psfstriptable

psfstriptable [-o output-file] input-file

-o output-file
    Specifies the name for the output file. If this option is omitted, the processed font data will be written to standard output.

input-file
    The path to the PostScript font file (typically a Type 1 font) from which the PSFType1 table is to be stripped. This is a mandatory argument.

psfstriptable is a specialized utility designed to manipulate PostScript font files, specifically Type 1 fonts. Its primary function is to remove the PSFType1 table from an input font file. This table often contains a "Type1" font structure and is typically generated and embedded by tools like t1embed when preparing fonts for inclusion within PostScript documents.

Stripping this table can be necessary in certain scenarios, such as when an already embedded font is being re-processed, or when dealing with redundancy and potential conflicts if the font data is duplicated or causes issues with specific PostScript interpreters or document workflows. By removing this table, psfstriptable helps in streamlining font embedding processes and ensuring compatibility. The command takes an input font file and, optionally, an output file name; if no output file is specified, the processed font data is written to standard output.

This utility is highly specialized for manipulating Type 1 PostScript fonts and their internal tables. Its effectiveness and behavior might be unpredictable with non-standard font formats, corrupted font files, or if the PSFType1 table is not present as expected. It is primarily used within specific font embedding workflows, often related to TeX systems.

The PSFType1 table, often written by t1embed, contains a structured representation of the Type 1 font. It is typically used by PostScript interpreters or PDF viewers to correctly render the font when it's embedded within a document. psfstriptable removes this specific table, which can be useful when the font is already part of a larger structure that provides the necessary font information or when the table's presence causes issues.

psfstriptable is part of the psutils (PostScript utilities) or texlive-bin package, specifically developed to aid in the complex process of PostScript font embedding and manipulation within the TeX ecosystem. Its development is tied to the needs of tools like pdftex and t1embed to ensure correct and efficient handling of Type 1 fonts, particularly when embedding them into PostScript or PDF documents. It emerged as a utility to address specific technical challenges related to font table redundancy or conflicts during the pre-press and document processing stages.

t1embed(1), pdftex(1), gs(1)