Hi everybody!
Have a great problem - I don't want to buy Illustrator to save .eps file as I prefer another vector editor. So now I'm really run out of ideas what to do... I can export to, .ai, .svg, .pdf even .psd!! ... but .eps is a real problem. Is there any way to convert these files to .eps? I have lot's of logos, but... alas, can't upload them to the site...
Thanks!!!
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33 Comments
Its not necessary to buy the program ;) you can download it from a torrent hosting website. (its not allowed when it comes for commercial use).
Black n White, are you suggesting he STEAL a copy of illustrator?
Download Inkscape. It's freeware.
In case I'm misunderstanding you: You can't convert raster images to vectors.. They are two different types of files. It would be like trying to convert a txt file to mp3. You will have to redraw them in the vector program.
If you do a lot of vectors, you may want to spend some money on a good program, though. I use Corel, mostly. You can usually get an older version of any program on ebay or amazon at a reduced price, since people who can afford to switch to the new versions as they come out.
Each vector program has its own quirks, and you will find that not all styles of gradient save properly in all programs. Also, transparencies, drop shadows, and blurs will not save correctly as eps. If you have the very newest software, I think you can use transparencies.
Most professionals wind up using several programs. I use Illustrator as a patch for Corel's quirks. (I hate Illustrator, but I need it, dammit)
The only vector program I know of that does EVERYTHING is Wonderware. It's really expensive.
He can download a demo or a complete program from anywhere. Then he can buy a licence to use the program legally. It's more easy and it costs less. That's why I said that is not allowed when it comes to commercial use.
Sure. I prefer to use trial versions in this case - 30 days often are enough to make something... but when you work for a long time (as I do), it's necessary to have a full product...
I know Inkscape - but it really has a hard interface (I don't know, maybe someone like it!), and I really like Microsoft Expression 4 Design - but alas vector images created in it can't be exported in any normal format. They will add export to .eps in the next version... (I use it for 2 years anyway). For example I don't like the grid in Inkscape, it's too big - and when you make snap to grid it doesn't work properly (I've downloaded it a few days ago). I think of two ways out - I'll buy Corel (but it's too expansive for me), or wait an update to Expression 5 - it will be free as I'm a student. By the way - what's better - Illustrator or Corel? Or maybe Xara? I haven't used them for a long time.
Be careful, when you download from Microsoft DreamSpark as a student, you agree to their License Terms which clearly indicates that you have restrictions: "You many not use the software provided as part of the Student Subscription for commercial purposes". Your best choice would be open source software, like Darla said.
Peace,
Spintherism.
Oops. Didn't know that. Hopefully I did not use it for commercial purposes yet ;) I'll try Inkscape than. Thanks for the useful information!
I find Corel easier to use. Illustrator was designed by people who don't know how artists think, and their manual was written by aliens.
Earlier versions of Corel are not expensive. Xara gets really good reviews, but costs more than Corel.
I would suggest Illustrator by a mile. Designed by people who don't know how artists think????? I'm sorry but that's ridiculous.
Illustrator is great, yes maybe a hefty price but if you're serious about your design work it's a must. As all Adobe products interact it serves a purpose within all design projects not solely logo design. Importing into Photoshop for web design, exporting logo vector elements to After Effects for motion graphics use. Exporting design elements to InDesign for page make up for print publishing. I know this is possible with corral also but the Adobe software integrates so well you need to have it if you're serious about what you're doing.
Darla I'm guessing here that you probably started off with corel, then thought I'll give Ai ago. You found it difficult because you didn't want to learn it fully due to already knowing corral so well then blame Adobe for it lol. I suggest going to lynda.com and learning it, it's a valuable and necessary part of graphic design.
Adobe prefers to define how artists MUST think.
I constantly wonder why i can't scan my sketch directly from illustrator, but who cares?
Darla, do you do any on-site freelance? I'm only asking because I've never had a client who had Corel. They've all had the Adobe Suite.
Corel its more practical and easy to use in some cases. That's why is most used in printing and publishing.
That's interesting. I've never used it and, as I mentioned, I've never seen it in use at my clients' offices, which are print-centric. (Some of them are publishers, too.) I wonder if it's a regional thing. I'm in Connecticut, USA.
No I believe that it has to do with how big is a printing business. Most printing businesses are small and do simple stuff.. like t-shirt prints, stamps. So they need a software easy to use and in some cases with more flexibility..
