PFA is a Type 1 PostScript font stored as readable ASCII — the printable cousin of PFB, favored by Unix typesetting pipelines that feed fonts straight into interpreters.
Typical use: Convert PFA to PFB when a binary-segmented Type 1 file is required.
About the PFA format
PFA is a Type 1 PostScript font written entirely as readable ASCII: the cleartext part defines the font program, the eexec-encrypted section arrives as long hex lines, and a cleartomark closes it. Unix typesetting pipelines (groff, dvips) prefer PFA because it can be shipped through text tools unchanged.
PFB is the same font in binary segments — what X11 and drivers want on disk. The conversion is pure restructuring: re-split the sections, hex-decode the encrypted part, prepend length markers. No glyph data changes.
Strengths
- ✓ Human-readable — survives text tools
- ✓ Directly consumable by PostScript interpreters
- ✓ Round-trips to PFB losslessly
Limitations
- ✗ 30% larger than PFB (hex expansion)
- ✗ Old format — few new fonts ship as Type 1
- ✗ Adobe formally ended Type 1 support in 2023
- Structure
- ASCII font program + eexec hex section
- Types / schema
- Plain text (Type 1)
- Compatibility
- groff, ghostscript, fontforge
- Best for
- Unix typesetting pipelines
Convert PFA to…
1 direct directions, sorted A–Z; 🔥 marks popular targets.
Convert other files to PFA…
Frequently asked questions
What is a PFA file?
PFA is a Type 1 PostScript font stored as readable ASCII — the printable cousin of PFB, favored by Unix typesetting pipelines that feed fonts straight into interpreters.
How do I convert PFA files online?
Pick a target format from the "Convert PFA to…" list below, drop your file and hit convert. Everything runs in your browser — no install, no upload, no watermark, no limits.
Is it safe to convert PFA files here?
Yes. Every conversion is performed by your own device inside the browser — files never leave for a server, and the page keeps working even offline.
Which formats can PFA convert to?
This page lists all 1 directions across documents, images, audio, video, spreadsheets and archives — each one is its own free converter page.