EPS files are great when you need a file type that maintains the same resolution no matter the size of the print, something that the JPG file type cannot do. However, users may be confused about how to export EPS from Illustrator.

Click File, Save As, and then select a folder on your computer for the EPS file. Don’t forget to give your file a name before saving it as an EPS. To choose Illustrator EPS as the file format, select the downward-pointing arrow at the bottom of the panel and select EPS.

Keep reading below as we discuss these instructions in the later sections.

What Are EPS Files and Why Would You Need Them?

You might want to know how to use EPS files in a practical environment now that you’ve created them. Large posters and displays are frequently printed using EPS files. For instance, it wouldn’t be unusual for a print company to ask for your project files in EPS format.

The biggest advantage of using EPS files for vector graphics is that the picture quality is maintained no matter how big you create them. A JPG, for instance, has a fixed quality and would degrade at huge sizes. 

Therefore, retaining project categories like branding and posters in the vector file is preferable. These vector files may be shared with many design tools and, most crucially, printing-related tools thanks to the EPS file format.

Another interesting thing about EPS is that it started as a print file, even though it is often used for vector graphics. Encapsulated PostScript is what EPS stands for. This indicates that it holds a variety of technical information that other popular picture types do not. Quite intriguing, huh?

How to Export As EPS?

The export procedure is quite easy. Technically, you’ll be storing the file rather than exporting it. Thus, Save As or Save a Copy will allow you to save files in the .eps format. Essentially, all you must do to save the document is select Illustrator EPS (eps) as the file type by following the brief instructions below.

To learn more about how you can export an EPS file from Illustrator, watch this video below:

1. Select File > Save As or Save a Copy from the top menu. The window for saving options will open.
2. Switch the file type to Illustrator EPS (eps). It is strongly advised to use the “Use Artboards” option to prevent components from the artboard from appearing on the exported image.
3. Select a version of Illustrator and press OK It is OK to use both Illustrator CC EPS and Illustrator 2020 EPS.

How to Open EPS File in Adobe Illustrator?

A .eps file may be opened straight by double-clicking on a Mac; however, it will do it as a PDF file rather than Illustrator. So no, clicking twice is not the answer.

How Do You Open an EPS File in Illustrator?

To open an EPS file in Illustrator, you may select “Open With” > “Adobe Illustrator” by right-clicking on the .eps file. Or you may locate the file on your computer and load it using Adobe Illustrator File > Open.

File Sizes

Regardless of its applications, there are a few things to be aware of while utilizing EPS files. As opposed to Illustrator (AI) and Photoshop (PSD) files, EPS files often have greater file sizes. 

Because of these things, it’s best to save your work in its default file format and only export EPS files when you need to. They can be useful, but they usually can’t take the place of your main project files.

Why Can’t Photoshop Save as EPS?

The question “Why Can’t I Save as EPS in Photoshop?” may arise when you attempt to export a file as an EPS in Photoshop. This is because Photoshop does not support the EPS file type. The file will not be viewed in Photoshop if you attempt to save it in an EPS format; rather, it will be loaded in another software.

Since EPS files are vector files, whereas Photoshop only accepts raster files, users can’t export an EPS file in Photoshop. Raster files are composed of pixels, while vector files are composed of points, lines, and forms. As a result, if you attempt to export a Photoshop project as an EPS file, every one of the points, lines, and forms will be gone, leaving you with nothing but a collection of pixels.

Final Words

Notice that this article mentions the term “vector” quite a bit. This is because it is necessary. With vector software, EPS functions nicely. You could view it in Photoshop, a raster-based tool, but since all of it will be rasterized, you won’t be able to change the artwork there. To recap, save huge files as EPS if you intend to print them, and use vector editing tools like Adobe Illustrator to alter them if you need to.