The majority of small printers have gone digital and use corel for it's usability. Also, dare I say it, but it's easier to get an illegal copy than it is with the latest version of illy.
I'm not sure what you mean by "on-site". I didn't have Corel first, but I did do a lot of photo editing in various programs before moving to vectors. I found the Corel manual readable, and the Corel interface easy to figure out by poking around.
Illustrator makes me want to cry with frustration, but I am slowly learning how to use more features.
What do you want to know about Corel?
Actually, I'm pretty happy with Illustrator, so I don't think I need to learn another program..
By "on-site" I mean that a client who has you work at their office, rather than from home. That's the majority of the graphics work I get, since I work through creative placement agents and charge by the hour.
Oh hell no.
I quit doing that sort of thing about thirty years ago.
It was pen and paper, then, and "cut and paste" involved real scissors and adhesive.
Ah, I'm of that generation, too. I'm at the point where if anybody asks my age I just say "bronze."
[curmudgeon] You young people with your cell phones and your cd players, you have no idea what it was like before the internet. We had to walk to the library to look something up, even if it was raining! We couldn't look up the weather, we had to go outside to see what it was like! We had to remember people's phone numbers! We had to know how to spell! None of you know how to even hold a pencil, let alone draw with one. Get off of my lawn! [/curmudgeon]
Snerk!
I do have to say that I really don't miss speccing type!
I'm of the age group that can just remember those things, no texting, mobiles, page make up by hand etc. I was just talking about this the other day about when I was at college, the local library where we had to go to research our subjects only had about 7 books about printing. I remember one assignment, the history of paper and paper making, trying to research that was a nightmare. If I was on the same course now, it would be a breeze!
Some say that Adobe Illustrator is the standard in the industry. The truth is that Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW are very comparable. The problem is that fans of CorelDRAW, for the most part, do not know Adobe Illustrator in depth and have the impression that things are better/faster with CorelDRAW. Also, they have the impression that Adobe Illustrator lacks several of the features found in CorelDRAW. Again, this is just an impression. Funny thing, the same is true the other way around: Adobe Illustrator fans, for the most part, do not know CorelDRAW enough and have the impression that there are several things that can only be done in Adobe Illustrator. Granted, sometimes it is true, like better EPS export for instance. On the other hand, it has often been said that CorelDRAW is very intuitive and thus recommended for novice users.
The main problem with Corel Corporation, is that for a while they did not created new features often enough and they even discontinued the Mac OS version (due to poor sales). So, Adobe took the market by storm (Sort of what happened when Adobe InDesign took the title of "industry standard" from QuarkXpress).
All of the design agencies I've known through the years (worldwide) used Adobe products. Yes, that could be consider an opinion or even a coincidence, but... We can look at the revenue from both companies and get a rough idea of which of the two dominates the market: Corel Corporation annual revenue is 268 million and Adobe Systems Inc. annual revenue is 3.58 billion. I'm comparing annual revenues for 2008, since I couldn't find recent revenue information for Corel. Even when taking into consideration and compensating for non-equivalent products (like video editing software), it is clear that Adobe dominates the market.
Peace,
Spintherism.
In the UK it's all going Adobe, although most design agencies and freelance designers use both at some point. At the printer I work for it's all going print ready PDF's but we still get files coming in as Quark and even Pagemaker! InDesign is the way forward though and it's great interaction with the whole creative suite.
I can't believe someone has suggested using pirated software.
Also it is possible to save gradients, drop shadows etc as an eps. in Illy anyway not sure about corel.
I said that he can download the software without buying the DVD and if he likes it and want it to use for commercial purposes he can buy a licence . Its a very common practice that all big companies are doing. They allow pirated software to be shared and they give to the user the opportunity to buy a licence in a lower price.
You can save them, but they don't open properly in all vector programs. The gradients break into a jillion separate solid color objects.
I create the image in Corel, save it as ai, open it in Illustrator, then save it as eps from there.
That's about all I use Illustrator for. I got an older version online for $25.
Argh I see ! I misunderstood when reading both comments.
Does anyone know how to import .eps files in Inkscape? I have a great trouble with it. Inkscape supports only saving to .eps...
I don't think you have to import, I think you just open.
might help you:
http://www.sk1project.org/modules.php?name=Products&product=uniconvertor
Here's another option:
http://www.ghostscript.com/
http://www.ehow.com/how_5844063_open-_eps-files-inkscape.html