What is a .eps file?
Encapsulated PostScript · Image · Adobe / Aldus · 1987
EPS is a vector graphics format built on PostScript, designed to be embedded inside another document or opened as a single, self-contained illustration. It was the standard way to hand off print-ready artwork between different design programs for decades, and it remains common in professional print and publishing workflows.
What is a .eps file used for?
An EPS is a PostScript program that draws a single piece of artwork, wrapped with a strict set of conventions (a bounding box, a preview image) so page-layout software can place it without running the PostScript itself.
Because a bare PostScript interpreter is not always available, many EPS files also carry an embedded low-resolution preview image, in TIFF or WMF, so an app that cannot render PostScript can still show roughly what the file contains.
It predates PDF as the universal print-and-design interchange format and was for years the default 'export for another program' choice from Illustrator, Photoshop and page layout software; PDF has since taken over most of that role.
An EPS can hold vector paths, embedded raster images, or a mix of both, but unlike SVG it has no notion of interactivity or CSS-style styling, it is purely a fixed illustration.
How to open a .eps file
The .eps format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- Illustrator
- Inkscape
- Photoshop
- GIMP (via Ghostscript)
macOS
- Illustrator
- Preview (view only)
- Affinity Designer
Linux
- Inkscape
- GIMP (via Ghostscript)
Web
- Photopea
How to convert a .eps file
You can convert a .eps file to PDF, SVG, PNG, AI using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.eps file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .eps file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for EPS. For a full breakdown, see the EPS file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 25 21 50 53 2D 41 64 6F 62 65 2D | 0 | '%!PS-Adobe-' ASCII EPS header, followed by the EPSF version |
| C5 D0 D3 C6 | 0 | DOS EPS binary header (wraps a TIFF or WMF preview alongside the PostScript) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .eps file?
EPS is a vector graphics format built on PostScript, designed to be embedded inside another document or opened as a single, self-contained illustration. It was the standard way to hand off print-ready artwork between different design programs for decades, and it remains common in professional print and publishing workflows.
How do I open an EPS file?
Illustrator, Inkscape and Photoshop all open EPS directly. Without design software, the free web app Photopea opens one in a browser, or you can convert it to PDF or PNG with a converter.
What is the difference between EPS and AI?
They share the same PostScript ancestry, an old AI file is essentially an EPS. The practical difference today is that AI is Illustrator's live, fully editable project file, while EPS is meant as a finished illustration for placing into other documents.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: