Convert CGM to TIFF — Free Online Converter
Convert Computer Graphics Metafile (.cgm) to Tagged Image File Format (.tiff) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or reg...
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Upload your .cgm file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
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About CGM to TIFF Conversion
CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile, ISO 8632) is the ISO-standard vector format for technical illustrations in aerospace, defense, and industrial documentation. TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is the archival-grade raster format used in institutional preservation, print production, and systems requiring lossless image storage with ICC color management. Converting CGM to TIFF produces the highest-fidelity raster output for technical illustration archiving, print reproduction, and integration with systems that require lossless raster input.
This conversion is important for long-term preservation of technical illustration content. Organizations with decades of CGM illustrations — airlines, military branches, heavy equipment manufacturers — need archival raster copies that remain accessible as CGM software evolves and legacy authoring tools become unavailable.
Why Convert CGM to TIFF?
Technical illustration archives must be preserved in formats that remain accessible for decades. TIFF is the standard archival image format specified by the Library of Congress, National Archives, and institutional preservation standards worldwide. Converting CGM illustrations to TIFF creates a format-independent archival copy that does not depend on specialized CGM rendering software — if the CGM authoring tool becomes unavailable in 20 years, the TIFF archive remains fully readable.
TIFF is also required by certain print reproduction workflows. Technical manuals printed on specialized paper stocks, large-format technical posters for training facilities, and illustrated parts catalogs printed at commercial print shops often require TIFF raster input at specific resolutions for their production processes.
Common Use Cases
- Archive CGM aviation illustration libraries as lossless TIFF for institutional preservation without CGM software dependency
- Produce print-quality TIFF from CGM technical drawings for commercial printing of maintenance manuals and training materials
- Convert CGM military illustrations to TIFF for long-term archival in government document management systems
- Generate high-resolution TIFF from CGM engineering diagrams for large-format poster printing in training facilities
- Export CGM technical illustrations to TIFF for integration with document imaging and records management systems
How It Works
LibreOffice imports the CGM file, parsing binary or clear-text encoding to extract all vector elements. The vector content is rasterized at the specified DPI (300 DPI default for archival, 150 DPI for screen use). The rendered image is encoded as TIFF with LZW lossless compression. Color depth is 8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB). ICC color profiles are embedded for color management across systems. Resolution tags record the rendering DPI for correct physical sizing. The output TIFF is compatible with all professional imaging applications and archival systems.
Quality & Performance
TIFF output stores the rendered CGM illustration with zero compression artifacts — every pixel is preserved exactly as rendered. At 300 DPI, line work is sharp, text labels are fully readable, and hatch patterns are accurately captured. The lossless LZW compression reduces file size by 40-60% without any quality degradation. For institutional archival, TIFF provides the guarantee that the stored image is an exact representation of the rendered CGM content.
Device Compatibility
| Device | CGM | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Native |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Use 300 DPI with LZW compression for the standard balance of archival quality and file size
- 2TIFF is the safest long-term archival format for CGM illustrations — it remains readable regardless of CGM software availability
- 3Embed ICC color profiles for consistent rendering across different display and print devices
- 4For web-based access to archived illustrations, maintain both TIFF (archival master) and PNG/SVG (access copy)
- 5Verify text label readability at the specified DPI before archiving — fine annotations may need higher resolution
CGM-to-TIFF conversion produces archival-grade lossless raster images from technical illustrations, meeting institutional preservation standards, print production requirements, and records management system specifications.