CDR to FIG Converter

CDR to FIG online — free Xfig-compatible output

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Technical Drawings

Move CDR designs into FIG format — ready for Xfig and other technical illustration tools on Unix and Linux systems.

Cloud-Powered

All CDR to FIG processing happens on Convertio servers. Your local machine stays unburdened during conversion.

Private and Safe

CDR files are removed right after conversion. FIG output is purged from servers within 24 hours.

How to convert CDR to FIG

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

CDR is the native file format of CorelDRAW, a vector graphics editor developed by Corel Corporation and first released for Windows in January 1989. The format stores complex vector illustrations using a RIFF-based container structure (Resource Interchange File Format), organizing page content, object properties, color palettes, and metadata across multiple data chunks. CDR supports a comprehensive range of vector objects including Bezier curves, rectangles, ellipses, artistic text, paragraph text, powerclips, drop shadows, transparency lenses, contours, blends, envelopes, and multi-page document layouts. Each new major release of CorelDRAW introduces an updated CDR version, sometimes adding features that are not backward-compatible with older software versions. One notable advantage is rich feature density — CDR files can contain extremely complex artwork combining vector objects with embedded bitmap effects, multi-point color fills, and mesh fills, all within a single native document. The format's strong presence in certain professional niches is another practical strength: sign-making, screen printing, engraving, and vinyl cutting industries widely standardize on CDR as their primary working format, with direct output to cutting plotters and production equipment. While CorelDRAW originated as a Windows application and CDR remains most fully supported on that platform, import support exists in competing editors including Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator, and LibreOffice Draw.
Developer: Corel Corporation
Initial release: January 1989
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert CDR to FIG?

FIG is the format of Xfig — a classic technical drawing tool on Unix/Linux. Converting CDR to FIG enables cross-tool vector editing.

What applications use FIG files?

Xfig is the primary editor. Transfig and fig2dev can also process FIG files into other vector and document formats.

Does the conversion keep vector shapes?

Core vector geometry transfers well. Complex CorelDRAW effects may be approximated to fit FIG format capabilities.

Is the CDR to FIG converter free?

Yes — free with no sign-up. Premium accounts provide extra capacity for heavy or batch conversion needs.

Can I convert on Linux?

The converter is browser-based and platform-independent — it works on Linux, Windows, macOS, and mobile.

CDR to FIG Quality Rating

3.8 (33 votes)
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