Font File Formats

Maximum of 256 characters for each file. Each family member (Roman, Italic, Bold, etc.) is a separate font file.

PostScript Type 1 (PST-1)

• Developer - Adobe. Introduced in 1984.
• To display and print - Three items are necessary:

  1- Outline font file (contains cubic Bezier mathematic formulas and hint specifications*) 2- Bitmapped font file 3- Adobe Type Manager (ATM)

• Compression - Files are compressed and encrypted.
• File size - 35-50K
• Rasterizer - (software that prepares the file for printing) is on the printer and/or hard drive.

PostScript Type 3 (PST-3)

• Files are not compressed or encrypted (and may not be hinted)
• Does not need Adobe Type Manager

TrueType (TT)

• Developer - Apple and Microsoft. Introduced in 1991. Open format - so anyone can create TT fonts. Although this encourages more type designs, it also means that the quality of the fonts vary greatly.
• To display and print - Only need the outline fonts (square B-spline mathematical formulas, written in TrueImage page-layout language). Files come with bitmapped display fonts, but they are not necessary.
  
• Compression - Files not compressed or encypted, but are hinted.
• File size - Averages 70K
• Rasterizer - is in the font file. Designed to work on non-PostScript printers, but also work on PostScript printers.

*Hints - Additional information needed to maintain typeface quality for type sizes less than 14 points or when printed on a low resolution printer (less than 600 dpi).

OpenType information: partners.adobe.com/asn/developer/type/opentype.html

TrueType information: www.truetype.demon.co.uk