT for all graphical copy/paste operations, and most Mac applications could import and export the format. One advantage is the hybrid vector/raster nature: PCT files from the QuickDraw era preserve both scalable drawing commands and pixel data in a single format, enabling resolution-independent output for the vector portions. PICT's historical significance as the native Mac graphics format throughout the classic Mac OS era (1984-2001) provides another dimension. PCT files remain readable by Preview on macOS, ImageMagick, XnView, LibreOffice, and GIMP.

Developer: Apple Computer

Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert FIG to PCT?

FIG files are a barrier when sharing technical drawings. PCT images open on any device — perfect for email or web use.

How do I open a PCT file?

You can open PCT files with Preview on older macOS versions, LibreOffice, and vintage Mac graphics applications.

Is the FIG to PCT converter available 24/7?

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

Is FIG to PCT conversion free on Convertio?

Yes — Convertio offers free FIG to PCT conversion for standard use. Upload, convert, and download without any cost.

How long does FIG to PCT conversion take?

Most conversions complete in seconds. Cloud-based processing means speed depends on file size, not your hardware.

Does this converter handle complex FIG files?

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

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 PCT

PNG to PCT

PDF to PCT

JPEG to PCT

TGA to PCT

DXF to PCT

GIF to PCT

DOCX to PCT

SVG to PCT

AI to PCT

PSD to PCT

XLSX to PCT

CSV to PCT

DDS to PCT

HTML to PCT

PPTX to PCT

BMP to PCT

TIFF to PCT

WMF to PCT

DST to PCT

PS to PCT

MAC to PCT

PPSX to PCT

PLT to PCT

PICT to PCT

JP2 to PCT

OTF to PCT

ODT to PCT

PCD to PCT

ABW to PCT