Free online IGS to SVG converter

People convert IGS to SVG when a 2D drawing must be edited in a vector editor, embedded in a webpage, or sent to equipment that accepts SVG rather than CAD geometry. The conversion creates a projected 2D representation; it does not preserve the original 3D engineering model.

What the IGS format is

IGS, usually saved with the .igs or .iges extension, is the ASCII file form of the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES). It exchanges CAD entities such as wireframe curves, surfaces, solids, annotations, dimensions, and associated geometric data between engineering applications.

Mechanical CAD, industrial design, manufacturing, and inspection systems use IGS for exchanging models between different native formats. Files may originate in AutoCAD, CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Creo, Rhino, Fusion, or supplier software. An IGS file is CAD geometry, not an image; ordinary vector editors such as Inkscape or Illustrator generally cannot open it directly.

What the SVG format is

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an XML-based 2D vector format. It stores lines, Bézier curves, shapes, text, colors, and transformations as mathematical objects instead of pixels, so drawings can scale without rasterization.

SVG is useful for web pages, technical illustrations, diagrams, documentation, and laser-cutting or sign-making workflows that accept SVG. Paths remain editable in applications such as Inkscape and Illustrator, but SVG has no native representation for parametric features, solid topology, assemblies, or general 3D camera views.

How to convert an IGS file to SVG

Use the converter on 101convert.com

1. Open the IGS-to-SVG converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the .igs or .iges file and select SVG as the output format.
3. Start the conversion, then download and inspect the resulting SVG.

This free, software-free method is appropriate for simple models, curves, or files where the converter's automatic view is acceptable. For confidential designs, check the site's file-handling terms before uploading.

Use FreeCAD for a selected projection

FreeCAD provides more control when the IGS file contains 3D surfaces or solids and the output needs a defined technical view.

1. Choose File → Open and select the .igs or .iges file. Wait for the IGES import to finish.
2. Inspect the imported geometry and hide construction objects or unwanted components.
3. Switch to the TechDraw workbench, create a page from a template, and insert a view of the imported object.
4. Set the view direction, scale, visible-line mode, and projection settings. Add separate front, top, or side views if required.
5. Use the TechDraw page's SVG export command and save the result as drawing.svg.

TechDraw exports a 2D SVG page containing the selected views. It does not make the original 3D model available as an editable 3D object in SVG.

Use a CAD application for direct control

A CAD program that supports both IGES import and SVG export can produce a more predictable result. Open the IGS file, create a planar projection or extract the required planar curves, select the geometry, and use the program's SVG export command.

In Rhino, a typical workflow is File → Open, Make2D for a visible 3D object, then File → Export Selected with SVG as the format. Menu names, export support, and available line options vary by software version. AutoCAD, Fusion, and other CAD applications may require an intermediate 2D drawing or a plug-in rather than offering native SVG export.

Quality and compatibility limits

• 3D is reduced to 2D: SVG cannot retain IGS solids, surface topology, assembly structure, or arbitrary 3D camera data. Choose a projection or generate 2D curves before export.
• Hidden geometry requires settings: A default view may contain only visible edges. Enable hidden-line, tangent-edge, silhouette, or section options when those lines are needed.
• Scale requires verification: IGES can contain unit information, while SVG uses document dimensions and viewBox coordinates. Check the SVG width, height, viewBox, and scale before using it for measured drawings or fabrication.
• Annotations may change: Dimensions, tolerances, hatches, fonts, layers, colors, and line weights can be omitted, approximated, or converted into paths. Inspect the SVG and recreate missing annotations where necessary.
• Complex curves can create large files: Imported splines and tessellated edges may generate paths with many nodes. Simplify them only after confirming the required accuracy.
• SVG is not an engineering master format: Retain the original IGS, STEP, or native CAD file. Use SVG for 2D display, illustration, documentation, and compatible cutting or plotting workflows.