EPS files and opening them in various applications tutorial

graphicxtras (c) 2010 Andrew Buckle http://www.graphicxtras.com EPS files and opening them in various applications

By Andrew Buckle Screenshots are shown with kind permission of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Likewise, Corel Corporation Adobe and Illustrator and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Corel and Paint Shop Pro are registered trademarks of Corel Corporation.

Designs used in this guide are from the custom shapes pack 32 Embellish 3 from graphicxtras.com

Opening EPS files in Photoshop (or AI) Photoshop opens a variety of file formats such as PSD, PNG, JPG, GIF and others; Photoshop also can open various vector formats such as EPS and AI. To open as a document 1) file > open and select AI or EPS files To open as a smart layer (or layer in earlier) 1) file > place and select AI or EPS files

Examples show are on a PC, the same approach for the MAC

The example above shows the eps file opened as a layer (in the case of this version of Photoshop, it is a smart layer). The file > place command was used. The layer can be re-sized, etc. Please note, the same for AI files

The example above shows the dialog that appears in Photoshop after using the file > open command. Enter the resolution, size, image mode as required

Once the design has been loaded into Photoshop, the design can be rasterized, merged etc with other layers.

Example above shows the EPS design as a layer and a layer style applied via the layer menu 1) file > place 2) Select design 3) Layer > layer style

An alternative approach if you have Photoshop and Illustrator is to use the clipboard or pasteboard and simply copy the paths between the two 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Open the eps file (or AI) in Illustrator Select shape Copy Start Photoshop Paste

Example above shows the paste options in Photoshop appearing, you can now store the eps design as a smart object, pixels, path or shape layer (save it as a custom shape)

EPS (AI) files and opening in Paint Shop Pro 1) file > open 2) Select 3) Enter settings for size etc as right

If there are no thumbnails of EPS (or AI) files The EPS files sometimes have a thumbnail, sometimes they don’t. There are many browsers on the web but if you have Photoshop, you don’t need to go much further than Adobe Bridge

In Bridge, right click the design you want and then select the application to open the file. Example below shows the open with command (Photoshop CS4, CS3 etc)

Other applications There are many other applications that can open the EPS (or AI designs if they are included in the graphicxtras set) such as Flash. Use the file > open or import or place command to load the EPS design. Not all applications open the files in the same way, some might open the designs via their browser or via a secondary menu or a palette or library function. Please consult the application’s manaul or website for EPS import settings

Example above shows the designs accessed via the file > open command in Flash

The EPS designs can also be added directly into the symbols or floater or storage palette of an application. The example below is of Fireworks and loading the EPS into the library palette (using the import symbols command). This is just an alternative way of loading the EPS designs.

The example above shows the EPS designs opened as a layer in Photoshop Elements. EPS files can be opened via the file > open command (opens as a document) or by opening an existing document or creating a new document, you can use the file > place command (as a layer) After opening the layer or file, the design can be used as in Photoshop (well, most of the functionality such as applying layer styles)

Example above shows the designs again in Adobe Bridge. There are many other browsers that can display the designs.

Opening EPS files in Illustrator.

1) file > open You can then modify the designs, re-save as EPS or AI etc

Example above shows the design opened and the path duplicated, the front color changed to red and the back path remains as black.

You can also open the EPS files in other vector or DTP applications, though not all support EPS files or place the designs, some also can add them but will allow no editing etc.