.189 — Macromedia Fontographer Font File

Macromedia (now Adobe) · 1980s

Developer

Macromedia (now Adobe)

Key Features

Stores custom font designs.
Includes vector outline data for glyphs.
Contains font metrics and metadata.
Proprietary format from legacy software.

Best For

Users with existing .189 font projects.
Font designers familiar with Macromedia Fontographer.
Maintaining legacy font assets.

Less Ideal For

Creating new fonts for modern applications.
Sharing fonts with users who lack Fontographer.
Web font implementation.
Cross-platform font compatibility.

Common Use Cases

Designing custom typefaces for print or web.
Editing existing fonts created with Fontographer.
Archiving font projects from older design workflows.
Maintaining compatibility with legacy font files.

How to Open It

The primary way to open .189 files is with Macromedia Fontographer (if you have a licensed copy installed).
Consider using font conversion tools or modern font editors that may have import capabilities for legacy formats.
If you need to extract glyph data, you might need to explore specialized font utilities or scripting.

What is a .189 file?

The .189 file extension is associated with Macromedia Fontographer, a professional font creation and editing application. These files store font data, including glyph outlines, kerning information, and other design parameters necessary for creating custom typefaces. While Fontographer was a powerful tool, it is now considered legacy software, and its .189 format is not widely supported by modern font editors. Files in this format are typically used by designers who still work with older versions of Fontographer or need to maintain existing font projects created with it.

Programs That Open .189 Files

Platform	Program
Windows	Macromedia Fontographer	Paid	Official
macOS	Macromedia Fontographer	Paid	Official

How to Convert .189 Files

Format	Method
.OTF	Macromedia Fontographer, Font conversion utilities
.TTF	Macromedia Fontographer, Font conversion utilities

Common Problems with .189 Files

⚠️ .189 files cannot be opened with modern font editors.

Use Macromedia Fontographer if available, or attempt conversion using specialized tools that support legacy formats.

⚠️ Finding compatible software to edit .189 files is difficult.

Search for older versions of Fontographer or look for third-party font utilities that might offer import/export functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Macromedia Fontographer?▼

Macromedia Fontographer was a popular font creation and editing application popular in the 1980s and 1990s, known for its user-friendly interface for designing typefaces.

Can I open .189 files on a modern operating system?▼

Directly opening and editing .189 files is challenging without the original Fontographer software. Conversion to more common formats like TTF or OTF is usually necessary.

Are .189 files common today?▼

No, .189 files are considered a legacy format and are not commonly encountered or used in modern font design workflows.

Technical Details

Internally, .189 files store vector outlines for characters (glyphs) in a proprietary binary format. This includes information about curve definitions, point placement, and font metrics like ascender, descender, and x-height. The format also contains metadata such as font name, style, and copyright information.

Did You Know?

Macromedia, the original developer, was later acquired by Adobe Systems.

The .189 extension is quite obscure, often leading users to search for information on legacy font formats.

Security Information

As a proprietary font file format from legacy software, .189 files themselves generally pose no direct security risk, but always be cautious when downloading files from untrusted sources, as with any file type.