What Is an EPS File?

What is an EPS file? EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript, a graphics format for vector images for Adobe Illustrator. If you are using Adobe Illustrator, you are probably already familiar with the EPS file type. For those not so familiar, it may be important to start by understanding what vector images are. Vector images are pictures with mathematical equations that allow users to take images and stretch them to any size without compromising quality.

Vector files contain bitmaps that instruct each pixel in the photo on what size and color they should be so you can recreate the image in any size or color. Vectors are useful for the production of large-scale printing, such as billboards or building decal wraps. The EPS file format is the most convenient because it does not affect the pixel quality when the image is expanded.

Now that you have an idea as to what the Emasculated PostScript file entails, it is now important to learn how to handle this file type. If you are a designer, or an upcoming one, you are probably familiar with Adobe Illustrator. But if you have no access to this premium software, you have nothing to worry about since several other vector editing programs are available to help you work with EPS file format.

EPS files may amount to naught if you can't open and view them on your device. Whether on Mac or Windows, you need to ensure that your computer has the necessary hardware and software resources to handle these files without any problem. The following are some useful ways to open and view EPS files on your device.

You will be able to open, view and edit EPS files via vector-based image editing programs. However, you should be careful to ensure that whichever application you use does not flatten the EPS file when opening. You will have to try each program out to determine if it is suitable and up to the task at hand before adopting it.

Like any other image type, EPS files can be rotated, cropped or resized if you have the right program on your device. Common apps such as Adobe Reader, EPS Viewer and IrfanView offer effective tools for opening and editing EPS files on your Windows PC. If you only want to open and view your files in EPS format, OpenOffice Draw, LibreOffice Draw, Okular, Scribus, and GIMP should be enough, whether on a Mac or Windows.

If you are working from a Linux-based device, you have not been left behind. You can download Ghostscript or Evince to your system, and access EPS files from the Linux device. For your Apple device, you can download Apple Preview, Design Science MathType and QuarkXPress. If you are on the Android platform and don't fancy downloading an EPS file reader for whatever reason, Google Drive provides an online EPS viewer that works straight from your browser.

You should be able to open, view and even edit EPS file type if you know what program opens EPS files. Be sure to check the compatibility of the program before installing it on your device to avoid complications. Also, it is crucial to download software from reputable sites to limit the chances of creating loopholes for malware.

If your device still doesn't open or work with EPS files regardless of the software downloaded and installed on it, you may have no choice but to convert those stubborn EPS files. You may have downloaded from the internet, or received them from a rumbustious friend via social media and need to view them urgently.

Since none of the software on your system seems to be able to open the file, you have to turn your attention to the image converter on your system. If you have no file converter on your computer, you can find countless converters online. But you will need to choose between premium and free apps depending on your budget and need.

Some free converters, such as Zamzar, can get the job done without much ado. Zamzar does not occupy any space on your device since it runs from the browser to convert the EPS files to compatible formats such as PDF, PNG, SVG, and. Of course, JPG. It is, therefore, quite convenient for you if the limited storage on your device is a point of concern. Another similar app is FileZigZag, which can convert your EPS images to PPT, ODG, and HTML formats.

You may not have to install any converter on your system if you already have Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Open the EPS file you wish to convert then proceed to File, then Save As option. You should be able to save in the BMP, GIF, TIFF or PNG format, so you can send them to your friends whose devices can't read EPS files.