PFB to TGA Converter

Render PFB fonts to Targa TGA images — free online

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Alpha Transparency

TGA delivers 32-bit images with full alpha — your PFB font glyphs render with clean, anti-aliased edges on transparent backgrounds.

Industry Standard

TGA is a staple in game and video production pipelines — render your PFB font specimens in a format your creative tools already expect.

Online Processing

No need for local rendering software — Convertio handles PFB to TGA conversion entirely in the cloud.

How to convert PFB to TGA

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your tga 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
TGA (Truevision Graphics Adapter, also known as TARGA) is a raster image format created by Truevision in 1984 for their line of display adapter cards designed for IBM PC compatibles. The format stores pixel data in a straightforward structure: an 18-byte header specifying dimensions, color depth, and image descriptor flags, optional color map data, and the pixel array in either uncompressed or RLE-compressed form. TGA supports indexed color (8-bit with palette), true color (15-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit), and true color with alpha channel (32-bit), and was one of the first PC image formats to include per-pixel alpha transparency. The format became a staple of the professional graphics industry, widely adopted by video editing suites, 3D rendering software, and game development pipelines throughout the 1990s and 2000s. One advantage is native alpha channel support — TGA was one of the earliest formats offering full 8-bit alpha transparency per pixel, making it the standard output format for 3D renderers and compositing software where layered transparency is essential. The simple, well-documented structure is another strength: TGA files are quick to parse and write, with no complex metadata or container overhead, valued in real-time applications and game engines where loading speed matters. While PNG has largely replaced TGA for general use, the format persists in game development, texture pipelines, and 3D rendering workflows where its simplicity and alpha support remain advantageous.
Developer: Truevision
Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PFB to TGA?

TGA supports 32-bit color with alpha transparency — widely used in game development and video production where font textures need clean edges and transparency.

How to open TGA?

TGA opens in Photoshop, GIMP, IrfanView, XnView, and is natively supported by game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine.

Does TGA preserve transparency?

Yes — TGA supports a full 8-bit alpha channel, allowing smooth anti-aliased glyph edges with per-pixel transparency.

Is TGA lossless?

TGA stores image data either uncompressed or with simple RLE compression — both are lossless, preserving every pixel of your font render.

Can I use the TGA as a font texture?

Absolutely — game developers often render font glyphs to TGA for use as bitmap font textures or UI elements in their engines.