What is CFF2?

CFF2 (Compact Font Format v2) is optimized for OpenType variable fonts with efficient data structures and support for font variations.

What is CFF?

Compact Font Format (CFF) is a PostScript-based font format used in PDF documents and professional printing for efficient font storage.

When Should You Use CFF2 vs CFF?

CFF2 vs CFF: Key Differences

• •CFF2 and CFF diverge on compression: lossless compression for the source, lossless compression for the target.
• •Both formats share lossless compression, so quality behavior is similar across the two — file size differences come from algorithm efficiency rather than compression philosophy.
• •How transparency is handled: CFF supports transparency, so alpha information is preserved during conversion.
• •File sizes: CFF2 files typically range 15-100KB per font and CFF files 15-100KB per font.
• •Primary audience: CFF2 is built for variable fonts, opentype font production, advanced typesetting scenarios, while CFF focuses on professional printing, pdf fonts — pick the format that matches your output requirement.

Advantages of CFF2

• ✓CFF2 compresses data using lossless methods, keeping file sizes manageable for Variable fonts, OpenType font production, advanced typesetting.
• ✓Industry-wide support means CFF2 files open anywhere — from legacy systems to the latest devices.
• ✓Lossless quality makes CFF2 the gold standard for archival and master copies.
• ✓From professional software to open-source alternatives, CFF2 works out of the box.

Advantages of CFF

• ✓At its core, CFF relies on lossless encoding — a design choice that makes it perfect for Professional printing, PDF fonts.
• ✓You won't run into compatibility issues with CFF — it's a universal standard across platforms.
• ✓File size management with CFF: larger files guaranteed to match the original exactly.
• ✓Every major application in the Professional printing, PDF fonts space supports CFF natively.

Common Use Cases for CFF2 to CFF Conversion

• Logo design
• Data visualization
• Presentation design
• Video subtitles
• Game UI typography
• Website typography

Industry Applications

Best Practices for CFF2 to CFF Conversion

• →Converting CFF2 to CFF: check that glyph coverage is preserved — some formats have character limitations
• →Use CFF for cross-platform compatibility
• →Test fonts across different browsers and operating systems after conversion
• →Always keep a backup of your original files before converting
• →Choose the appropriate quality settings for your specific use case

Troubleshooting CFF2 to CFF Conversion

• !CFF font doesn't render correctly → check if CFF supports all glyphs present in CFF2
• !Licensing restrictions after CFF2 to CFF conversion → verify the font license allows format conversion
• !Hinting data lost converting CFF2 to CFF → some font formats like CFF may not preserve TrueType hinting
• !Special characters missing from converted CFF → font subsetting may have removed unused glyphs

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