Ttf2lff

ttf2lff is a specialized command-line utility used by LibreCAD to convert TrueType Fonts (.ttf) into LibreCAD's native font format (.lff).

Outline-Only Result: The LFF format is a "stick" or outline-based format. When you convert a font, the resulting text in LibreCAD will appear as empty outlines rather than solid, filled letters. ttf2lff

LaserFiche Font Manager (Built-in)
Newer versions of LaserFiche (9.x and above) include a graphical Font Manager that can import TTF files directly, essentially automating TTF2LFF in the background. ttf2lff is a specialized command-line utility used by

To use the tool, you must run it from a terminal or command prompt. LibreCAD forgets non-standard fonts · Issue #1252 - GitHub Glyph extraction – Reads all glyph contours from

Permissions: On Windows, you may need to run the Command Prompt as Administrator to save files directly into the Program Files directory.

LibreCAD uses the LFF format to handle text as a collection of polylines. Standard TTF files, while excellent for digital display and printing, are often too complex for simple CAD environments that require stroke-based lettering. The tool bridges this gap by: Extracting Glyphs : It uses the FreeType library to extract each font glyph from a TTF file. Vector Conversion

  1. Glyph extraction – Reads all glyph contours from the TrueType font.
  2. Simplification – Reduces complex curves to match the printer's rendering capabilities.
  3. Rasterization – Converts vector outlines into bitmaps at target resolutions (e.g., 300x300 DPI).
  4. Encoding translation – Remaps Unicode code points to the target printer's character set.
  5. Compression – Applies LFF-specific run-length encoding.
  6. Header generation – Writes the metadata block (font name, point size, style, resolution).

Prerequisites