Font Converter
OTF
DFONT

OTF to DFONT Converter

Convert OpenType Font to macOS Datafork Font. 50 MB file size, unlimited uploads. Fast, secure, and completely private conversion.

OTF to DFONT50 MB File Size100% Free ForeverFastPrivateInstant Processing

Upload Fonts

Drag and drop your font files here or click to browse

Only OTF files are accepted

Choose Files

Max file size 50 MB.

Disclaimer: This tool is provided as-is for convenience and does not constitute legal advice. Font licenses vary; you are responsible for ensuring you have the rights to upload and convert files and that your intended use is permitted. Converting a font does not grant new rights. Results may be imperfect, and use is at your own risk.

Developer & Verifier

Marcus Rodriguez

Developed by

Marcus Rodriguez

Lead Developer

Sarah Mitchell

Verified by

Sarah Mitchell

Product Designer, Font Specialist

About This Conversion

Everything you need to know about converting between these formats

Source Format

OpenType Font

OpenType Font (OTF) is an extension of TrueType, offering advanced typographic features like ligatures and alternate glyphs. It supports more characters and is preferred for professional design work due to its superior font rendering capabilities.

Target Format

macOS Datafork Font

macOS Datafork Font is a legacy Mac format that stores font data in the resource fork. It's mainly used for compatibility with older macOS systems and classic Mac applications.

Why Convert OTF to DFONT?

Web developers optimizing fonts for faster page loads

Designers ensuring cross-platform compatibility

Publishers preparing fonts for digital distribution

Developers working with legacy browser support

How to Convert OTF to DFONT

Simple 3-step process that takes less than a minute

1

Upload Your Font

Select your OTF font file from your computer or drag and drop it into the converter above.

2

Convert Instantly

Click the convert button and our tool will process your font file in server RAM only. Files are processed and immediately deleted - never written to disk.

3

Download Result

Your converted DFONT file will be ready immediately. Download it and use it in your project.

OTF vs DFONT: Feature Comparison

Technical comparison between source and target formats

FeatureOTFDFONTWinner
File Size180 KB210 KB (+17%)OTF
Windows SupportFull supportNoneOTF
macOS SupportFull supportLimited/deprecatedOTF
Linux SupportFull supportNoneOTF
OpenType FeaturesFull supportNoneOTF
EraModern (current)Mac OS 9 (2001)OTF
Best ForAll modern useNothing (obsolete)OTF

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about converting OTF to DFONT

1Why convert OTF to DFONT?

You shouldn't in 2024. DFONT is a legacy Mac OS 9 format. Modern macOS (10.0+) natively uses OTF and TTF. Converting OTF to DFONT is a downgrade that reduces compatibility and removes modern features. Only do this for archival purposes.

2Does DFONT support PostScript outlines from OTF?

No. DFONT predates PostScript font support in modern formats. Converting PostScript-based OTF to DFONT converts curves to an older format and loses the benefits of PostScript outlines. This is a significant quality downgrade.

3Will I lose OpenType features?

Yes, completely. DFONT predates OpenType. All advanced typography features (ligatures, stylistic alternates, contextual features) are stripped during conversion. You lose the main advantage of OTF fonts.

4Does DFONT work on modern macOS?

Barely. macOS can read DFONT files but treats them as legacy formats with limited support. Modern macOS strongly prefers OTF and TTF. There's zero advantage to using DFONT on any modern system.

5Will DFONT work on Windows or Linux?

No. DFONT is macOS-exclusive and doesn't work on Windows or Linux at all. Converting OTF to DFONT destroys cross-platform compatibility. Keep OTF for universal support.

6Is DFONT smaller than OTF?

No. DFONT files are similar in size to OTF, sometimes larger due to resource fork overhead. There's no file size benefit. For smaller files, convert to WOFF2 for web use instead.

7Should I archive fonts as DFONT?

Not recommended for archival. OTF or TTF are better choices – these are modern, standardized formats with long-term support. DFONT is a legacy format that may lose support in future macOS versions. Use standard formats for archiving.

8Can I use DFONT for web fonts?

No. DFONT is not a web format and has zero browser support. For web use, convert OTF to WOFF2 (best compression) or WOFF (broader compatibility). DFONT is desktop-only and even there, it's obsolete.

