Files that contain the EPS file extension are graphics formats which are associated with Adobe applications and used by the PostScript language. EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript which is a standard graphics format that is used for exchanging images, drawings, or entire page layouts.
EPS files contain a description of the graphics object in PostScript page description language and can include both bitmap and vector image data. The files also typically contain a preview image which is used to display the content of the file in a computer application such as Microsoft Word.
EPS files can be created by a variety of drawing applications in addition to image editing programs, such as Adobe Photoshop. The primary reason EPS files are used with Adobe applications is so the files can easily be exported to Encapsulated PostScript. In some instances, printer drivers are also capable of generating EPS files in addition to PostScript files which contain the PostScript commands for printing the graphic.
How to Open EPS Files
The best way to open EPS files is by using Adobe CS6 that is a suite of applications that include Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign which are graphics creation and editing programs. CS6 is quite an expensive program to purchase and install on your PC. If you do not have it installed on your PC, the good news is there are a variety of other methods you can use to open these files.
If you use the Windows operating system, you can open and view EPS files with Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 or Adobe Acrobat X. Both of these programs are available on the Adobe website. It is also possible to open EPS files using Microsoft Word 2010 which is part of the Microsoft Office suite of applications. If you are a fan of Corel, you can open and edit EPS files using CorelDraw Graphics Suite X6, Corel PaintShop Pro X4, or Corel WordPerfect Office X6.
For Mac OS X you can use Microsoft Word 2011. Other compatible programs include QuarkXPress which is a digital design program available for download from the Quark website or Grasshopper PageStream which works with Mac, Linux or Windows and is available for download from the PageStream website.
If you use Linux, you can open and edit EPS files with KOffice Artwork which is an open source program available on the KOffice website or the Scribus open source desktop publishing program available for download on the relevant website. You may also use a universal document viewer such as KDE Okular.
