Open OTF files

  • Full name
    OpenType Font File Format
  • Developer
    N/A
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a OTF file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a OTF file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your OTF file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is OTF file?

The file extension OTF features an OpenType font, a font standard for computers that was originally developed by Microsoft and later developed jointly with Adobe. Released in 1996, there were already a large number of OpenType fonts by the year 2000.

More info

Fonts are in short all alphanumeric characters, special characters and partly international characters represented in a specific style and cut. Well-known fonts are for example Arial, Helvetica or Times New Roman.

An OTF file contains data in a tabular format, which includes either a TrueType or a Postscript Outline Font (in the so-called CFF format). OpenType fonts can have the endings orf and the file ends ttf, depending on their content. Often, the suffix ttf is used to maintain compatibility on systems that do not natively support OTF.

While font files that only contain Postscript fonts usually have the ending otf, font files with TrueType data can have both endings.

OTF fonts can be easily viewed and installed in Windows by double-clicking or using the shortcut menu, they are then automatically copied to the fonts folder and are immediately available. On the Mac (as of OSX) there are several fonts folders that can contain fonts. (eg System / Library, Library) To install, just copy the OTF file into one of the fonts folders or use the font collection.

Although OpenType is a registered trademark of Microsoft, the technology is available to all and may be used on any operating system. In addition to Windows, Mac OSX and Linux also support the OTF standard through the open source project Freetype. Since Font Rendering is an operating system function, all programs that fall back on it can automatically use OpenType fonts, but some programs can not access all special characters.

Programs which can open a OTF file

How to open file with OTF extension?

In order to open a file with OTF extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening OTF file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with OTF files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install Apple Font Book or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening OTF files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support OTF files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of OTF files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set Apple Font Book as the default program for opening OTF files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate OTF files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the Apple Font Book applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where Apple Font Book has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with OTF files

Sometimes problems with opening OTF files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • OTF files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open OTF files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • OTF file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

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