Based on the Adobe Type 1 (PostScript) font format. These use "compact font format" (CFF) outlines and are known for their precision in high-end printing.
| Aspect | Traditional Type 1 Font | CID-Keyed Font | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 256 | 65,535+ | | Encoding Support | Single (hard-coded) | Multiple (via CMap) | | File Management | Many files per font family | One file | | Use Case | Western alphabets | CJK, Unicode, Large symbol sets | | Modern Support | Legacy (deprecated) | Full (via OpenType/CFF) | cidfont
The "CID" in CIDFont stands for . The system separates the character's identity from its visual representation. Here is the typical hierarchy: Based on the Adobe Type 1 (PostScript) font format