What's the difference between saving a vector as .AI and saving as .EPS?

Question

Is there any benefit to saving as an `.ai` file? I know that `.eps` files can be opened in many programs, but `.ai` files, I think, would only be opened in Illustrator. Should I bother saving in an `.ai` format?

Answer 1

The 2 formats differ in that .ai (Adobe Illustrator format) is considered to be a "native" file. Use .ai to import into other Adobe programs, such as Indesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat. Always save a native format file as your master. And provide native format files to your printer or collaborators for editing, prepress, color management, etc.

The .eps extension means (Encapsulated Postscript File) and can be used for applications that do not accept native Illustrator (or .ai) files. EPS is a carry over from the print industry. But is still relevant in some cases. It is always useful to ask your client, printer, or collaborator which format they require.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

An .AI file only opens in Illustrator. Think the equivalent to a .psd file for photoshop.

where as a .PDF it is more versatile format, it embeds the fonts and images and you can open it in almost any Adobe application. But still edit it in Illustrator in fine detail.

Answer 3

Hello,

.AI is, as the others have said, a "native" file created in Illustrator. However, in today's world practically any vector editor both in Windows and Mac can open/import .AI files.

An .EPS file is merely a "container". In it you can find vector files but also raster/bitmap files. It's not exclusively for vector formats albeit is used a lot for that. As with an .AI file, practically any vector editor both in Windows and Mac can open/import .EPS files.

And yes, you should ALWAYS save your .AI file and from there export .EPS (and any other type of file for that matter) that you want, granted, it may no longer be necessary if you're sharing a vector file, since, as I mentioned above, .AI files can be open/import by practically any vector editor both in Windows and Mac.