t1binary

t1binary [-a | -b] [-l] [-q] [-v] [-n] [-u] [--] [input [output]]

-a
    Forces the output to be in ASCII (PFA) format, even if the input is binary or if binary is the default. Useful for specific conversions.

-b
    Forces the output to be in binary (PFB) format. This is the default behavior if neither -a nor -b is specified.

-l
    Adds a DOS-style form feed character (Ctrl-L, hexadecimal 0x0C) to separate sections in the output. Some older PostScript interpreters may require this.

-q
    Suppresses warning messages during the conversion process, providing a 'quiet' output.

-v
    Prints the program's version information and then exits immediately.

-n
    Instructs t1binary not to output the eexec section (the encrypted part of the font) as a binary block. This option is rarely useful for standard font operations.

-u
    Outputs the eexec section of the font unencrypted. This is primarily for debugging purposes and poses a security risk, as it exposes the font's internal, usually protected, data.

--
    Marks the end of options. Any arguments following this are treated as filenames, even if they begin with a hyphen.

input
    Specifies the path to the input Type 1 font file. If omitted, t1binary reads from standard input (stdin).

output
    Specifies the path for the output Type 1 font file. If omitted, t1binary writes to standard output (stdout).

t1binary is a utility from the t1utils package, designed to convert Type 1 font files from their human-readable ASCII (PFA - Printer Font ASCII or AFM - Adobe Font Metrics) representation into a more compact binary (PFB - Printer Font Binary) format. This conversion is often necessary for efficient storage and faster processing by PostScript interpreters, printers, or typesetting systems. It typically preserves the encrypted sections of the font data. The command can read from standard input or a specified input file, and write to standard output or a specified output file, making it versatile for scripting and command-line operations. It primarily focuses on the font's PostScript language definition, ignoring separate font metric (AFM) information during conversion.

Using the -u (unencrypted output) option exposes the font's internal structure and potentially copyrighted data, which can be a security and licensing risk. The -n option is generally not recommended for typical font processing as it can lead to non-functional font files. This utility is specifically designed for Type 1 fonts; attempting to convert other font formats may lead to undefined behavior or errors.

t1binary is commonly employed when a PostScript interpreter, a specific application, or a printing system requires the compact binary PFB format instead of the ASCII PFA format. For instance, a user might convert a font received in PFA format to PFB before embedding it in a PostScript document, installing it into a system's font directories, or preparing it for a printer that prefers the binary format. This ensures compatibility and often improves processing speed.

t1binary is a component of the t1utils package, a suite of tools developed by I. Lee Hetherington for manipulating Adobe Type 1 fonts. Its development stemmed from the need to process and convert font files in PostScript-centric environments. The t1utils package has been a crucial utility in the Unix/Linux ecosystem for desktop publishing, typesetting (especially with TeX and LaTeX systems), and graphics processing, maintaining its relevance for managing Type 1 font assets over many years.

t1utils(1), t1ascii(1), t1disasm(1), t1asm(1)