What is PFM?

Printer Font Metrics (PFM) is the binary companion to PFB fonts for Windows, containing font metric data for printing.

What is CFF2?

CFF2 (Compact Font Format v2) is optimized for OpenType variable fonts with efficient data structures and support for font variations.

When Should You Use PFM vs CFF2?

PFM vs CFF2: Key Differences

• •PFM uses lossless compression while CFF2 uses lossless compression — both take the same approach to file size management.
• •Since both PFM and CFF2 use lossless compression, the quality characteristics are comparable — differences in file size come down to how efficiently each format implements compression.
• •Alpha channel support: CFF2 lacks transparency support.
• •Storage footprint: Very small, binary format for PFM vs 15-100KB per font for CFF2.
• •Use case fit: PFM targets windows postscript printing, font pairing and CFF2 targets variable fonts, opentype font production, advanced typesetting — your choice depends on which workflow stage you are serving.

Advantages of PFM

• ✓PFM applies lossless compression specifically calibrated for Windows PostScript printing, font pairing.
• ✓PFM enjoys broad native support across operating systems, browsers, and creative tools alike.
• ✓PFM guarantees every bit of the original data survives — no approximations, no shortcuts.
• ✓You will find PFM support built into virtually every tool that handles Windows PostScript printing, font pairing — no plugins or converters needed.

Advantages of CFF2

• ✓At its core, CFF2 relies on lossless encoding — a design choice that makes it perfect for Variable fonts, OpenType font production, advanced typesetting.
• ✓You won't run into compatibility issues with CFF2 — it's a universal standard across platforms.
• ✓File size management with CFF2: larger files guaranteed to match the original exactly.
• ✓Every major application in the Variable fonts, OpenType font production, advanced typesetting space supports CFF2 natively.

Common Use Cases for PFM to CFF2 Conversion

• Logo design
• Data visualization
• Presentation design
• Video subtitles
• Game UI typography
• Website typography

Industry Applications

Best Practices for PFM to CFF2 Conversion

• →Converting PFM to CFF2: check that glyph coverage is preserved — some formats have character limitations
• →Use CFF2 for cross-platform compatibility
• →Test fonts across different browsers and operating systems after conversion
• →Always keep a backup of your original files before converting
• →Choose the appropriate quality settings for your specific use case

Troubleshooting PFM to CFF2 Conversion

• !CFF2 font doesn't render correctly → check if CFF2 supports all glyphs present in PFM
• !Licensing restrictions after PFM to CFF2 conversion → verify the font license allows format conversion
• !Hinting data lost converting PFM to CFF2 → some font formats like CFF2 may not preserve TrueType hinting
• !Special characters missing from converted CFF2 → font subsetting may have removed unused glyphs

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