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macospostscriptopentype

How to use OpenType fonts in a PostScript program?

I am writing a PostScript program to print name badges and would like to include an OpenType font such that I can use it later on. OpenType files are binary files and I am looking for advice how such fonts are included into PostScript files as they are sent to a printer.

I am developing on Mac OS X which might be relevant if I need conversion tools. I have used successfully Type-1 fonts in my program and I am aware of font re-encoding.

Solution

  • The following process worked for me on Mac OS X 10.6:

    1. I used FontXChange on OS X to convert an OpenType font (*.otf) to a binary *.pfb font using the setting for Windows. (The setting for OS X would create font files where the actual PostScript code ends up somewhat unaccessible in resource forks.)
    2. I converted the binary font in *.pfb format to ASCII PostScript format (*.pfa) using /usr/bin/pfbtops. The resulting font in ASCII PostScript format can be easily embedded into a PostScript file that is sent to a printer.