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A Type 1 font is a legacy font-program format designed for Adobe’s PostScript page-description language. Also called PostScript Type 1, PS1, T1, or Adobe Type 1, it became widely used in desktop publishing and PostScript-capable printing. Today, updated Adobe authoring apps no longer support installed Type 1 fonts for normal editing, but embedded Type 1 font data can still work in certain PDF, EPS, and print workflows.
What a Type 1 font is
A Type 1 font is a program that describes letter shapes for a PostScript interpreter. Adobe’s technical specification defines the Type 1 font program and its relationship to PostScript: Adobe Type 1 Font Format.
The names “PostScript Type 1,” “PS1,” “T1,” and “Adobe Type 1” refer to this same legacy format. Adobe introduced it in 1984 for PostScript use. As desktop publishing software and PostScript-capable printers spread, the format became widely used; it was not the only font technology used with PostScript. Adobe’s FAQ, last updated November 12, 2025, describes this history and the later transition in its PostScript Type 1 fonts end of support guidance.
Why Type 1 gave way to newer formats
Adobe says its products and type development began concentrating on OpenType in 1996. A key difference is glyph capacity: OpenType supports larger glyph sets, making it better suited to fonts that need more characters and language coverage. Type 1 is now best understood as a legacy format, not a general recommendation for new font work.
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Can you still use Type 1 fonts in Adobe apps?
Updated Adobe applications no longer recognize installed Type 1 fonts for ordinary authoring and editing. Adobe lists these release thresholds: Photoshop 23.0, Illustrator 27.3, InDesign 18.2, and Digital Video and Audio 23.2. After the relevant update, a Type 1 font may disappear from the font menu, and a document that depends on it may report a missing font. These thresholds and behaviors are described in Adobe’s support FAQ.
This is an application-support change, not a blanket claim that all older files containing Type 1 data stopped working. Older software versions may retain support, although operating-system changes can affect whether those versions run.
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What happens to Type 1 fonts in existing files?
The outcome depends on whether the font data is embedded and whether you need to edit the text or simply view or print the file.
| Situation | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Installed Type 1 font in an updated Adobe authoring app | The font is not available for normal editing; it may be missing from menus or flagged as missing in a document. |
| PDF with embedded Type 1 font data opened in Acrobat | Adobe says Acrobat continues to display PDFs with embedded Type 1 fonts. |
| Embedded Type 1 data in a placed PDF or EPS graphic | Adobe says it remains usable in the specified placement scenarios. |
| PostScript- or Adobe PDF Print Engine-based printing | Adobe says these print workflows continue to work with embedded Type 1 data. |
| Font not embedded in the document | The font must be available to the relevant system or printer; otherwise, the workflow may not have the font it needs. |
Adobe’s end-of-support FAQ explains these distinctions. In practice, check whether the font is embedded and whether your task is editing, viewing, placing, or printing before deciding that a file is unusable.
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What to do if a project depends on a Type 1 font
- Identify the task. If you only need to view or print an existing PDF or EPS, check the embedded-font workflow first. If you need to edit text in an updated Adobe app, you will need a supported font instead.
- Check the font’s origin and license. For an Adobe-owned desktop font, Adobe identifies Type Network as a possible discounted OpenType upgrade route for owners who can prove the original license. For a font from another foundry, contact that foundry about an upgrade.
- Confirm permission and availability before converting. Adobe warns that converting a Type 1 font can produce a suboptimal result and may be prohibited by the font license. Upgrade availability and eligibility are not universal.
- Replace and verify in the working file. Once you have a licensed supported font, substitute it in the editable source document and review line breaks, spacing, and page layout. Keep the original file and font records if you need to preserve the legacy version.
Adobe’s conversion and upgrade guidance appears in its support FAQ and its Photoshop Type 1 font support page.
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