PS to PFA Converter

Convert PostScript to PFA font format online — free

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Readable Font Data

PS to PFA extracts font definitions in ASCII form — human-readable PostScript Type 1 data you can inspect and modify.

TeX Integration

PFA fonts integrate directly with TeX and LaTeX typesetting systems. Perfect for academic and scientific publishing workflows.

Secure Conversion

Your PostScript font files are encrypted during upload and deleted after conversion. PFA outputs are removed within 24 hours.

How to convert PS to PFA

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

PS is the standard extension for files written in PostScript, the page description language created by Adobe Systems and first shipped in 1984 with the Apple LaserWriter. A PostScript file is a complete program that describes the precise appearance of a page — text, vector graphics, curves, fills, and even embedded raster images — using a stack-based interpreted language with full programming constructs. When sent to a PostScript-compatible printer or interpreter (such as Ghostscript), the program executes and produces rendered output. PostScript introduced cubic Bezier curves as the standard representation for smooth outlines, a mathematical model that became the foundation for virtually all subsequent vector graphics and font technology including PDF, SVG, and OpenType. The language also serves as a font format: Type 1 PostScript fonts encode glyph outlines as PostScript programs with hinting instructions for sharp rendering at low resolutions, while Type 3 fonts use the full language to define arbitrarily complex glyphs. One advantage is device independence — a PostScript file produces identical output whether rendered on a 300 dpi desktop printer, a high-resolution imagesetter, or a software rasterizer, because it describes shapes mathematically rather than as pixel grids. The human-readable text format provides another practical strength: PS files can be inspected, debugged, and modified with any text editor, and they can be generated programmatically by any software without requiring specialized libraries. PostScript files are widely handled by Ghostscript, Adobe Acrobat, preview applications, and numerous publishing and graphics tools.
Developer: Adobe Systems
Initial release: 1984
PFA (Printer Font ASCII) is one of two file representations of Adobe's PostScript Type 1 font format, introduced in 1984 as part of the PostScript page description language. A PFA file contains the complete font program as plain ASCII text — the clear-text header with font name, encoding array, and metrics, followed by a hex-encoded encrypted section (eexec) holding the actual glyph outlines described as cubic Bezier curves with stem hints. Because every byte is represented in printable ASCII characters, PFA files are roughly twice the size of their PFB binary counterparts, but they can be transmitted through any text-safe channel and edited in a standard text editor. PFA became the standard Type 1 distribution format on Unix and Linux systems, where binary font formats were less convenient for PostScript printer pipelines. A key advantage is universal text compatibility — PFA files pass cleanly through email systems, FTP text-mode transfers, and version control without corruption from character encoding transformations. The readable structure also benefits font developers, who can inspect header values and encoding declarations directly. Type 1 fonts in PFA form powered the desktop publishing revolution of the late 1980s and 1990s, with Adobe's font library and the Apple LaserWriter printer establishing PostScript typography as the professional standard. Although OpenType has superseded Type 1 for new font development, PFA files remain in active use within legacy publishing workflows and PostScript/PDF production systems.
Developer: Adobe Systems
Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PS to PFA?

PFA is an ASCII-encoded Type 1 font format. Converting PS to PFA extracts readable font definitions usable in Unix and TeX workflows.

What opens PFA font files?

PFA fonts work with TeX/LaTeX distributions, FontForge, and Unix-based printing systems. They can also be installed on most platforms.

Is PFA the same as PFB?

PFA is ASCII-encoded, PFB is binary-encoded — both contain the same Type 1 data. PFA is human-readable; PFB is more compact.

Is the PS to PFA converter free?

Free conversion is available to all Convertio users. Premium accounts unlock higher throughput for professional font projects.

Can I inspect PFA files in a text editor?

Yes — PFA is an ASCII format. You can open it in any text editor to examine the PostScript font program directly.