The modes file collects all known Metafont modes for printing or display devices, of whatever printing technology. Special provision is made for write-white printers, and a ‘landscape’ mode is available, for making suitable fonts for printers with pixels whose aspect is non-square.

The file also provides definitions that make \specials identifying the mode in Metafont’s GF output, and put coding information and other Xerox-world information in the TFM file.