Based on the PostScript language, EPS or Encapsulated PostScript is a vector format designed for printing to PostScript printers and imagesetters. It is considered the best choice of graphics format for high resolution printing of illustrations.
Create EPS
EPS files are created and edited in illustration programs such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. They are saved with the .eps file extension. Some page layout programs can also export individual pages of a publication as .eps images. PostScript printer drivers may have an option to save or print to file in an EPS format.View EPS
EPS files may contain a TIFF image, WMF, or PICT preview image of what will print when the file is sent to the printer. Some files may not contain the preview image or it might not be viewable on certain computers but the .eps file will still print (RIP) correctly if properly formed and printed to a printer that can handle PostScript.The .eps can be placed, viewed, and printed from some page layout and word processing applications such as PageMaker, InDesign, QuarkXPress, or Word but not edited. Use the place or insert command as applicable to your software. If the preview image is not available or not in a format the software can read it will show a blank box, perhaps with some text explaining that the preview is not present.
Use EPS
An EPS graphic can be embedded into another PostScript file. Because EPS images support embedded paths which can be used as clipping paths, they are frequently used when needing a transparent background in a page layout program.DCS is an enhanced EPS file format. With DCS a CMYK graphic is separated into five files: one grayscale image for each of the CMYK process colors plus an FPO file with preview that goes into the page layout document.
Use the links below to explore the .EPS file format in more depth.
