Convert CGM to SVG — Free Online Converter
Convert Computer Graphics Metafile (.cgm) to Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or regi...
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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 .svg file when it's ready.
About CGM to SVG Conversion
CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile, ISO 8632) is the vector format mandated for technical illustrations in aviation, defense, and industrial documentation standards. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is the modern open vector standard native to the web. Converting CGM to SVG transforms legacy technical illustrations into the web-native vector format that renders in every browser, scales to any display size, and can be styled with CSS and manipulated with JavaScript.
This conversion is crucial for modernizing technical documentation systems. The aviation and defense industries are transitioning from PDF-based and proprietary-viewer-based documentation to web-based Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs). Converting CGM illustrations to SVG enables these web-based systems to display technical drawings natively without plugins or specialized software.
Why Convert CGM to SVG?
Modern technical documentation is moving to the web. Airlines, military organizations, and industrial manufacturers are replacing thick paper manuals and PDF viewers with web-based documentation portals accessible on tablets and browsers in maintenance hangars and field operations. These web systems need SVG illustrations, not CGM files that require proprietary viewers.
SVG also enables interactive documentation features that CGM cannot support. Web-based SVG illustrations can highlight components on hover, link to parts catalogs on click, display tool-tip annotations, and animate assembly sequences with JavaScript. Converting CGM to SVG unlocks these interactive capabilities for modern technical documentation.
Common Use Cases
- Convert CGM aviation illustrations for web-based Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs)
- Transform CGM defense technical drawings for S1000D web publication systems
- Convert CGM engineering diagrams to SVG for interactive web-based maintenance documentation
- Modernize CGM illustration archives to SVG for browser-based viewing without proprietary plugins
- Produce SVG from CGM for responsive technical documentation that scales on tablets and desktops
How It Works
LibreOffice imports the CGM file (binary or clear-text encoding) and exports the vector content as SVG 1.1 markup. CGM vector elements map to SVG equivalents: polylines become <polyline> or <path> elements, polygons become <polygon> elements, circles and arcs become <circle> and <path> elements with arc commands, and text becomes <text> elements. Fill patterns and hatch definitions are converted to SVG fill attributes or pattern elements. Coordinate systems are mapped preserving aspect ratio and dimensional accuracy. The output is valid SVG compatible with all modern browsers.
Quality & Performance
Vector elements convert with high geometric accuracy — lines, curves, polygons, and shapes maintain their mathematical precision in SVG. The main conversion challenges involve CGM-specific features: complex hatch patterns (cross-hatching for material identification in engineering drawings) may need SVG pattern definitions, proprietary fonts may be substituted, and device-specific rendering hints are lost. Standard technical illustrations with line work, text labels, and fill areas convert cleanly. The SVG output scales to any size without pixelation.
Device Compatibility
| Device | CGM | SVG |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Native |
| Web Browser | No | Native |
Tips for Best Results
- 1CGM-to-SVG is the recommended conversion for web-based technical documentation systems
- 2Add CSS classes to SVG elements after conversion to enable interactive highlighting and tool-tips
- 3Verify hatch patterns and fill representations — they may need manual SVG pattern refinement
- 4Run the SVG through SVGO optimization to minimize file size for web delivery
- 5For print output from CGM, convert to PDF instead of SVG for better print workflow compatibility
CGM-to-SVG conversion modernizes technical illustrations from legacy aerospace, defense, and engineering documentation for web-based delivery, enabling scalable, interactive, and universally accessible technical drawings.