WOFF to PFA Converter

Export web fonts as PostScript Type 1 ASCII for print workflows

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Web to PostScript

Bridge modern WOFF web fonts and legacy PostScript environments by converting to PFA — readable ASCII font data for print systems.

Human-Readable Output

PFA stores font outlines as plain ASCII text, making it inspectable and debuggable with any text editor for font development tasks.

Secure Workflow

Uploaded fonts are deleted after processing and output PFA files are purged within 24 hours — your typeface data stays protected throughout.

How to convert WOFF to PFA

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

WOFF (Web Open Font Format) is a web font container format developed by Jonathan Kew, Tal Leming, and Erik van Blokland, and standardized by the W3C as a Recommendation in December 2012. The format wraps existing TrueType or OpenType font data in a compressed container with additional metadata, specifically designed for efficient delivery over HTTP as part of web pages using the CSS @font-face rule. WOFF applies table-level zlib compression to the font data, typically achieving 40-50% size reduction compared to raw TTF or OTF files, while preserving every table and glyph exactly. An extended metadata block allows foundries to embed licensing information, credits, and descriptions that travel with the font file. WOFF was created to address a practical impasse: type foundries were reluctant to allow their fonts on the web in raw TTF/OTF form (easily installable as desktop fonts), while the web standards community needed a freely implementable font delivery mechanism. One advantage is universal browser support — every modern browser across desktop and mobile platforms renders WOFF natively, making it the baseline format for web typography. The distinct file signature and container structure also provides a licensing benefit, giving foundries a format distinguishable from desktop fonts while remaining technically straightforward. WOFF 2.0, standardized in March 2018, replaces zlib with Brotli compression for an additional 20-30% size reduction and has achieved similarly broad browser adoption. Together, WOFF and WOFF2 enabled the custom web typography revolution that transformed web design from a handful of system fonts to millions of typeface options.
Developer: W3C
Initial release: December 13, 2012
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert WOFF to PFA?

PFA is the ASCII variant of PostScript Type 1 fonts — required by some prepress tools, RIP systems, and legacy publishing software for font embedding.

How do I open a PFA file?

PFA files work with TeX distributions, Ghostscript, and FontForge. Adobe tools and many Unix/Linux typesetting systems also consume PFA directly.

What is the difference between PFA and PFB?

PFA stores PostScript data as readable ASCII text, while PFB uses compact binary encoding. PFA is larger but human-readable and easier to debug.

Does PFA support modern font features?

PFA is limited to Type 1 capabilities — basic outlines and hints. Advanced OpenType features like ligatures are not carried over in PFA format.

Is there a charge for this conversion?

No, Convertio converts WOFF to PFA completely free of charge. The process runs online without any software installation.