PS to T42 Converter

Convert PostScript to Type 42 font format online

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Printer-Ready Fonts

Convert PostScript font data to Type 42 — a format that bridges TrueType outlines with PostScript printer compatibility.

Cloud Processing

The PS to T42 conversion runs remotely on servers. No local font tools or printer drivers are needed.

Works Anywhere

Access the converter from any platform — desktop, laptop, or mobile. All you need is a modern web browser.

How to convert PS to T42

1

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

2

Choose t42 or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your t42 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
T42 (Type 42) is a PostScript font format developed by Adobe Systems that wraps a TrueType font inside a PostScript font dictionary, enabling PostScript printers equipped with a TrueType rasterizer to print TrueType fonts natively. The name reportedly references Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," where 42 is the answer to the ultimate question. Type 42 was introduced with PostScript interpreter version 2013 in the mid-1990s, with Adobe publishing the formal specification as Technical Note #5012 in July 1998. The format embeds the complete TrueType font data — outlines, hinting instructions, and tables — as a binary string within the PostScript sfnts dictionary entry, while wrapping it in standard PostScript font structure including CharStrings, Encoding, and FontInfo dictionaries. One advantage is preserved TrueType hinting: because the original quadratic spline outlines and grid-fitting instructions are passed directly to the TrueType rasterizer, the printed output matches the screen rendering quality that TrueType hinting was designed to deliver. This is superior to the alternative approach of converting TrueType outlines to Type 1 cubics, which discards hinting. Type 42 also enables PostScript workflows to incorporate the vast library of TrueType fonts bundled with Windows and macOS without manual font conversion. PDF generators commonly use Type 42 embedding when including TrueType fonts in PostScript-based output pipelines. The format bridges two major font technologies that evolved separately, ensuring interoperability across the PostScript and TrueType ecosystems.
Developer: Adobe Systems
Initial release: 1995

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PS to T42?

Type 42 wraps TrueType outlines in a PostScript shell. Converting PS to T42 creates fonts that work with PostScript printers natively.

What is the T42 format?

T42 (Type 42) is a PostScript font format that embeds TrueType outlines, allowing PostScript interpreters to render TrueType glyphs.

Where are T42 fonts used?

T42 fonts are used in professional printing workflows where PostScript devices need to render TrueType font data directly.

Is PS to T42 conversion free?

Free conversion is available at Convertio for all users. Premium subscriptions offer expanded limits for larger projects.

Does the conversion maintain glyph quality?

Font outlines and hinting information transfer from PostScript to the T42 format, preserving rendering quality across devices.

How long does conversion take?

PS to T42 conversion completes in seconds on Convertio cloud infrastructure — fast regardless of your device.