---
name: "mktexpk"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "texlive-doc"
version: "2026.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mktexpk"
---

# mktexpk(1)

create a PK file for a font

## NAME

mktexpk - create a PK file for a font

## SYNOPSIS

**mktexpk** \[*options*\] *font* \[*redirect*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page is not meant to be exhaustive.  The complete documentation for this version of TeX can be found in the info file or manual *Kpathsea: A library for path searching*.

**mktexpk** is used to generate a *pk* file from the Metafont source files or type1 sources for *font*, if possible.

If *redirect* is given, it must be string of the form **\>&***n* where *n* is the number of the file descriptor which is to receive, instead of standard output, the name of the generated file.

**mktexpk** is typically called by other programs, rather than from the command line.

## OPTIONS

**mktexpk** accepts the following options:

- **--bdpi** *num*

  Set the base device resolution.

- **--dpi** *num*

  Generate the font at resolution *num*.

- **--help**

  Print help message and exit.

- **--mag** *mag*

  The Metafont magnification that corresponds to the combination of *bdpi* and *dpi* that has been specified.

- **--mfmode** *mode*

  The Metafont mode to use.

- **--destdir** *dir*

  A directory name. If the directory is absolute, it is used as-is. Otherwise, it is appended to the root destination directory set in the script.

- **--version**

  Print version information and exit.

## BUGS

If the *mode* is not specified, **mktexpk** tries to determine it from *bdpi*. The manner in which this is done is primitive.  Since *bpdi* doesn't provide sufficient information to uniquely determine a *mode* it is strongly recommended that it be specified explicitly.

If the *mode* and *bpdi* don't match, the *mode* is discarded.

The *dpi* parameter is redundant, but is not checked for consistency.  Worse, the program will fail if the wrong *dpi* is specified.

## SEE ALSO

[**mktexmf**(1)](/mktexmf/1.md), [**mktextfm**(1)](/mktextfm/1.md).

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: tex-k@tug.org (https://lists.tug.org/tex-k)\
 TeX Live home page: https://tug.org/texlive/