FontConverter

How to convert a PostScript Type 1 font on macOS

By converting your old PostScript Type 1 fonts, you will be able to use them again with most modern apps that stopped supporting PostScript fonts.

 

Where to find your fonts

First you need to locate your old fonts. If you already have them in a folder you are all set. If they are installed in your system, you find them by going to the "Finder", holding down the option key and choosing "Library" from the "Go" menu.

Once the "Library" folder opened, you will find your fonts in the "Fonts" folder. Change the window to "list view" and sort the files by "Kind" to find the "Post Script" fonts. The exact type can vary and will either be "PostScript LaserWriter Font" or "PostScript Printer Font".

 

Viewing legacy fonts in FontConverter

Chances are FontConverter will be the only app on your system that can read legacy fonts. In those cases, you can just double-click your font files and they will be opened and previewed in FontConverter.

Alternatively, you can open FontConverter and press the "Add Font Files" button at the top to add files to be converted. Press "Reset" to empty the list. Hold down the shift key to select more than one font in the open dialog or select a folder to load all the contained font files.

 

How to include kerning pairs from the PostScript font

FontConverter allows you to keep the kerning information from your original PostScript Type 1 fonts.

The kerning information is usually stored in auxiliary files that come together with the PostScript file. These are either files with the ".pfm" or ".afm" file extension, or font-suitcase files if the fonts come from classic macOS. If you do have any of those files, it is very important that you select and add them together with the PostScript files when you press the "Add Font Files" button.

If the auxiliary files are not added, FontConverter has no way of knowing that this additional information exists and will not include it when converting the font. Every font for which those files have been loaded will show a "(+ metrics/kerning)" after its name in the fonts list:

 

Exporting the PostScript font as OpenType font

If the preview looks as expected, you can press the "Export OpenType Fonts to Folder" button. You will then be prompted to select a folder in which the OpenType fonts will be created.

Now you are done! Make sure that the converted font looks and behaves as expected and keep using it in your designs.

System Requirements

• MacOS X 10.13

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