Formats of the files of fonts

Fonts or typefaces are files that contain a set of characters (letters). These files can be found

on the Internet and easily installed in all operating systems. The sources allow programs that

use some kind of text editor may have different ways to write text letters. Publishers like

Microsft Word, Notepad.cc, Writebox, Writer, Simplenote, Google Docs, Evernote Web, LyX or

Calligra Office. Other programs that need to work with texts also use fonts that are loaded into

the operating system. Power Point, Outlook , Photoshop and other editors also need the font

files . Whenever you work with some sort of rich text, fonts are used. Plaintext programs as

Windows Notepad does not use these formats, but the most basic form of letters.

There are different types of files that can be found on the network for download and

installation, you can download different formats that have similar content, we will explain:

TrueType (TTF) TrueType is the most common format and the font standard developed

by Apple Computer in the eighties, following the idea of the file format

"Type 1" from Adobe. The original format was based on the language

known as PostScript. One of the great advantages of TrueType to Type

1 is offering to developer sources greater control over the display

screen or printer to smaller sizes, are letters that are read much better. They can be used on

any printer or other output device compatible with Windows. It is the standard format in the

download web fonts as http://www.ultimatefonts.com/. It is the standard for use on

computers with Windows operating systems. It is very common its use in domestic and

professional environments that require exceptional print quality.

The file format has the extension .ttf

PostScript (Type 1)

PostScript is the first file format for fonts. Created by Adobe primarily for printers. It is a "page

description language" (PDL Page Description Language), used in many older printers. It started

to developing in 1976 and then moved to Xerox with PARC. Its developer was John Warnock

which used that developing to found Adobe in 1982 . This is the original format of these files

and today is still used.

PostScript differed from other basic formats of printers that used a full programming language

to describe a print image. A file can be sent to a laser printer or other high quality output

device. For the font files has 300 DPI, dots per inch. This format is not usually found on

download sites, it’s a more professional format, but still used. PostScript fonts are smoother,

detailed, high-quality letters, but are heavier files. It’s use is more restricted to formats for

printing, especially for professional-quality printing books, posters and magazines. Windows

operating systems support this format without problems, but their weight makes them

inadvisable to use.

The file format has the extension .ps

This example is taken from Wikipedia of how the code is

presented in this language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PostScript

OpenType (OTF)

OpenType was created by Microsoft and Adobe to be the next step in Apple TrueType and

PostScript format Adobe. Microsoft wanted to have their own format and tried with the

typefaces advanced technology, "GX Typography", but that did not work and developed

TrueType Open in 1994. Joined Adobe technology contributing to the development of the Type

1 format. Binding of both resulted to OpenType.

Adobe and Microsoft continued development and support for the OpenType format to

become a universal open standard format for all computers. The Office of International

Standards (International Organization for Standardization, ISO) adopted it as a standard

format, but has not finished universalized, it’s the second format most used by current

operating systems.

The file format has the extension .otf

Formats of fonts for operating systems

All formats are compatible, current programs and Microsoft Windows operating systems

support all three formats. Computers with Mac operating systems such as Mac OS X also

supports three formats. This operating system is installed by default Font Book program to

manage these files. The Linux-based operating systems also support formats fonts, although

the file management system is different.