---
name: "bdftops"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gs-common"
version: "0.3.11"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bdftops"
---

# bdftops(1)

Convert X11 font from BDF to PostScript Type 1 format

## NAME

bdftops — Convert X11 font from BDF to PostScript Type 1 format

## SYNOPSIS

**/usr/bin/bdftops** \
 *infile*.bdf  \[*infile*.afm ...\] *outfile*.gsf *font\_name* *UID*  \[*XUID*\]  \[*encoding*\]

## Description

Convert a Bitmap Distribution Format font, possibly with associated AFM  files, to a PostScript Type 1 font (scalable outline, without eexec  encryption). The resulting font will work with any PostScript language  interpreter, but not with ATM or other font rasterizers lacking a  complete interpreter.

## OPTIONS

Options are given in positional order only, and are directly passed  to the **bdftops.ps** script which does all the work.  Explanation of the **bdftops.ps** parameters  is included below.

- infile.bdf

  Path to the existing bitmap BDF font file.

- inifile.afm

  Zero or more corresponding .afm files which   give the font metrics.

- outfile.gsf

  Name of the output file to be created.  You could construct the filename for a  font in a way somewhat similar to the construction for temporary  UniqueIDs: FTTWVVVE.gsf; where F is the foundry, TT a two-letter  abbreviation for the typeface, and W, V, and E the weight,  variant, and expansion.

- font\_name

  Font name. If you're not sure,  *FACE\_NAME* or *FULL\_NAME* options from  the BDF file could help.

- UID

  If you create your own fonts, and are only going to use them  within your own organization, you should use UniqueID values  between 4000000 and 4999999. The suggested  *temporary* UniqueID  for a font looks like: 4TTWVE0 where  TT is a two-digit number representing the typeface,  W represents the weight (normal, bold, ...),  V represents the variant (normal, italic, oblique, ...), and  E represents the expansion (normal, condensed, ...).

- XUID

  XUIDs are a Level 2 PostScript feature that serves the same  function as UniqueIDs, but is not limited to a single 24-bit  integer. The bdftops program creates XUIDs of the form  \[-X- 0 -U-\] where -X- is the organization XUID and -U- is the  UniqueID. If you supply your own value, you could use the form   n1.n2.n3.

- encoding

  The encoding for the font. Currently, the defined  encodings are StandardEncoding, ISOLatin1Encoding,  SymbolEncoding, and DingbatsEncoding. If the encoding is omitted,  StandardEncoding is assumed.

## EXAMPLES

bdftops pzdr.bdf ZapfDingbats.afm pzdr.gsf ZapfDingbats 4100000 1000000.1.41

bdftops hanglm24.bdf hanglm24.gsf hangul 4144456

bdftops unifont.bdf unifont.gsf unifont 4144456

## SEE ALSO

**[bdftopcf(1x)](/bdftopcf/1x.md)**,  **[fstobdf(1x)](/fstobdf/1x.md)**,  **[bdftruncate(1)](/bdftruncate/1.md)**

## AUTHOR

**bdftops** is part of the gs-common package, and serves as a  simple wrapper for gs' bdftops.ps, written by Aladdin Enterprises.

This manual page was written by Davor Ocelic (docelic@linux.hr)  for the Debian GNU system (but may be used by others).