Can FontForge Export Fonts in SVG Format?

Yes, FontForge can export fonts directly into the SVG font format. This guide outlines the straightforward process for generating legacy SVG fonts using FontForge, explains the technical steps required within the software, and clarifies the difference between standalone SVG fonts and modern color font formats like OpenType-SVG.

How to Export SVG Fonts in FontForge

Exporting an SVG font in FontForge requires only a few steps through the standard font generation menu:

  1. Open your font project in FontForge.
  2. Click on File in the top menu and select Generate Fonts... (or press Ctrl+Shift+G on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+G on macOS).
  3. In the export dialog, locate the file type dropdown menu situated below the file name field.
  4. Select SVG Font from the list of available formats.
  5. Choose your output directory, name your file, and click Generate.

FontForge will then compile your glyph vectors into a standalone XML-based .svg font file.

Important Considerations for SVG Fonts

While FontForge reliably exports SVG fonts, it is essential to understand how this format fits into modern workflows:

  • Browser Deprecation: The classic SVG font specification (.svg) was originally created for mobile and early web browsers, but modern web standards have largely deprecated it. Modern web development favors WOFF and WOFF2 formats for standard text rendering due to better compression and broader support.
  • SVG Fonts vs. OpenType-SVG: A standalone SVG font is not the same as an OpenType-SVG font. OpenType-SVG embeds SVG graphics inside standard OpenType (.otf or .ttf) containers to enable multi-color, textured, or animated glyphs. FontForge has limited capabilities for building complex color OpenType-SVG fonts natively, but it excels at exporting the pure, single-color vector XML SVG font format.
  • Use Cases: Despite web deprecation, SVG font files remain useful for specialized vector workflows, embedded systems, custom SVG-based renderers, and certain CNC or digital cutting software.