File Size Comparison

See how file sizes change after conversion

Original (OTF)Converted (DFONT)ChangeNotes
180 KB (OTF)210 KB (DFONT)+17% largerDFONT resource fork adds overhead
350 KB (OTF)430 KB (DFONT)+23% largerFormat conversion increases size
100 KB (OTF)122 KB (DFONT)+22% largerMac-specific format overhead
700 KB (OTF)910 KB (DFONT)+30% largerLarge fonts have significant overhead

Performance Metrics

Technical performance indicators for this conversion

  • File Size Increase:+17-26% larger

    DFONT resource fork overhead

  • Cross-Platform Loss:-67%

    DFONT Mac-only; OTF works everywhere

  • Desktop Performance:Poor

    DFONT barely supported on modern macOS

  • Feature Loss:Complete

    DFONT strips all OpenType features

  • Compatibility:Terrible

    DFONT doesn't work on Windows/Linux

  • Recommendation:Never convert

    Keep OTF or convert to TTF, never DFONT

Implementation Examples

Production-ready code for your converted fonts

Desktop Font Installation

Installing DFONT fonts on your system

/* DFONT Font Installation Instructions
   * 
   * Windows:
   * 1. Right-click the dfont file
   * 2. Click "Install" or "Install for all users"
   * 3. Font available in all applications
   *
   * macOS:
   * 1. Double-click the dfont file
   * 2. Click "Install Font" in Font Book
   * 3. Font available system-wide
   *
   * Linux:
   * 1. Copy dfont file to ~/.fonts/ or /usr/share/fonts/
   * 2. Run: fc-cache -f -v
   * 3. Font available in all applications
   *
   * Use in applications:
   * Select font from dropdown in:
   * - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
   * - Word, PowerPoint, Excel
   * - Any desktop application
   */

Browser Compatibility

Which browsers support DFONT fonts

BrowserSupportNotes
Desktop UseN/ADFONT is for desktop applications, not browsers
WindowsVariesCheck DFONT compatibility with your Windows version
macOSVariesCheck DFONT compatibility with your macOS version
LinuxVariesCheck DFONT compatibility with your distribution

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Solutions to problems you might encounter

DFONT doesn't install on modern macOS

Modern macOS (10.13+) has very limited DFONT support. The font may install with errors or not work in all apps. DFONT is obsolete (Mac OS 9 era). Convert OTF to TTF instead – it works perfectly on all modern macOS versions.

Lost all OpenType features

DFONT predates OpenType and strips all modern features. All ligatures, stylistic alternates, contextual features are lost. This is a fundamental DFONT limitation. If you need modern typography, keep OTF or convert to TTF, not DFONT.

PostScript outlines not supported

DFONT cannot hold PostScript (CFF) outlines. If your OTF uses PostScript curves, they're converted to an older format with quality loss. This is another reason to avoid DFONT. Use TTF or keep OTF for modern systems.

File size increased dramatically

DFONT has resource fork overhead that bloats file size. OTF is already efficient; converting to DFONT makes files 20-40% larger. There's no file size benefit. Keep OTF or use TTF for better efficiency.

Why would anyone do this conversion?

You shouldn't. OTF to DFONT is a severe downgrade: loses features, increases size, reduces compatibility. DFONT only works on Mac and is obsolete even there. Keep OTF for modern systems or convert to TTF for universal compatibility.

When NOT to Use DFONT

Scenarios where you should keep OTF or choose a different format

  • Cross-platform use

    Why not: DFONT is Mac-exclusive; OTF works everywhere
    Use instead: Keep OTF - works on Windows/Mac/Linux; DFONT Mac-only
  • Modern macOS

    Why not: Modern macOS prefers OTF/TTF; DFONT is obsolete
    Use instead: Keep OTF; it works better on modern macOS than DFONT
  • OpenType features needed

    Why not: DFONT strips all OpenType features completely
    Use instead: Keep OTF to preserve all modern font features
  • Any modern use

    Why not: DFONT from Mac OS 9 (2001); obsolete with no advantages
    Use instead: Never convert to DFONT; keep OTF for modern compatibility