PFB to OTF Converter

Convert PFB fonts to OpenType online for free

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

Premium Typography

OpenType unlocks advanced typographic features that PFB cannot provide — including contextual alternates, stylistic sets, and extended kerning.

Private & Secure

All uploaded PFB fonts are deleted right after processing, and converted OTF files are purged within 24 hours for your privacy.

Instant Results

Cloud-powered conversion delivers your OTF font in seconds — no waiting, no queues, no software installation required.

How to convert PFB to OTF

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PFB to OTF?

OTF retains cubic Bézier outlines like PFB but adds OpenType layout features — ligatures, alternates, and extended language support modern apps expect.

How to open OTF?

OTF files work natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Open them with Font Book, Windows Font Viewer, or install via your system font manager.

Will my glyphs look the same after conversion?

Yes — both PFB and OTF use cubic Bézier curves, so glyph outlines transfer directly without geometric approximation.

Can I use the converted OTF in Adobe software?

Absolutely. Adobe apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign fully support OTF and will recognize all converted glyphs.

Is the conversion process secure?

Your uploaded files are deleted immediately after conversion, and results are removed within 24 hours to protect your data.

PFB to OTF Quality Rating

4.7 (578 votes)
You need to convert and download at least 1 file to provide feedback!