PS to PFB Converter

PostScript to PFB binary font format — convert free

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Binary Efficiency

Extract PostScript font data into PFB — a binary encoding that loads faster and takes less storage than ASCII alternatives.

Wide Compatibility

PFB Type 1 fonts work on Windows, Unix, and with professional publishing tools. Your PS fonts become broadly installable.

Online Tool

No font editing software required. Convert PS to PFB directly in your web browser from any operating system.

How to convert PS 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

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
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 PS to PFB?

PFB is a compact binary Type 1 font format. Converting PS to PFB extracts font data in a smaller, faster-loading binary encoding.

What software uses PFB files?

PFB fonts work with Windows font systems, Adobe applications, TeX distributions, and many professional typesetting tools.

How does PFB differ from PFA?

PFB is binary-encoded for smaller size, PFA is ASCII-encoded for readability. Both contain identical Type 1 font program data.

Is PS to PFB free?

Convertio provides free PS to PFB conversion. Premium tiers offer extended limits for heavy font production workloads.

Can I install PFB fonts on Windows?

PFB fonts install on Windows alongside their AFM or PFM metric files. They work in Office, Adobe, and other Windows applications.

Is the conversion process secure?

All file transfers are encrypted. PS uploads and PFB outputs are automatically purged from Convertio servers after processing.

PS to PFB Quality Rating

3.0 (1 votes)
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