EPS
What is an EPS file?
The EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) format is a legacy vector graphics standard developed by Adobe in the late 1980s. It contains PostScript page description language commands describing 2D vector graphics, bitmap images, and text. Conforming to the Document Structuring Conventions (DSC), an EPS file includes a BoundingBox comment that defines the rectangular area of the graphic. It is strictly a single-page format intended to be embedded within other PostScript documents, often containing a low-resolution TIFF or WMF preview for onscreen display.
How to open an EPS file
While native OS support for EPS is deprecated in modern Windows and macOS (Preview no longer supports it as of macOS Monterey), professional vector editors are required for manipulation. Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW are the industry standards for editing EPS syntax. For viewing or rasterizing without expensive software, users can utilize Ghostscript, Inkscape (open source), or EPS Viewer. Converting to PDF is often recommended for broader accessibility.
- Full Name
- Encapsulated PostScript
- Developed By
- Adobe Systems
- Initial Release
- 1987
- MIME Type
- application/postscript