HFZ → CAL · Windows

Convert HFZ to CAL

Convert HFZ to CAL without installing QGIS or writing ogr2ogr commands. reaConverter reads GIS data directly and works through whole folders in one pass.

Manual HFZ to CAL conversion wastes hours. reaConverter automates the process — just add files and click Convert. Everything happens offline on your computer. No uploads, no cloud risks. Works without QGIS or ArcGIS, so GIS data can be converted on any office PC.

DownloadHFZ to CAL ConverterConvert
HFZ to CAL
Online
.hfz.CAL
4.8

Converting files since 2001

Runs offline — nothing uploaded

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How to Convert Multiple .hfz Files to .cal?

1. Download and Install reaConverter

Download reaConverter and install it in seconds. The setup is straightforward — no complex configuration, no extra software required.

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Install reaConverter

2. Load your HFZ files

Open reaConverter and add your HFZ files. You can load individual files, entire folders, or even nested subfolders.

Drop your HFZ files into the window or use File menu to browse and select folders.

Load your HFZ files into reaConverter

3. Select CAL as output format

Choose CAL for output and set your save location. reaConverter lets you customize quality and apply edits before conversion.

Select CAL as output format

4. Start HFZ to CAL conversion

Hit Convert and let reaConverter do the work. The progress window shows status for each file in real time.

Start Conversion

After conversion, find your CAL files in the output folder. Click 'Show converted files' to open it directly.

Step by step

How It Works

reaConverter offers the fastest, simplest solution for converting your HFZ files into CAL without GIS software - all files processed on your PC for maximum privacy and speed.

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Technical note

HFZ to CAL: what to expect from the conversion

Every cell in an HFZ file holds a measurement rather than a colour, usually elevation in metres, running from sea level up to whatever the highest point in the tile happens to be. CAL stores brightness, so the conversion stretches that range across a grey or colour scale. What you get is a readable picture of the terrain, and it is the right thing for a relief map or a figure. What you no longer have is the data: sampling a pixel in the CAL returns a shade, not an altitude. Missing cells in an elevation grid, such as water, radar shadow or the edge of a survey, are not empty: they hold a sentinel value, -32768 in SRTM, -32767 in DTED and very often -9999 in ESRI grids. Counted as a real height, that value stretches the scale so far that the actual terrain collapses into a few near-identical shades. When a CAL output looks flat and washed out, a void treated as data is the usual cause.

Map Data Workflow

Turn GIS data into something anyone can open

A map saved as CAL opens on any computer and any phone. reaConverter produces those from HFZ in batch, entirely offline.

  • Render every file in a folder to CAL with the same size and settings
  • Set DPI and output dimensions before the run, not afterwards
  • Pick up new data automatically with Watch Folders, or script the job from the command line

Everything runs on your PC, which matters for cadastral, utility and client data that should not pass through an upload form.

GIS data conversion

User reviews

What people say after the first batch

Average User Rating:4.8
Last updated on September 13, 2026
Your solution was buried deeper in search results than it should be. After struggling with unclear alternatives, I found your guides — finally, instructions that made sense for a first-time user like me. Excellent work!
Richard E. Miller
Richard E. Miller
Satisfied Customer
Converts files in seconds! Finally a tool that's both fast and simple to use.
Wei Chen
Wei Chen
Happy User
I'd been searching for reliable conversion software forever — reaConverter has everything I need! After installing and watching the tutorial, I had my files converted to the perfect format in minutes. Flawless experience!
Sanjay Mehta
Sanjay Mehta
Satisfied Customer
Creating marketing materials for various platforms requires multiple file versions from single sources. reaConverter's workflow automation lets us generate PNG, JPEG, and SVG variants from AI and PSD files simultaneously. The color profile management ensures brand consistency across all outputs, and the processing speed allows for last-minute changes without delaying deadlines.
Rebecca Turner
Rebecca Turner
Marketing Agency CEO
I was drowning in mismatched file formats until I found reaConverter. The one-click conversion and editing tools simplified everything, and the pricing is reasonable for small businesses. Now I spend less time troubleshooting and more time growing my brand!
Emily K.
Emily K.
E-commerce Entrepreneur
This program is incredibly simple and user-friendly, even beginners can use it with ease. It supports batch processing, works offline, and runs smoothly on my aging Acer Aspire laptop. Best of all, the output quality is outstanding!
Kevin Harris
Kevin Harris
Happy User

FAQ

HFZ to CAL Conversion

What are HFZ files?

HFZ is the compressed version of the HF2 terrain height map format, in which the whole file is packed with the gzip method. A height map is a rectangular grid where every cell holds the elevation of one spot of a landscape, and such grids can grow very large when they cover wide areas in fine detail. HFZ keeps them small by combining two ideas: heights are stored as differences between neighboring cells, and the author chooses how precise the heights need to be. The same data can also be found with the .hf2.gz extension. In a published comparison, a terrain saved as HFZ took about 1.4 MB, while the same terrain in the TER format packed with gzip took 1.8 MB, at equal vertical precision.

What are CAL files?

A CAL image file represents a monochrome bitmap image that uses the CALS raster image standard for storing graphics data. This standard was created in the 1980s by the US Department of Defence as a compressed interchangeable image format. CAL and CALS are extensions used for similar purposes.

Can reaConverter convert HFZ to CAL?

Yes! reaConverter instantly converts .hfz to .cal with perfect quality preservation. With its batch processing feature, you can convert multiple files at once in just a few clicks. You can even convert images directly from Windows Explorer using the right-click menu — fast and convenient.

What is reaConverter used for?

reaConverter is a Windows converter for 800+ formats, GIS data among them. For HFZ to CAL it replaces the usual detour through QGIS, ArcGIS or ogr2ogr: add the files, pick the output format, and the whole batch converts offline. Surveyors, planners and engineering teams use it to pass data between GIS, CAD and everyday document formats.

Why choose offline conversion with reaConverter?

reaConverter is a software program that is used for offline files conversion. Your proprietary documents never leave your computer – essential for architects, engineers, healthcare and government contractors handling classified projects. Meets GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and corporate security policies by ensuring files never cross borders or third-party systems.

Can I convert HFZ to CAL online?

If you only need to convert a few HFZ files to CAL format, feel free to try our free online free online HFZ to CAL converter — perfect for small batches with no installation needed!

How can I turn HFZ files into CAL on my computer?

The best way to change HFZs to CALs on your PC is to install a quality piece of software, such as reaConverter. This software is extremely efficient in managing a wide range of batch files conversions, including conversion from HFZ to CAL.

How can I automate HFZ to CAL files conversion?

reaConverter supports all the most useful automation features such as right-click сonversion and Watch Folders for the most efficient automated files conversion in any software of this type.

Is there a way to convert HFZ files to CAL using the command prompt?

reaConverter provides full access to all its features via Windows command line, including a high-performance command-line hfz to cal converter for batch processing.

What else can I do with reaConverter?

Vectorize imagesChange bit depthConvert DICOM filesCrop imagesConvert GIS files

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