OTF to PFB Converter

Convert OpenType fonts to PostScript Type 1 binary format online for free

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PostScript Ready

Convert OTF to PFB for seamless integration with PostScript-based printing systems, older RIP devices, and established prepress pipelines.

Server-Side Engine

Conversion runs on our cloud servers, delivering results in seconds. Your machine stays free — no font conversion utilities to download or configure.

Faithful Outlines

CFF-based OTF fonts share PostScript DNA with PFB, ensuring smooth and accurate glyph outline transfer between the two formats.

How to convert OTF to PFB

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose pfb or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your pfb file right afterwards

About formats

OTF (OpenType Font) is a scalable font format jointly developed by Microsoft and Adobe, announced in 1996 and later standardized as ISO/IEC 14496-22. OpenType unifies TrueType and PostScript font technologies under a single container — OTF files with PostScript outlines use CFF/CFF2 tables for cubic Bezier curves, while those with TrueType outlines use quadratic splines in glyf tables (these typically carry the .ttf extension despite being OpenType). The format supports up to 65,535 glyphs per font, enabling comprehensive coverage of Unicode's vast character repertoire including Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, CJK, and mathematical symbols within one file. Advanced typographic features are encoded in GSUB (glyph substitution) and GPOS (glyph positioning) tables, powering contextual alternates, ligatures, small caps, stylistic sets, and complex script shaping. A defining advantage is cross-platform consistency — the same OTF file renders identically on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android without platform-specific builds. The rich OpenType Layout feature system is another major strength, giving designers fine-grained typographic control that was previously impossible in a single font file. OpenType 1.8 introduced variable font technology, allowing continuous interpolation across weight, width, slant, and custom design axes within a single compact file. Universal support in web browsers, design applications, office suites, and operating systems makes OTF the dominant professional font format in modern digital typography.
Initial release: 1996
PFB (Printer Font Binary) is the compact binary representation of Adobe's PostScript Type 1 font format, introduced alongside PFA in 1984. Where PFA stores the entire font program as hex-encoded ASCII text, PFB wraps the same data in a lightweight binary container that uses segment headers to mark regions as ASCII or binary. The encrypted glyph outline section (eexec) is stored as raw bytes rather than hex characters, cutting the file size roughly in half compared to PFA. Each segment begins with a marker byte and a 32-bit length field, making the format simple to parse while still significantly more compact. PFB became the dominant Type 1 distribution format on Windows and DOS platforms, used in combination with PFM (Printer Font Metrics) or AFM files that supply the character width and kerning data needed for text layout. One advantage is storage and transfer efficiency — the binary encoding means a typical text font occupies 30-50 KB rather than the 60-100 KB its PFA equivalent would require. The segmented structure also allows PostScript interpreters to stream font data efficiently, processing ASCII and binary portions with their respective handlers. Adobe Type Manager (ATM) on Windows relied on PFB files to render smooth Type 1 text on screen, a capability that transformed desktop publishing on the PC platform. While OpenType fonts have largely replaced Type 1 for new work, PFB files persist in established print workflows, archival font libraries, and systems that depend on PostScript output.
Developer: Adobe Systems
Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert OTF to PFB?

PFB is the standard binary PostScript Type 1 font format required by legacy RIP hardware, older PostScript printers, and certain prepress workflows.

How do I open a PFB font?

Windows recognizes PFB via Adobe Type Manager or the built-in font installer. On macOS, Font Book handles PFB. Prepress applications load PFB directly.

Does conversion preserve glyph outlines?

Yes — OTF fonts using CFF (PostScript) outlines translate naturally to PFB. The cubic Bezier curve data carries over with high fidelity.

Will I lose OpenType features?

PFB does not support advanced OpenType layout features like ligatures or alternates. Basic glyph shapes, metrics, and encoding are fully preserved.

Is this conversion free?

Convertio offers OTF to PFB conversion completely free. Upload and convert right in your browser — no software or account needed.

OTF to PFB Quality Rating

4.8 (61 votes)
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