Convert CGM to EMF — Free Online Converter
Convert Computer Graphics Metafile (.cgm) to Enhanced Metafile (.emf) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or registratio...
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How to Convert
Upload your .cgm file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .emf file when it's ready.
About CGM to EMF Conversion
CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile, ISO 8632) is the technical illustration format used in aviation maintenance manuals, military technical publications, and industrial documentation. EMF (Enhanced Metafile) is Microsoft's 32-bit vector graphics format for high-quality graphics interchange within the Windows and Microsoft Office ecosystem. Converting CGM to EMF transforms technical illustrations from the specialized documentation standard into the vector format that integrates natively with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Windows printing systems.
This conversion preserves the vector nature of technical illustrations — lines, shapes, text, and fills remain as scalable vector elements rather than being rasterized to pixels. Engineers and documentation specialists can embed the converted illustrations in Office documents with resolution-independent quality.
Why Convert CGM to EMF?
Technical documentation teams frequently need to include CGM illustrations in Microsoft Office documents. Maintenance procedure summaries in Word, technical briefing presentations in PowerPoint, and equipment inventory reports in Excel all benefit from vector-quality technical illustrations. EMF provides the vector metafile format that Office applications render natively — sharp at any zoom level and clean on any printer resolution.
EMF is also the standard format for Windows-based technical documentation authoring systems. Organizations migrating from legacy CGM-based documentation to Windows-based publishing platforms need their illustration libraries converted to EMF for seamless integration with the new authoring environment. This is common during IETM (Interactive Electronic Technical Manual) modernization projects.
Common Use Cases
- Embed CGM aviation illustrations in Word maintenance procedure documents as scalable EMF vector graphics
- Insert CGM engineering diagrams into PowerPoint technical briefing presentations with resolution-independent quality
- Convert CGM illustration libraries to EMF during migration from legacy documentation systems to Windows-based platforms
- Export CGM military technical drawings as EMF for Windows-based Interactive Electronic Technical Manual systems
- Include CGM technical illustrations in Excel equipment reports and inventory documentation as vector EMF
How It Works
LibreOffice imports the CGM file, parsing binary or clear-text encoding to extract vector elements. The vector content is exported as a Windows Enhanced Metafile containing 32-bit GDI drawing records — polylines become PolyBezier/PolylineTo records, polygons become Polygon records, circles and arcs map to ArcTo/Ellipse records, text becomes ExtTextOut records, and fill patterns map to CreateBrushIndirect/SelectObject records. The 32-bit coordinate system provides high precision for detailed technical drawings. The output is compatible with all Windows applications that render EMF metafiles.
Quality & Performance
EMF preserves the vector geometry of CGM technical illustrations with high accuracy. Lines, curves, shapes, and text maintain mathematical precision and render crisply at any scale. The 32-bit coordinate system handles the fine detail typical of engineering drawings. The main conversion challenges involve CGM-specific hatch patterns (which may need GDI brush pattern equivalents) and specialized fonts (which may be substituted). Standard technical illustrations with line work, text annotations, and fill areas convert cleanly.
Device Compatibility
| Device | CGM | EMF |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Use EMF for embedding technical illustrations in Microsoft Office documents — it preserves vector quality at any display size
- 2For web-based documentation, convert to SVG instead of EMF for browser-native rendering
- 3Verify hatch patterns in the EMF output — CGM-specific patterns may need manual adjustment
- 4EMF files are compact compared to raster alternatives — a complex technical drawing is typically under 500 KB as EMF
- 5Test the EMF in your target Office application to confirm text rendering and line weight accuracy
CGM-to-EMF conversion transforms specialized technical illustrations into Windows-native vector graphics, enabling seamless integration with Microsoft Office, Windows documentation systems, and GDI-based rendering applications.