Xfig
Encyclopedia
Xfig is a Free and open source vector graphics editor
which runs under the X Window System
on most UNIX
-compatible platforms.
In Xfig, figures may be drawn using objects such as circles, boxes, lines, spline curves, text, etc. It is also possible to import images in formats such as GIF
, JPEG
, EPS
, PostScript
, etc. Those objects can be created, deleted, moved or modified. Attributes such as colors or line styles can be selected in various ways. For text, 35 font
s are available.
Xfig saves figures in its native text-only Fig format. Xfig has a facility to print figures to a PostScript printer too.
A convenient feature is the PSTEX or PDFTEX
export format that allows a smooth integration of Xfig-generated images into LaTeX
documents.
Most operations in xfig are performed using the mouse, but some operations may also be performed using keyboard accelerators (short-cuts). The interface is designed for a three-button mouse, although it is also possible to use a two button or a one button mouse with appropriate emulation, for example on a Macintosh under OS X.
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Copied from the Xfig home page with formatting changes. For additional details, check the xfig documentation or home page at http://www.xfig.org/
Vector graphics editor
A vector graphics editor is a computer program that allows users to compose and edit vector graphics images interactively on a computer and save them in one of many popular vector graphics formats, such as EPS, PDF, WMF, SVG, or VML....
which runs under the X Window System
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
on most UNIX
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
-compatible platforms.
In Xfig, figures may be drawn using objects such as circles, boxes, lines, spline curves, text, etc. It is also possible to import images in formats such as GIF
GIF
The Graphics Interchange Format is a bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability....
, JPEG
JPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
, EPS
Encapsulated PostScript
Encapsulated PostScript, or EPS, is a DSC-conforming PostScript document with additional restrictions which is intended to be usable as a graphics file format...
, PostScript
PostScript
PostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...
, etc. Those objects can be created, deleted, moved or modified. Attributes such as colors or line styles can be selected in various ways. For text, 35 font
Font
In typography, a font is traditionally defined as a quantity of sorts composing a complete character set of a single size and style of a particular typeface...
s are available.
Xfig saves figures in its native text-only Fig format. Xfig has a facility to print figures to a PostScript printer too.
A convenient feature is the PSTEX or PDFTEX
PdfTeX
The computer program pdfTeX is an extension of Knuth's typesetting program TeX, and was originally written and developed into a publicly usable product by Hàn Thế Thành as a part of the work for his PhD thesis at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno...
export format that allows a smooth integration of Xfig-generated images into LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
documents.
Most operations in xfig are performed using the mouse, but some operations may also be performed using keyboard accelerators (short-cuts). The interface is designed for a three-button mouse, although it is also possible to use a two button or a one button mouse with appropriate emulation, for example on a Macintosh under OS X.
History
Xfig was written by Supoj Sutanthavibul in 1985. Ken Yap ported xfig to X11. In 1989, Brian V. Smith added many features. In 1991, Paul King added many features including overhauling the GUI for version 2.0. In 1997, Tom Sato added Japanese text support, spell checker, and search/replace.Imports
Xfig can import various files as images:- Raster formats: GIFGIFThe Graphics Interchange Format is a bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability....
, JPEGJPEGIn computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
, PCXPCXPCX is an image file format developed by the now-defunct ZSoft Corporation of Marietta, Georgia. It was the native file format for PC Paintbrush and became one of the first widely accepted DOS imaging standards, although it has since been succeeded by more sophisticated image formats, such as GIF,...
, PNG, PPMPortable pixmapThe phrase Netpbm format commonly refers to any or all of the members of a set of closely related graphics formats used and defined by the Netpbm project....
, TIFF, XBMXBMIn computer graphics, the X Window System uses X BitMap , a plain text binary image format, for storing cursor and icon bitmaps used in the X GUI.XBM files differ markedly from most image files in that they take the form of C source files...
