FIG Files

These are some examples of FIG files.

Note that MATLAB uses a proprietary graphics file format, which it also calls a "FIG" file. MATLAB FIG files are not being discussed here.

FIG File Characteristics:

• ASCII
• Color
• 2D
• No compression
• one image

Reference:

1. ../../html/fig_format.html,
   The Fig Format Version 3.2.
2. http://www.xfig.org
   the XFIG home page.
3. Carole Blanc, Christophe Schlick,
   X-Splines: A Spline Model Designed for the End User,
   Proceedings of SIGGRAPH, 1995,
   ISBN: 0201847760.

Programs to create a FIG file:

• ANN_TO_FIG takes a dump file from the ANN_TEST program and creates a FIG file displaying the search tree used by the program.
• gnuplot can output the current image as a FIG file, using the command

  set terminal fig

• xfig, a technical illustration program, can save the current image as a FIG file;

Programs to view a FIG file:

• xfig, can be invoked with a command line argument: the current image as a FIG file, using the command

  xfig image.fig

Programs to convert a FIG file to another format:

• The ImageMagick, program convert can convert a FIG file to BMP, CGM, EPS, FITS, GIF, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF, XBM or XPM format.
• fig2dev converts a FIG file to CGM, EPS, GIF, JPEG, PDF, PNG, PPM, PS or TIF format, using a command like

              fig2dev -L png file.fig > file.png
            

• xfig, can save the currently displayed FIG file as CGM, EPS, GIF, JPEG, PDF, PNG, PPM, PS or TIF format.

Programs to convert another format to FIG format:

• The ImageMagick, program convert can convert a BMP, CGM, EPS, FITS, GIF, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF, XBM or XPM file to FIG format.

Sample FIG Files:

AIRCRAFT is three schematic views of a light aircraft;

• aircraft.fig, the FIG file.
• aircraft.png, a PNG image of the graphic;

ALPHA is a diagram illustrating a flow region through a channel with a bump;

• alpha.fig, the FIG file.
• alpha.png, a PNG image of the graphic;

ARROWS is a diagram with some thick, colorful arrows;

• arrows.fig, the FIG file.
• arrows.png, a PNG image of the graphic;

HOUSE is a house plan;

• house.fig, the FIG file.
• house.png, a PNG image of the graphic;

WATCH is a diagram of a CASIO watch;

• watch.fig, the FIG file.
• watch.png, a PNG image of the graphic;

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