Convert AI to EPS — Free Online Converter
Convert Adobe Illustrator (.ai) to Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or registration....
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How to Convert
Upload your .ai file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .eps file when it's ready.
About AI to EPS Conversion
AI to EPS conversion exports Adobe Illustrator artwork into Encapsulated PostScript, the print industry's universal vector interchange format. EPS predates both AI and PDF as a graphics standard, and it remains the required submission format for many academic journals, commercial printers, and prepress workflows. The format encodes vector graphics as PostScript language commands that any PostScript-compatible RIP can interpret.
Our converter processes the AI file through Ghostscript, which interprets the PostScript content within the Illustrator file and generates a clean EPS output with proper bounding box declarations. The result is a self-contained vector file compatible with virtually every professional publishing and prepress system.
Why Convert AI to EPS?
Many print service providers and academic publishers specify EPS as their required artwork format because it guarantees consistent PostScript RIP output regardless of the application used to create the design. While AI files contain rich Illustrator-specific editing data, EPS strips this to pure vector geometry — exactly what a print RIP needs. Converting to EPS removes application dependency from the artwork.
Legacy publishing workflows built around QuarkXPress, older InDesign versions, and Unix-based prepress systems handle EPS natively but cannot open AI files. EPS also serves as a stable archival format — its PostScript foundation is an ISO standard that will remain interpretable for decades.
Common Use Cases
- Submitting vector artwork to academic journals and publishers that require EPS format for figures and illustrations
- Providing print-ready files to commercial printers and prepress houses that specify EPS submission
- Archiving Illustrator designs in a vendor-neutral format independent of Adobe software versions
- Importing vector graphics into legacy publishing tools like QuarkXPress and older desktop publishing systems
- Distributing vector logos and brand assets to partners using non-Adobe design software
How It Works
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is a subset of the PostScript page description language restricted to a single page with a declared bounding box. The file begins with a %!PS-Adobe header, includes %%BoundingBox and optional %%HiResBoundingBox comments, and contains PostScript operators (moveto, lineto, curveto, fill, stroke, setrgbcolor) that describe the artwork geometry. EPS may include an optional TIFF or WMF preview image for screen display. Our conversion uses Ghostscript's epswrite device to interpret the AI file's internal PDF/PostScript and produce standards-compliant EPS output.
Quality & Performance
Vector fidelity in EPS output is excellent for standard Illustrator features — paths, fills, strokes, gradients, and clipping masks translate faithfully to PostScript equivalents. Features unique to Illustrator's native format (live effects, appearance stacks, multiple artboards) are flattened during conversion. Color accuracy depends on the color model — CMYK values pass through unchanged, while spot colors are preserved as named separations.
Device Compatibility
| Device | AI | EPS |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Expand all live effects and appearance attributes in Illustrator before converting — these cannot translate to PostScript
- 2Use CMYK color mode in your AI file if the EPS is destined for print to avoid color model conversion artifacts
- 3Verify the bounding box in the EPS by opening it in a PostScript viewer — incorrect bounds cause clipping in page layouts
- 4For journal submission, check the publisher's specific EPS requirements (color mode, font embedding, bounding box format)
- 5Keep the original AI file for future edits — EPS loses Illustrator-specific editing features like layers and appearance stacks
AI to EPS provides the universal print-industry interchange format that journals, printers, and legacy publishing systems require. The conversion strips Illustrator-specific data while preserving the vector geometry and color information essential for high-quality print reproduction.