PFA File

What are PFA files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a PFA file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your PFA files.

What is a PFA file?

A .PFA file is a PostScript Type 1 Font file.

A PostScript Type 1 Font (.PFA) is a scalable outline font format used to define how text appears in print or on PostScript-capable devices. These files hold data describing each character's shape using mathematical curves, along with other font-wide information like font name, weight, metrics, and encoding. They're created when a designer or typefoundry exports a font in Type 1 format, especially on UNIX or classic Mac systems, as part of desktop publishing or typesetting workflows.

The file is produced by exporting or converting from font design tools into Type 1 format, with the "ASCII" variant (PFA) used when the outline and hinting data are encoded in readable text rather than binary. After creation it's used by printing systems, PostScript interpreters, or other software that renders text by interpreting the font's curve descriptions and applying the included encoding and metric data.

Internally a PFA file consists of three parts: a clear-text ASCII portion defining font dictionaries and metadata, a hex-encoded section that is encrypted using the PostScript "eexec" encryption (usually following a "currentfile eexec" operator), and a final footer that ends with 512 ASCII zeros (possibly interspersed with whitespace) followed by a "cleartomark" operator. The format uses cubic Bézier curves, hinting instructions, and a private CharStrings section to define glyph outlines.

How to open PFA files

We have identified one PFA opener that is compatible with this specific type of PFA file.

Programs that open PostScript Type 1 Font files

Last updated: August 10, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of PFA files. Remember, different programs may use PFA files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about PFA file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.