• Susie
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  • From: Columbus, OH
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Topic: Editing eps and ai files?

I'm looking at some vector images and am wondering if there's a trick in Photoshop that would allow me to edit these files?  I can open them, but there are no layers.  Must I really have a program like Illustrator?

  • Gender: Male
  • From: Chico/Sacramento, CA
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

Yeah, they are Illustrator only. If you open them in photoshop, it will automatically flatten all layers and convert everything from a vector format to a raster (pixel) format.

If you email the file to me and let me know what you need done, I may be able to help though.

  • From: Noblesville, IN, USA
  • Registered: 2008-12-20
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

'fraid so. sad  Photoshop doesn't really do vectors. Thats an Illustrator thing.

  • From: Noblesville, IN, USA
  • Registered: 2008-12-20
  • Posts: 158

Re: Editing eps and ai files?

falkencreative wrote:

If you email the file to me and let me know what you need done, I may be able to help though.

 

Same here. smile

  • Susie
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

Bummer!  I wonder if there's a free (or very low cost) alternative to Illustrator (like gimp for Ps)?

Thanks for the offer of help, guys.  I might just take you up on it!

  • From: Noblesville, IN, USA
  • Registered: 2008-12-20
  • Posts: 158

Re: Editing eps and ai files?

Please do. Any time you need it just ask! You've helped me plenty on the old board... smile

  • From: Noblesville, IN, USA
  • Registered: 2008-12-20
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

How about this:

http://www.inkscape.org/

  • From: Harrison, AR
  • Registered: 2008-12-21
  • Posts: 510

Re: Editing eps and ai files?

I'll second the vote for inkscape.   Its an SVG editor, and exports .eps, though I'm not sure it will import them.

You might also consider Xara.

  • Gender: Male
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

If necessary, you could always install the Illustrator trial...

  • Susie
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

Thanks for the suggestions!  I will try inkscape first and let you know how it goes.  And yeah, if worse comes to worse, I can always install the Illustrator trial.

  • Susie
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

Bummer - it looks like inkscape doesn't open .eps files (unless I'm missing something).

Last edited by Susie (2009-01-21 09:19:55)

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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

According to the Wiki, Inkscape can import both .ai and .eps files.

Found this:

What formats can Inkscape import/export?

Inkscape natively supports opening or importing SVG, SVGZ (gzipped SVG), PDF, and AI (Adobe Illustrator) formats.

With the help of extensions, Inkscape can open a number other vector formats. For importing PostScript or EPS, you need to install Ghostscript and make sure ps2pdf is in your PATH. For formats of Dia, XFig, or Sketch, you need to have these programs installed. For CorelDraw, CGM, and SK1 files, you need to have UniConverter installed.

Inkscape can natively import most raster formats (JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.) as bitmap images, but it can only export PNG bitmaps.

Inkscape can save as SVG, SVGZ, PDF, Postscript/EPS/EPSi, Adobe Illustrator (*.ai), LaTeX (*.tex), POVRay (*.pov), HPGL, and others.

See FileTypes for discussion about file formats that people would like to see supported, and third-party tools that can be used to convert files to or from SVG.

  • Susie
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Re: Editing eps and ai files?

Hmm..thanks, Tim.  I will take a look!