installing .afm format fonts

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Level 1

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installing .afm format fonts

Hi,

I am a new mac user and I need to install 4 fonts all in the format afm. However the system doesn't seem to recognize such format (a simple copy-paste function doesn't work).

Can you please tell me how should I install them? Do I need an extra software or sth to make them recognizable as fonts?

Thnaks a lot for the suggestions,

cris

mac mini, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Nov 24, 2005 1:44 AM

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Answer 1

J.Otava

Level 4

2,535 points

Nov 24, 2005 3:07 AM in response to crismar

Hello,

Hi,

I am a new mac user and I need to install 4 fonts all
in the format afm. However the system doesn't seem to
recognize such format (a simple copy-paste function
doesn't work).

The easiest way to install fonts is using Font Book. Apple has created a nice pdf about font management. Download it from here.

Seems like you are trying to install PostScript Type 1 fonts. They are multipart fonts, a suitcase containing screen fonts and vector data sent to printer when font is printed. .afm files contain font metrics needed in some operating systems and printers but not in Mac. Those four fonts are not compatible or screen and printer parts are missing.

Mac OS X supports PostScript Type 1 fonts if they are made for Mac but not Windows-versions. OpenType fonts are platform independent and Mac supports also Windows TrueType fonts.

There are some font converting utilities available, some of them are listed here: http://www.pure-mac.com/font.html

Good luck!

PowerBook G4 15 Mac OS X (10.4)

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Answer 2

Nov 24, 2005 4:35 AM in response to J.Otava

There is also FontForge that permits conversion/creation of fonts... The only thing is that it requires X11 apart from that it is free and works wonders: I was able to create Classic suitacses from .pfa/.afm Type fonts. A thing that required rather expensive conversion tools in the past...

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Answer 3

crismar Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2005 2:53 AM in response to Frank STENGEL

Hi,

thanks so much for the reply. it seems that you got better the idea of what I have more than myself. However, I don't seem to succeed in installing those 4 .amf and I am pretty sure that they are meant for MAC not forn WIn as they were sent via a CD from a MAC. I tried to install an utility you mention in the link, but it says that it's for Tiger 3, and I have Tiger 4 (for which it's not necessary they say)....but it still doesn't work.

The more complicated thing is that I need these fonts for QuarkXpress which doesn't seem to open some files for edit without them.

Is there any online assistence (for Europe) where I can call and maybe get a step-by-step help? I don't seem to find it in my MAC links (it's a little bit diffrentn from the Win Systems which I know better:-)

Thanks again for the help,

Cristina

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Answer 4

J.Otava

Level 4

2,535 points

Nov 30, 2005 4:19 AM in response to crismar

Hi again Christina,

However, I don't seem to succeed in installing those
4 .amf and I am pretty sure that they are meant for
MAC not forn WIn as they were sent via a CD from a
MAC.

Like I wrote before, PS Type Fonts 1 are multipart fonts. In Mac there's a font suitcase which contains display fonts. Also printing parts of the same font are needed, they are download to printer when a document is printed.

However in many cases purchased font may also contain .afm-files. Like I wrote some printers needed those but they are not used in Mac.

This means the person who sent you those fonts forgot the parts Mac needs to use the font.

PowerBook G4 15 Mac OS X (10.4)

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Answer 5

crismar Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2005 1:39 AM in response to J.Otava

thanks a lot, more persons have told me the same so I will ask for the rest in order to install them.

Best,

Cristina

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Answer 6

Mark Jones

Level 4

3,070 points

Dec 4, 2005 3:01 AM in response to crismar

AFM fonts are not supported by the Mac

See these links

http://www.adobe.co.uk/type/topics/info9.html

Any AFM files found on a Mac should be deleted at once.

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Answer 7

Dec 4, 2005 3:28 AM in response to Mark Jones

.afm, .pfm or anything else are NOT fonts, only files describing the font.
Fonts are: .bmap, .suit, .fam, .scr, .otf, .ttf. .dfont aso.
So you try in vain to install them because they are NOT fonts.

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Answer 8

Dec 10, 2005 11:44 AM in response to Florin Iaru

Well, .pfb files may well describe a font, but to Postscript or PDF they are fonts (pfb stands loosely for program of font in binary form). They are loosely what Adobe calls "type 1 fonts". These files are almost the data fork equivalent of the LaserWriter font files (LWFN's). What they lack is contained in the .afm file (could be spelled out as: adobe font metric) which is the metric of the font which describes the geometric properties of the font: character sizes, em-size, ex-size etc.

To be able to use them you need to build a bitmap out of the outlines (the .pfb file). there are various tools to do so...

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Answer 9

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,502 points

Dec 10, 2005 11:56 AM in response to Frank STENGEL

The parts required for a PostScript font on the PC are the .pfm and matching .pfb files. Those are the screen and outline font pair for a given typface.

The .afm file is useless to anyone unless you are using FontLab, Fontographer or other font editor to alter a font. That way you are certain to use the same kerning, leading and other font metric settings Adobe (or other font creator) used when editing and saving your changes. Otherwise, they have no use. Having .afm files on your Mac or PC does nothing to the fonts themselves. Delete or leave them as you see fit.

Beyond that, crismar, the fonts you have from the PC will not work in any way, shape or form until you either replace them with identical Mac versions, or convert the ones you have to Mac format. FontForge, as mentioned, is one that can do that. As will TransType.

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