Unicode to Sathayam Tamil Font

Unicode to Sathayam Tamil Font Conversion

Tamil is one of the world’s oldest and richest classical languages. With the growth of digital technologies, the way Tamil is typed, stored, and displayed has undergone a huge transformation. Today, the Unicode standard is the global method of encoding Tamil text. However, many traditional DTP (Desktop Publishing) workflows and printing houses still use legacy Tamil fonts such as Sathayam. This creates the need for accurate Unicode to Sathayam font conversion.

We provide a detailed guide on converting Unicode Tamil into Sathayam Tamil Font. We will explain what Unicode is, how Sathayam works, why conversion is required, and which tools and steps can be used for smooth conversion.

Understanding Unicode Tamil

Unicode is an international standard developed by the Unicode Consortium. It assigns a unique code point for every character in every language. Tamil Unicode characters are stored in the range U+0B80 – U+0BFF.

Advantages of Unicode:

• Universal support across computers, mobiles, and the web.
• SEO-friendly and searchable by Google.
• Works in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and online applications.
• Compatible with copy-paste and database storage.
• Ensures future-proof archiving of Tamil content.

Understanding Sathayam Tamil Font

Sathayam is a popular legacy Tamil font used mainly in Tamil Nadu for printing newspapers, books, banners, and invitations. Unlike Unicode, which uses international code points, Sathayam is based on the ASCII character set. This means English alphabets are re-mapped to display Tamil glyphs.

Features of Sathayam Font:

• Compatible with Adobe PageMaker, CorelDraw, Photoshop, and QuarkXPress.
• Fast typing for experienced DTP operators.
• Requires Sathayam.ttf font to be installed in the system.
• Not SEO-friendly, since search engines cannot read ASCII Tamil text.
• Still widely used in printing presses and design studios.

Unicode vs. Sathayam – Key Differences

Feature	Unicode Tamil	Sathayam Font
Encoding	International Standard (U+0B80–U+0BFF)	ASCII-based mapping
Compatibility	Works on all platforms	Works only with Sathayam.ttf
SEO	Searchable and indexable	Not searchable
Copy-paste support	Safe	Breaks without font
Usage	Websites, apps, e-books	Print, DTP, banners

Why Convert Unicode to Sathayam?

1. DTP Workflow: Printers still use Sathayam font in PageMaker and CorelDraw.
2. Publishing: Books, wedding cards, and posters are created with Sathayam.
3. Old Archives: Legacy files are stored in Sathayam, so Unicode text must be converted for consistency.
4. Workforce Familiarity: Many typists are trained in Sathayam typing.
5. Design Aesthetics: Some design layouts are optimized for Sathayam font.

Tools for Unicode to Sathayam Conversion

1. Online Converters

Several Tamil typing websites offer converters where Unicode text can be pasted and converted into Sathayam instantly.

2. Azhagi+ Software

Azhagi+ is a powerful free Tamil typing tool that supports Unicode ↔ legacy font conversions including Sathayam.

3. NHM Converter

NHM Writer and NHM Converter are lightweight tools widely used by DTP operators for Tamil font conversion.

4. Custom Scripts

Some developers have created JavaScript/Python scripts for batch conversion of Unicode Tamil to Sathayam ASCII encoding.

Step-by-Step Conversion Process

Method 1: Using Online Converter

1. Copy your Unicode Tamil text.
2. Open a Tamil Unicode ↔ Sathayam converter website.
3. Paste the text in the input box.
4. Select “Convert to Sathayam.”
5. Copy the output text.
6. Paste it into PageMaker or Photoshop.
7. Apply Sathayam.ttf font.

Method 2: Using Azhagi+

1. Install Azhagi+ software.
2. Open the Unicode ↔ Legacy Converter module.
3. Paste Unicode Tamil text.
4. Select “Sathayam” as the target font.
5. Click Convert and copy the ASCII output.
6. Use it in DTP software with Sathayam font applied.

Method 3: Manual Conversion

Advanced users can use mapping tables to replace Unicode characters with their corresponding ASCII codes for Sathayam. This is practical only for small corrections, not for large documents.

Common Problems in Conversion

• Broken Words: Some conjunct letters may not map properly.
• Extra Spaces: Certain characters may cause unwanted spacing.
• Missing Font: Without Sathayam.ttf, text shows as random letters.
• Special Characters: Rare Tamil letters like ஃ may not convert correctly.
• Software Glitches: Word processors may auto-correct during conversion.

Solution: Use updated converters, pre-clean text in Notepad, and manually check ligatures in final output.

Practical Applications

• Newspapers: Unicode news articles can be converted to Sathayam for printing.
• Books: Authors writing in Unicode can prepare files for printers using Sathayam.
• Banners & Posters: Designers can import Unicode slogans and convert them to Sathayam for Photoshop.
• Election Campaigns: Political posters often require Sathayam font layouts.
• Archives: Unicode text can be matched with old Sathayam documents for reference.

Example Conversion

Unicode Tamil: தமிழ் ஒரு செம்மொழி

Converted ASCII Output: jkpH; xU brk;bkhHp

When Sathayam.ttf is applied, the above text appears correctly in Tamil script.

SEO Consideration

Important: Sathayam font is not SEO-friendly. Text stored in Sathayam encoding cannot be read or indexed by search engines. Therefore, always maintain a Unicode master copy for web publishing and long-term archiving.

Conclusion

Unicode is the future of Tamil digital communication. But for practical needs in printing, DTP, and design studios, Sathayam font remains a key player. Converting Unicode text into Sathayam ensures smooth collaboration between modern authors and traditional printers.

Tools like Azhagi+, NHM Converter, and online utilities make the conversion process fast and reliable. While Unicode should always be used for web and digital content, Sathayam conversion is essential for professional printing outputs in Tamil Nadu.