PFA to AVIF Converter

Render PFA fonts as AVIF images with cutting-edge compression

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Cutting-Edge Compression

AVIF uses AV1 video codec technology for images — render PFA fonts into the most efficient modern image format available.

Web Performance

AVIF images are dramatically smaller than JPEG or PNG at the same quality — faster page loads for font specimens on your website.

Secure Processing

Uploaded PFA files are removed after conversion, and AVIF outputs are deleted from our servers within 24 hours.

How to convert PFA to AVIF

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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 Although OpenType has superseded Type 1 for new font development, PFA files remain in active use within legacy publishing workflows and PostScript/PDF production systems.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
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a modern image format derived from the AV1 video codec, developed by the Alliance for Open Media and specified in February 2019. The format leverages the intra-frame coding tools of AV1 — a royalty-free video codec backed by Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, and other major technology companies — to compress still images with substantially higher efficiency than JPEG, PNG, or even WebP. AVIF stores images in the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) container, supporting both lossy and lossless compression, HDR (high dynamic range) with wide color gamuts up to 12-bit depth, alpha transparency, and animated sequences. At equivalent visual quality, AVIF files are typically 30-50% smaller than WebP and 50-70% smaller than JPEG, representing the largest compression improvement in mainstream image formats in over a decade. One advantage is exceptional compression efficiency — AVIF delivers visually indistinguishable images at dramatically lower file sizes, directly reducing bandwidth consumption and improving page load times for web content. The royalty-free licensing model provides another key strength: unlike HEIC/HEIF which relies on patent-encumbered HEVC, AVIF's AV1 foundation is free for anyone to implement without licensing fees. Browser support has reached broad adoption, with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all rendering AVIF natively. The format is rapidly gaining adoption for web images where quality-to-size ratio is paramount.
Initial release: February 8, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PFA to AVIF?

AVIF uses AV1 compression — delivering better quality at smaller file sizes than JPEG, WebP, or even HEIC. Ideal for modern web performance.

How to open AVIF?

AVIF is supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Desktop viewers like GIMP, Photoshop, and Paint.NET (with plugins) also handle AVIF.

Is AVIF better than WebP?

In most benchmarks, AVIF achieves better compression than WebP — especially at lower bitrates — while maintaining comparable or superior visual quality.

Does AVIF support transparency?

Yes. AVIF supports full alpha transparency, HDR, wide color gamut, and even animation — the most capable modern image format.

Is the conversion free?

Yes — Convertio renders PFA to AVIF free of charge, entirely in your browser.