FontXChange Help - Converting Fonts

Converting Fonts

FontXChange converts fonts into other of font formats. The process involves opening a source font file, adjusting the FontXChange conversion settings, and selecting an output folder.
Supported Font File Formats

FontXChange supports these font formats:

- OpenType©
- TrueType for Macintosh or Windows (.ttf and .ttc) formats
- PostScript Type 1 for Macintosh and Windows (.pfm/.pfb) formats
- Web Fonts* (WOFF, WOFF2, SVG, EOT)

* Web fonts are supported as an output format only
Adding Fonts to Convert
The main window in FontXChange provides a list that shows the fonts you want to convert.
Before you convert a font, you must first add it to the list. To Add fonts to the main window of FontXChange, click the "Add Fonts" button, or drag a font file or folder from the Finder and drop it into the font list within FontXChange.
Working With Fonts
The font list provides several features that make working with fonts easier:

- When clicked, the Font Information Icon presents the font information popover window.
- The font list item checkbox selects a font to be converted. When unchecked, the font will not be converted.
- The font list item disclosure widget provides options related to the fonts that are in the listed font file.

Setting a Font Conversion Format
The main window provides the "Convert To" popup menu which is used to select the format you want to convert your fonts to.

- OpenType© is a cross-platform font file format developed by Adobe and Microsoft. The two main benefits of OpenType© fonts are cross-platform compatibility (the same font file works on Macintosh and Windows computers), and the ability to support expanded character sets and layouts, which provide richer linguistic support and advanced typographic control.
- WOFF (Web Open Font Format) is a web-specific* file format for OpenType© and TrueType fonts. The WOFF format provides enhancements for font foundries and end users, like compression and informational data. WOFF is supported by most current browsers. The WOFF format is available in two versions and is denoted by the font filename extension (.woff and .woff2) The WOFF2 format is a more compact version of the original WOFF format.
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a webfont* format that was designed as a standardized vector graphic solution for the web. SVG uses XML to describe 2D graphics. This allows for delivery of scalable glyph outlines in display-only environments, such as web pages rendered in web browsers.
- EOT (Embedded OpenType) is a compact form of an OpenType font designed by Microsoft for use as an embedded font on a web page*. EOT font files are supported only by Microsoft Internet Explorer.
- TrueType fonts were designed by Apple to be scaled to any size and are clear and readable in all sizes. Unlike PostScript Type 1 fonts, TrueType fonts exist as a single font file that can be used by both Mac and Windows. Early Macintosh systems did not support Windows versions of TrueType fonts and had their own version of TrueType font files. OpenType fonts are related to TrueType fonts, but they incorporate a greater extension of the basic character set, including small capitalization, old-style numerals, and more detailed shapes, such as glyphs and ligatures.
- PostScript Type 1 fonts encapsulate font glyphs (characters) in the PostScript vector-based drawing language, which allows for high quality scalable rendering in any content that supports PostScript (printers, on-screen, etc.) PostScript font files exist as a pair of co-dependent files on both Mac and Windows. On the Mac, a font suitcase provides font metrics data, and a "printer" font file provides font drawing information. Similarly, Windows supports a .pfm ("PostScript Font Metrics") font file for font metrics, and the .pfb ("PostScript Font Binary") or .pfa ("PostScript Font ASCII") file for font drawing information. On both Mac and Windows these two files (a metrics font file and a printer font file) must share the same directory. If they are separated then the font data is incomplete and the font cannot be used properly, if at all.

* Webfonts are font files that are used by web browsers while rendering webpages. Webfonts retains all the advantages of live text: dynamic, searchable, and accessible content. Webfonts come in three formats; a WOFF file, an EOT file, and an SVG file. Each works with different browsers and all three formats can be used to offset cross-browser compatibility issues.

NOTE: Before converting any font you should understand your license agreement for that particular font and any restrictions associated thereto. FontXChange may warn you if a special license is required for some fonts, but it is your responsibility to know and understand your legal rights and limitations of each font license that you own before converting any fonts.

SEE ALSO
FontXChange Overview