PostScript (Type 1)

The PostScript programming language was originally developed by Adobe Systems to communicate complex graphic printing instructions to digital printers. It is built into many laser printers and image setters to render both raster and vector graphics.

The Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) is a more structured, compact subset of the PostScript language. Almost anything that can be done in PostScript can be done in PDF.

Type 1 font is a specialized form of PostScript program and an original file format used for type display on all PostScript printers. The PostScript language was later extended to provide support for TrueType and OpenType font standards. Any new Adobe PostScript language device made today supports all three font standards.

When we say PostScript fonts we usually mean PostScript Type 1 fonts. It is a standard for digital type fonts (International Standards Organization outline font standard, ISO 9541).
The Type 1 font format is recognized on computer platforms and prints on printers, either directly through built-in PostScript language interpreting, or through add-on utilities, such as Adobe Type Manager (ATM). ATM technology is integrated into Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP and into Macintosh OS X.
For more than a decade, Type 1 has been the preferred format for graphic arts and publishing industries.

PostScript font can contain just 220 printable characters and isn't compatible with Unicode.

Properly prepared PostScript Type 1 fonts have special hinting instruction that helps to keep symmetry and other aesthetic parameters during rendering. PostScript has a clever rastering engine - a simple set of hints produces acceptable quality on screen, but font manufacturer has no full control over rastering process and cannot reach desirable quality for all char-acters in all point sizes.

A PostScript font consists of several files:
Windows PostScript font may consist of 2 or 3 files. A set of 3 files includes PFB file (file with .PFB extension) that contains outline data, AFM file that contains spacing and kerning information, INF file that contains additional information that is necessary for installation. During installation Windows generates PFM file based on AFM and INF files and actually then uses just PFB and PFM files. Some manufacturers generate PFM files themselves and supply just 2 files in a set - PFB and PFM (it's enough for normal use), others additionally include AFM file.
Macintosh PostScript font consists of Suitcase File and Printer File. There can be one suitcase file for the whole font family that serves up to four printer files - regular, italic, bold and bold italic. Another approach is to supply each style with its own suitcase. In the last case a family of 4 fonts is delivered in a set of 8 files.
Font families can be delivered with 'merged styles' or as a set of 'single styles'. A family can consist of maximum 4 styles, but sometimes it contains just regular and bold or regular and italic members. In case of 'merged styles' a family is presented by one line in Fonts menu and a selection of styles other then regular must be done via Styles menu or with the help of 'B' and 'I' buttons in the tool bar. When fonts are supplied as 'single' styles each style occupies a separate line in font menu and it's not recommended to use 'B' and 'I' buttons.

If you are using Windows 2000, Windows XP or Mac OS X you may install Type 1 fonts by the means of operating system. Otherwise you need to install Adobe Type Manager first.

You may get free ATM Light from Adobe site.