Designers who work with Malayalam quickly discover a gap between modern text and traditional design workflows. On the web, Unicode Malayalam is the standard. In design tools like Photoshop, InDesign, and some print workflows, ML‑TT and similar legacy fonts are still widely used. If you paste plain Unicode Malayalam directly into these tools and choose an ML‑TT font, the result often looks broken: wrong letters, missing glyphs or random symbols.

The solution is not to stop using Unicode. Instead, you keep Unicode as your “master” text and convert it to ML‑TT encoding only for the final design step. A dedicated Malayalam font converter does exactly this: it takes Unicode Malayalam text in, and gives you ML‑TT‑encoded text you can paste into Photoshop and style with ML‑TTKarthika, FML‑TT and other ML‑TT fonts.

1. Unicode Malayalam vs ML‑TT fonts

Unicode is the modern standard for representing Malayalam on the web, in apps and in most operating systems. Each Malayalam character has a unique code point, and fonts simply decide how to draw that character. This makes Unicode ideal for:

• Websites and web apps.
• Documents (Word, Google Docs, PDFs).
• Subtitles, captions and digital interfaces.

ML‑TT fonts, on the other hand, are legacy fonts designed for older DTP and design workflows. They often map Malayalam glyphs onto Latin code points in custom ways. That means:

• Text only appears correctly if the exact ML‑TT font is applied.
• Copy‑pasting ML‑TT text into Unicode‑based apps will show gibberish.
• Search and accessibility features do not work reliably on raw ML‑TT text.

The right approach today is to treat Unicode as your default and ML‑TT as a “rendering format” used only where necessary.

2. When do you actually need ML‑TT?

You typically need ML‑TT fonts in scenarios like:

• Designing Malayalam titles or text layers inside Photoshop.
• Working with legacy print workflows that expect ML‑TTKarthika or FML‑TT fonts.
• Preparing artworks for clients or printers who have specific ML‑TT font requirements.

If you are only creating content for the web or modern apps, you can stay 100% in Unicode. ML‑TT conversion is specifically for design software or print pipelines that rely on older fonts and mappings.

3. Overview of the Malayalam Unicode → ML‑TT font converter

The Malayalam Unicode Font To ML TT Font Converter is a specialised tool built for designers, DTP operators and Malayalam typography enthusiasts. Its main job is:

• Accept clean Unicode Malayalam text as input.
• Convert that text into ML‑TT encoding so it matches ML‑TTKarthika and similar fonts.
• Produce output you can copy and paste directly into Photoshop or design apps.

Key features highlighted on the converter page include:

• Support for multiple input methods (Google transliteration, AI translation, direct Malayalam input).
• Automatic mapping from Unicode code points to ML‑TT font positions.
• Compatibility with popular fonts like ML‑TTKarthika, FML‑TT, ML‑TTRevathi and ML‑TTKaumudi.
• Integration with a larger Malayalam font collection for design projects.

This means you can stay in a modern Unicode world while typing and editing, and only touch ML‑TT encoding at the handoff stage to Photoshop or InDesign.

4. Input methods: Google transliteration, AI translation and direct Malayalam

The converter supports three flexible ways to feed Malayalam text into the system:

4.1. Google transliteration (type in English, get Malayalam)

In this mode:

• You type phonetically in English, for example namaskaram.
• The input box converts this into Malayalam Unicode: നമസ്കാരം.
• The converter then maps this Unicode Malayalam into ML‑TT output for use in Photoshop.

This is convenient when you are comfortable typing English but want clean Malayalam without installing a system layout.

4.2. AI translation (sentence‑level translation)

In AI translation mode:

• You paste English sentences or paragraphs in the input area.
• The tool generates Malayalam Unicode text using AI translation.
• The resulting Malayalam text can then be converted to ML‑TT for design use.

This is powerful when you have English copy ready (for example, a headline or banner text) and want a Malayalam version directly integrated with your ML‑TT design workflow.

4.3. Direct input (type Malayalam directly)

In direct input mode:

• You type or paste Malayalam Unicode directly into the converter.
• No transliteration or translation is applied; the text is already in Malayalam.
• The converter simply changes encoding from Unicode to ML‑TT mapping.

This mode is best if you already prepared Malayalam text using an online keyboard or another Unicode editor and only need the final ML‑TT conversion.

5. Step‑by‑step: converting Unicode Malayalam to ML‑TT

Here is a simple end‑to‑end process you can follow for any headline, caption or body text you plan to design in Photoshop:

1. Write or prepare your Malayalam text in Unicode.
   You can do this using:
   • An online Malayalam keyboard or transliteration page.
   • A text editor or document where you already store Unicode Malayalam.
   • AI translation if you are starting from English.
2. Open the font converter page.
   In your browser, go to https://www.typemalayalam.com/en/font-converter .
3. Choose the input method.
   Select Google transliteration, AI translation, or direct Malayalam input based on how you prepared your text.
4. Enter or paste your Malayalam Unicode text.
   Type phonetically (for Google mode), paste English (for AI mode), or paste Malayalam Unicode (for direct mode).
5. Generate ML‑TT output.
   The converter processes your Unicode Malayalam and produces corresponding ML‑TT encoded text in the output area.
6. Copy the ML‑TT output.
   Select all the converted text in the output box and copy it (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C).
7. Paste into Photoshop or your design tool.
   In Photoshop:
   • Create a text layer.
   • Paste the ML‑TT text into the text layer.
   • Change the font to ML‑TTKarthika, FML‑TT, ML‑TTRevathi or another supported ML‑TT font.
8. Adjust size, spacing and style.
   Once the correct ML‑TT font is applied, letters should render properly. You can then tweak font size, tracking, line spacing and layer effects as normal.

