PFM files generally either belong to the type called "Printer Font Metric" files, or used as "Portable Float Map" files. These two types of files serve significantly different purposes. The same .PFM file extension is used, but the files themselves are different. It's very important to note these distinctions when trying to open a .PFM file.
Printer Font Metric Files
Printer Font Metric (PFM) files are associated with Adobe Type 1 font files. Created by Adobe Systems, the PFM file is a font file format used on Microsoft Windows systems as part of the PostScript printing system. Adobe's PostScript is defined as a page description language and is used heavily in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. More about this can be found directly on Adobe's official website.
To open and use these types of PFM files, you would require software that works with PostScript fonts, such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. Some free options include GIMP and Inkscape, each offering support for PFM font files. Visit their official websites for more detailed guides on how to use these applications with PFM files: GIMP and Inkscape. Remember to always make sure that both the PFM and PFB (Printer Font Binary) files associated with the font are installed correctly.
Portable Float Map Files
The PFM file extension is also used as a Portable Float Map, a grayscale image file format associated with certain image-editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop. Particularly useful in 3D rendering, PFM files represent an image using floating point numbers � hence "Float Map. Learn more at Adobe Photoshop's official site.
To open these types of PFM files, you can use software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. Free alternatives that also support opening and manipulating PFM image files include OpenEXR or Pfsview. Here are provided links for these: OpenEXR and Pfsview.
PFM File Important Information
Regardless of the type of PFM file you have, it's crucial to use software that correspondingly handles that specific file type. Remember that Printer Font Metric and Portable Float Map files, despite sharing the same file extension, are different file types and will not open successfully with the incorrect software.
Always ensure that the software you're using is up-to-date to promote compatibility with PFM files and to minimize potential issues when opening the files. It's also highly recommended for users to have antivirus software installed on their computers to protect against malicious files.
