FIG to XBM Converter

FIG to XBM — turn drawings into images online

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Reliable Output

Your FIG drawings convert to clean XBM files — Convertio processes each element with precision and care.

Works Everywhere

Run the FIG to XBM conversion from any device — desktop, tablet, or phone. All you need is a web browser.

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 XBM

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

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

Let the file convert and you can download your xbm 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

XBM (X BitMap) is a monochrome (1-bit) image format defined as part of the X Window System, originating at MIT around 1987. XBM files are unique among image formats in being valid C source code: each file defines the image as a static array of unsigned char values containing the packed pixel data, preceded by #define statements specifying the image width, height, and optional hot-spot coordinates (for cursor images). The pixel data is stored in hexadecimal byte values within curly braces, with each bit representing one pixel (1 = foreground, 0 = background) and bits ordered LSB-first within each byte. This design was intentional — XBM images could be #included directly into X Window application source code and compiled into the binary, eliminating the need for external file loading and runtime format parsing. The format was used throughout the X11 ecosystem for cursor shapes, window icons, toolbar buttons, and other small UI elements. One advantage is the source-code nature of the format: XBM files can be edited with a text editor, diff'd and merged in version control, generated by shell scripts, and compiled directly into C programs without any image loading library — a level of toolchain integration that no binary image format can match. The format's role as part of the X Window standard ensures it is understood by every X11-aware toolkit and application. While limited to monochrome and no compression, XBM's simplicity makes it an excellent teaching format for understanding bitmap representations. XBM files are supported by all X11 applications, ImageMagick, GIMP, web browsers (as a legacy web format), and programming environments.

Developer: MIT X Consortium

Initial release: 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert FIG to XBM?

Xfig's FIG format is not web-friendly. XBM images display everywhere — in browsers, word processors, and presentation tools.

Where can I open XBM files?

You can open XBM files with X Window System applications, GIMP, and text editors since XBM is plain C code.

Can I convert multiple FIG files to XBM at once?

Batch conversion is supported. Upload several FIG files simultaneously and each one converts to XBM independently in a single session.

How quickly does FIG to XBM conversion finish?

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

Can I convert password-protected FIG files?

FIG files do not support password protection natively. If your file is in an archive, extract it before uploading.

Is there an API for FIG to XBM conversion?

Convertio offers a developer API for automated conversions. Check the API documentation for integration details.

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

PNG to XBM

BMP to XBM

JPG to XBM

ICO to XBM

PDF to XBM

GIF to XBM

SVG to XBM

JPEG to XBM

CUR to XBM

PSD to XBM

TGA to XBM

WEBP to XBM

TTF to XBM

TXT to XBM

XCF to XBM

XPM to XBM

HTML to XBM

JFIF to XBM

DDS to XBM

DOCX to XBM

EPS to XBM

HEIC to XBM

DXF to XBM

AI to XBM

XLSX to XBM

CDR to XBM

CSV to XBM

OTF to XBM

TIFF to XBM

PBM to XBM