, and XPMXPMXPM may refer to:* X PixMap, an ASCII text image format used by the X Window System * XPM , a Canadian sitcom television series.* Extreme project management... - Vector graphics formats: EPSEncapsulated PostScriptEncapsulated PostScript, or EPS, is a DSC-conforming PostScript document with additional restrictions which is intended to be usable as a graphics file format...
, PostScriptPostScriptPostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...
Exports
Xfig can export into various formats:- Raster formats: GIFGIFThe Graphics Interchange Format is a bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability....
, JPEGJPEGIn computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
, PNG, PPMPortable pixmapThe phrase Netpbm format commonly refers to any or all of the members of a set of closely related graphics formats used and defined by the Netpbm project....
, XBMXBMIn computer graphics, the X Window System uses X BitMap , a plain text binary image format, for storing cursor and icon bitmaps used in the X GUI.XBM files differ markedly from most image files in that they take the form of C source files...
, XPMXPMXPM may refer to:* X PixMap, an ASCII text image format used by the X Window System * XPM , a Canadian sitcom television series.* Extreme project management...
, PCXPCXPCX is an image file format developed by the now-defunct ZSoft Corporation of Marietta, Georgia. It was the native file format for PC Paintbrush and became one of the first widely accepted DOS imaging standards, although it has since been succeeded by more sophisticated image formats, such as GIF,...
, TIFF, SLD - Formats for printed documents: PostScriptPostScriptPostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...
, PDF, HP-GL (printer control language used by Hewlett-Packard plotters), - Vector graphics formats: EPSEncapsulated PostScriptEncapsulated PostScript, or EPS, is a DSC-conforming PostScript document with additional restrictions which is intended to be usable as a graphics file format...
, SVG, PICPic languageIn computing, Pic is a domain-specific programming language by Brian Kernighan for specifying diagrams in terms of objects such as boxes with arrows between them. The pic compiler translates this description into concrete drawing commands. Pic is a procedural programming language, with variable...
, CGMComputer Graphics MetafileComputer Graphics Metafile is a free and open international standard file format for 2D vector graphics, raster graphics, and text, and is defined by ISO/IEC 8632.-Overview:...
, MetaFontMETAFONTMetafont is a programming language used to define vector fonts. It is also the name of the interpreter that executes Metafont code, generating the bitmap fonts that can be embedded into e.g. PostScript...
, MetaPostMetaPostMetaPost refers to both a programming language and the interpreter of the MetaPost programming language. Both are derived from Donald Knuth's Metafont language and interpreter. MetaPost excels at producing diagrams in the PostScript programming language from a geometric/algebraic description...
, EMFEMF- Music :* EMF , a British band** "EMF", a bonus track on EMF's album Schubert Dip* E.M.F. , a 1983 album by GG Allin* English Music Festival, a British music festival- Organizations :...
, Tk.
Maintenance
Brian Smith is the maintainer of xfig, although he is only fixing bugs, not adding any new features. Contact him at bvsmith AT lbl DOT gov for support.See also
- List of vector graphics editors
- Comparison of vector graphics editorsComparison of vector graphics editorsA number of vector graphics editors for various platforms exist. Potential users of these editors will make a decision based on factors such as the availability for the user's platform, the feature set, usability of the user interface and the focus of the program. Some programs are more suitable...
- jfigJfigJfig is a 2D graphics and diagram editor based on the FIG file format. The user-interface of jfig is based on xfig, a popular graphics editor for the X11 window system....
- WinFIGWinFIGWinFIG is a proprietary shareware vector graphics editor application. The file format and rendering are as close to Xfig as possible, but the program takes advantage of Windows features like clipboard, printer preview, multiple documents etc....
External links
- XFig Version 3.2.5 User Manual
- Xfig homepage
- Native Fig file format
- WinFIG, an Xfig clone for Windows (shareware with demo version)
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Copied from the Xfig home page with formatting changes. For additional details, check the xfig documentation or home page at http://www.xfig.org/