How to Paste Illustrator Vectors into FontForge

Directly pasting vector data from Adobe Illustrator into FontForge is possible, but it depends heavily on your operating system and clipboard configuration. While direct copy-and-paste can work under specific settings, it frequently causes formatting errors or pastes artwork as a raster bitmap instead of vector paths. For consistent results, designers typically rely either on configuring Illustrator's clipboard to export SVG/AICB data or using the standard vector import workflow.

Using Direct Copy and Paste

To successfully copy and paste paths directly between the two programs, Adobe Illustrator must place path data onto the system clipboard in a format FontForge understands (typically SVG or PostScript/AICB).

  1. In Adobe Illustrator, navigate to Preferences > Clipboard Handling.
  2. Under the clipboard options, ensure SVG Code and/or AICB (no transparency support) are checked. If selecting AICB, choose Preserve Paths.
  3. Select your vector artwork in Illustrator and press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (macOS).
  4. In FontForge, double-click the target glyph slot to open the Glyph Outline Window.
  5. Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (macOS) to paste the paths.

If FontForge pastes an empty layer or a pixelated bitmap, your operating system's clipboard bridge does not support the transfer between these two applications. In this situation, use the file import method.

The Reliable Method: Export and Import

The standard and most reliable method to move vector paths from Illustrator to FontForge is via SVG or EPS files.

  1. Prepare the Vector: In Illustrator, ensure all strokes are outlined (Object > Path > Outline Stroke) and overlapping shapes are merged using the Pathfinder panel (Unite). FontForge requires closed vector paths to generate solid glyphs.
  2. Export as SVG: Go to File > Save As or File > Export > Export As, select SVG, and save the file.
  3. Import to FontForge: Open the target glyph in FontForge, navigate to File > Import, set the format dropdown to SVG, select your file, and click Import.

Important Vector Preparation Guidelines

  • Scale and Coordinates: FontForge uses an integer-based coordinate system (commonly a 1000 or 2048 unit Em square). Set your Illustrator artboard to match your font's Em square (e.g., 1000px by 1000px) to prevent scaling issues during import.
  • Path Direction: Proper glyph rendering relies on correct path directions (outer contours counter-clockwise, inner cutouts clockwise). After placing vectors into FontForge, select Element > Correct Direction to fix any fill issues.
  • Node Cleanliness: Illustrator often generates excessive anchor points. Once the vector is in FontForge, run Element > Simplify to remove redundant points and ensure smooth rendering.