FNT files exist as 2 different types. Please find information about each of them below.
Type 1: Windows Font File
A file with .fnt extension is a font file that stores generic font information on Windows operating systems. FNT files have been mostly replaced by TrueType (.TTF) and OpenType (.OTF) file formats. Th...
A file with .fnt extension is a font file that stores generic font information on Windows operating systems. FNT files have been mostly replaced by TrueType (.TTF) and OpenType (.OTF) file formats. The obvious reason for the replacement of .fnt by .ttf and .otf is its raster format. These files can store a single rater or vector font. FNT files are capable of storing a single raster or vector font. For example, each FNT file specifies characters’ IDs, widths, heights, and offsets. If your FNT file is a plain text or XML file, you can open it in Microsoft Notepad (Windows) or any other text editor to view the font metadata it contains.
The vector formats are more frequently used by GDI as compared to the raster where each charter’s glyph is defined using a small bitmap. FNT-format fonts are most commonly found inside resources of New Executable files, particularly in dedicated FON (.fon) files. Font File Header. All device drivers support the Windows 2.x fonts. While the FNT file extension played a significant role in the early days of Windows, it has become less prominent with the emergence of TrueType and OpenType fonts. FNT files, with their bitmap-based approach and limited typographic capabilities, have been replaced by more versatile and scalable font formats.
When creating a font, users can choose in what format the font’s FNT file should be saved. By default, BFG saves FNT files as plain text files. However, users can also choose to save FNT files as XML or binary files. If your FNT file is a binary file, it is not meant to be opened. Windows 2.0, Windows 3.0, and Windows 95 are known to contain this type of file that office and binary applications can use to provide several font options.
A common disadvantage when using FNT files for generating font options is with the printed file. Fonts may not appear similar to what is display on the computer screen when printed. There are few applications that are still supporting the use of FNT files. Also, installing an FNT file on the font folders of Windows XP and later versions may not work.
Windows Font Viewer
FontForge
BitFonter