vector format

What is a .PFA file?

PFA is the ASCII (text) form of a PostScript Type 1 font, storing letter outlines as readable PostScript — a classic print-era font format.

Full name
PostScript Font ASCII
Developed by
Adobe
Released
1985
Extension
.pfa
MIME type
image/pfa
Transparency
Varies

How to open a PFA file

PFA installs through font managers and opens in FontForge; convert to TTF/OTF for modern systems.

What PFA files are used for

Logos & branding

Crisp marks that scale from favicon to billboard.

Print & cutting

Vector paths drive printers, plotters and cutters.

Illustration & UI

Icons and artwork that stay sharp at any size.

Strengths & limitations

✔ Strengths✖ Limitations
Infinitely scalableNo transparency support
Limited support — may need converting

Need more than a conversion?

Remove the background from PFA images, upscale to 4K, or generate new visuals with SharkFoto AI.

Frequently asked questions

PFA is the ASCII (text) form of a PostScript Type 1 font, storing letter outlines as readable PostScript — a classic print-era font format.

PFA installs through font managers and opens in FontForge; convert to TTF/OTF for modern systems.

PFA is optimised for its specific use rather than strictly lossless storage.

Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your PFA file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.

No — PFA doesn't store transparency; convert to PNG or WEBP if you need it.