PS to AFM Converter

Extract font metrics from PostScript to AFM online

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Metric Extraction

Pull precise font metrics from PostScript files into AFM format — essential data for typesetting engines and layout software.

No Software Needed

The PS to AFM converter runs entirely in your browser. No font tools or command-line utilities required on your machine.

Secure Process

Font metric data stays private. Uploaded PS files are removed post-conversion and AFM outputs are deleted within 24 hours.

How to convert PS to AFM

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

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

Let the file convert and you can download your afm 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

AFM (Adobe Font Metrics) is a plain-text metadata file format developed by Adobe Systems as a companion to PostScript Type 1 font outlines. Introduced alongside the PostScript language in 1984, AFM files provide the glyph-level metrics that applications need for text layout — individual character widths, bounding boxes, kerning pair adjustments, ligature substitutions, and global font dimensions like ascender height and cap height. The file is structured as a series of human-readable keyword-value pairs, making it easy to inspect and parse with simple text processing tools. AFM data is essential for accurate typesetting: without it, a layout engine knows the shapes of the glyphs but not how much space to allocate for each character or how to tighten spacing between specific letter combinations. One advantage is format transparency — because AFM is plain ASCII text, metric data can be audited, compared, and version-controlled without specialized software. The separation of metrics from outlines is another architectural strength, allowing a single AFM file to serve multiple rendering environments (screen, print, PDF) without duplicating glyph data. The current specification, Version 4.1 published in 1998, extended the format with composite character definitions and writing direction support. While modern OpenType fonts bundle metrics internally, AFM remains relevant in PostScript workflows, PDF generation pipelines, and legacy publishing systems that depend on Type 1 fonts.

Developer: Adobe Systems

Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PS to AFM?

AFM files provide precise font metrics for text layout engines. Extracting metrics from PS helps publishing software position text accurately.

What programs use AFM files?

AFM is used by TeX, LaTeX, Adobe InDesign, Scribus, and other typesetting systems that need external font metric data for layout.

What data does AFM contain?

AFM stores character widths, kerning pairs, bounding boxes, and other metrics — everything a layout engine needs for precise typesetting.

Is the PS to AFM converter free?

Convertio provides free PS to AFM conversion. Premium subscriptions unlock higher limits for professional font workflows.

Can I use AFM with LaTeX?

AFM is a standard input for TeX/LaTeX font configuration. Your converted file integrates directly into LaTeX typesetting setups.

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Specific converters

TTF to AFM

OTF to AFM

PFB to AFM

SVG to AFM

BIN to AFM

WOFF to AFM

CFF to AFM

CID to AFM

DFONT to AFM

PFA to AFM

PS to AFM

PT3 to AFM

SFD to AFM

T11 to AFM

T42 to AFM