EPS
Also known as: Encapsulated PostScript, .eps file, eps format
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is a vector graphics format used mainly for logos, illustrations, and print artwork. Like other vector files, it stores shapes as math rather than pixels, so it scales to any size — though it is an older format now often replaced by SVG and PDF.
- Vector format for logos and print artwork
- Scales to any size without quality loss
- Largely replaced by SVG and PDF today
Vector, not pixels
EPS describes an image as paths, curves, and text rather than a grid of pixels. That means it can be printed at any size — from a business card to a billboard — without losing sharpness, which is why it became a standard for logos and print graphics.
A purely vector EPS is usually small, since it stores instructions instead of millions of pixels. Files grow when they embed raster images or complex artwork.
Where EPS stands today
EPS is built on the older PostScript page-description language. For most modern uses it has been superseded by SVG on the web and PDF for print and sharing, both of which are more flexible and widely supported.
If you receive an EPS, a vector editor can open it, and you can convert it to SVG or PDF for the web or to PNG when you just need a fixed-size raster image.