What is an EPS file?

EPS is a vector file format traditionally used for professional and high-quality commercial printing and graphics art production. PostScript printers and image setters typically use EPS to produce vast, detailed vector graphics — such as signage, large posters, and attention-grabbing marketing collaterals.

EPS files also:

• Can contain bitmap data, retaining individual coding on color and size. For bitmap graphics, EPS files can lock in a specific linescreen setting to ensure consistent reproduction output.
• Get used by illustrators and graphic designers in tools such as Adobe Illustrator.
• Offer backward compatibility and are one of the most common formats used by professional printers.

History of the EPS file

Adobe created Encapsulated PostScript in the late 1980s, making it an early graphic file choice for the design industry. The format was designed to make it easier to incorporate graphics and vector illustrations into predominantly text-based creations.

EPS files could also render onscreen in a preview before printing — something that wasn’t previously possible. EPS became an early industry standard for professional printers. Though still in use today, EPS technology has largely been replaced by native file formats.

Because EPS files contain graphic file-specific data, they are a useful format for graphics that need to be scaled.

What are EPS files used for?

1. Legacy format

Though overtaken by more modern file formats such as PDFs, EPS files still have a function as a common legacy format compatible with almost all systems and software.

2. Printing

Many professional printers use EPS files for large-scale jobs. The backward compatibility feature makes it suitable for a wide range of printers — including older systems.

Computer-controlled engraving machines, vinyl cutting for signage, and computerized embroidery processes may also find EPS data simpler to render in detail.

3. Billboards & Signage

The individual graphics data stored in vector files means EPS files can retain resolution regardless of scale. That makes EPS ideal for large graphics like billboards and marketing collaterals.

Pros and cons of EPS files

Advantages of EPS files

• Ideal for scaling graphics without losing quality.
• Uses lossless compression, ensuring high image quality.
• Supported by most professional printing systems.

Disadvantages of EPS files

• Requires time to configure settings before creating EPS files.
• Once saved as EPS, editing requires specialized software like Adobe Illustrator.
• Bitmap images inside EPS do not scale as smoothly as vector data.
• Transparency is not natively supported, which can cause design issues.

How to create and edit an EPS file

An Encapsulated PostScript image can consist of bitmap info and/or vector data. Only the vector information is editable using the correct software.

To create an EPS file:

1. Complete your design in Adobe Illustrator or similar software.
2. Go to the File menu.
3. Select Save As.
4. Choose Illustrator EPS (*.EPS) as file type.
5. Select the save location.
6. Choose the pages or artboards to export.
7. Ensure graphics are within the trim area.
8. Click Save to create the EPS file.

To edit EPS files:

You will need specialized software such as Adobe Illustrator or other professional vector editing tools.