The key idea is that you never type ML‑TT directly. You only paste ML‑TT output that has been generated from clean Unicode Malayalam.

6. Using ML‑TT‑converted text in Photoshop

Once the ML‑TT text is pasted in Photoshop, you may notice a few practical details:

• Font selection is critical. If you paste ML‑TT text but keep an English or Unicode Malayalam font active, you will see gibberish. Always switch to an ML‑TT font family (ML‑TTKarthika, FML‑TT, etc.) for that text layer.
• Kerning and spacing may differ from Unicode fonts. ML‑TT fonts were designed for legacy workflows; adjust tracking and line spacing until the text looks balanced.
• Rasterising is optional. As long as the ML‑TT font is installed, you can keep text layers editable. For sending to printers or clients without the font, you may rasterise or convert to shapes, but keep a PSD with live text for your own archive.

Always zoom in to check small details like virama joins and conjunct thickness, especially for display sizes like titles and logos.

7. Using ML‑TT text in InDesign and other design software

The same ML‑TT output you paste into Photoshop can be used in:

• Adobe InDesign and Illustrator.
• Older DTP software commonly used in print shops.
• Some video editors that rely on ML‑TT fonts for overlays.

The steps are the same:

1. Paste ML‑TT text into a text frame or layer.
2. Apply the matching ML‑TT font family.
3. Adjust layout and formatting as needed.

For multi‑page layouts (books, magazines, flyers), keep a parallel Unicode master of all Malayalam text so you can update or repurpose content in the future without having to reverse‑engineer ML‑TT encoding.

8. Supported ML‑TT fonts and style ideas

The converter is designed to produce output that lines up with popular ML‑TT font families used in professional design:

• ML‑TTKarthika: A widely used standard for Photoshop and print, good for body text and captions.
• FML‑TT: Often used in print‑oriented designs, magazines and brochures.
• ML‑TTRevathi: Elegant for headers, quotes and titles.
• ML‑TTKaumudi: Traditional style suited for literary or classical themes.

Combining the converter with a curated Malayalam font collection lets you:

• Match font tone to project type (modern, traditional, playful, formal).
• Use different font pairs for headings and body text.
• Experiment safely, knowing your text is based on a clean Unicode master.

9. Practical workflows: posters, thumbnails, print layouts

Here are some example workflows where Unicode → ML‑TT conversion fits naturally.

9.1. Social media thumbnails and YouTube covers

1. Write your Malayalam title and tagline in Unicode using an online keyboard.
2. Paste it into the font converter and generate ML‑TT output.
3. Paste ML‑TT text into Photoshop, apply ML‑TTKarthika or another display font.
4. Add stroke, shadow and design effects for thumbnail style.

9.2. Posters and banners for print

1. Prepare all Malayalam copy (headlines, body text, disclaimers) as Unicode in a master document.
2. Convert sections to ML‑TT as you design each layout.
3. Use ML‑TT fonts that your print vendor confirms they support.
4. Export high‑resolution PDFs and test them on a different machine to make sure fonts embed correctly.

9.3. Book covers and title designs

1. Experiment with different Malayalam title wordings in Unicode first.
2. When the final wording is locked, convert to ML‑TT for Photoshop layout.
3. Fine‑tune kerning and custom shapes for the main title while keeping a separate text layer with unmodified ML‑TT text in case you need to edit later.

10. Common pitfalls to avoid when converting

To keep your workflow smooth, watch out for these mistakes:

• Typing directly in ML‑TT in Photoshop. This makes the text hard to reuse and easy to corrupt. Always type in Unicode first, then convert.
• Mixing Unicode and ML‑TT in the same file without labelling. This can cause confusion later. Clearly separate your Unicode master file and your ML‑TT design files.
• Copy‑pasting ML‑TT text back into web editors. ML‑TT text is not meaningful Unicode; it will not work correctly on the web or in modern apps.
• Using unsupported ML‑TT fonts. Make sure the fonts you choose are actually installed and licensed properly on the machines that will open the design.

If you stick to the rule “Unicode everywhere, ML‑TT only in the last design step”, you will avoid most of these issues automatically.

11. FAQ

Can I convert ML‑TT text back to Unicode?

In theory, yes, but it depends on having a reliable reverse mapping for the specific ML‑TT font. It is much safer to treat Unicode as the master source and regenerate ML‑TT whenever needed, instead of relying on reversing ML‑TT back into Unicode later.

Will Unicode Malayalam ever replace ML‑TT completely?

For the web and applications, Unicode has already replaced ML‑TT. In print and DTP, many workflows are slowly moving to Unicode‑friendly fonts, but ML‑TT remains in use due to legacy tools and habits. Having a converter lets you bridge both worlds during this transition.

Is it okay to send ML‑TT text to clients as editable files?

It is common in some print pipelines, but always confirm that the client or printer has the same ML‑TT fonts installed. For safety, send both: an editable file (PSD/INDD) and a flattened or outlined version (PDF) so the appearance is preserved even if fonts are missing.

12. Wrap‑up

Converting Unicode Malayalam text to ML‑TT fonts for Photoshop is less about magic and more about a sensible workflow. You keep all writing, editing and storage in Unicode, where text is portable and future‑proof. Then, when a design or print project specifically needs ML‑TT, you use a dedicated converter to generate ML‑TT‑encoded text that lines up with ML‑TTKarthika, FML‑TT and other professional fonts.

With the Malayalam Unicode → ML‑TT font converter , this process becomes straightforward: type or paste Malayalam once, click convert, and paste the output directly into Photoshop. Over time, this approach gives you the best of both worlds—modern Unicode flexibility and classic ML‑TT control inside your design tools.