EPS is a legacy vector graphics format built on Adobe's PostScript page-description language — once the universal interchange format for print graphics, now largely superseded by PDF.
Safe format
Type Image
By Adobe
MIMEapplication/postscript
Drop any file to identify it
We read file headers, not extensions. Nothing gets uploaded.
EPS is a legacy vector graphics format built on Adobe's PostScript page-description language — once the universal interchange format for print graphics, now largely superseded by PDF. The format that won't retire. EPS dates back to 1992, and yet it persists — stubbornly, everywhere. Download a logo from a stock-graphics site and there's a decent chance it arrives as an EPS. Print shops still accept them. Legacy workflows still depend on them. The format is essentially a single-page PostScript program with a bounding box, which means it's technically code, which means it's technically a security concern on ancient systems. Modern tools handle it fine. EPS isn't obsolete. It's just old enough to collect a pension.
Technical details
Full Name
Encapsulated PostScript
MIME Type
application/postscript
Developer
Adobe
Magic Bytes
25 21 50 53
Safety
.eps is a known, safe format.
What opens it
Adobe Illustrator
SubscriptionAll
Affinity Designer
$70All
Inkscape
FREEAll
Ghostscript
FREEAll
FAQ
How do I open EPS without Illustrator?
Inkscape (free) handles most EPS files. Affinity Designer ($70) is a more polished option. For just viewing, many EPS files can be opened by renaming to .pdf.
What is the difference between EPS and AI?
EPS is a flat interchange format — it preserves the artwork but loses Illustrator-specific features like layers, artboards, and live effects. AI keeps everything. Think of EPS as the export and AI as the working file.
What is the difference between EPS and PDF?
Both descend from PostScript, but PDF is the modern successor. PDF supports multi-page documents, transparency, encryption, and interactive features. EPS is single-page and simpler. For almost every modern use case, PDF is the better choice.
Is EPS obsolete?
Not quite, but it's close. PDF and SVG have replaced EPS in most workflows. You'll still encounter EPS files from stock-graphics sites and legacy print systems, but fewer designers create new EPS files by choice. If you receive one, it's almost certainly convertible to PDF or SVG.