The EPS Error Message...No More!

From time to time I have clients provide me with an Encapsulated Post Script file (.eps) of their logo usually. This is a vector based file which allows their logo to be scalable to whatever size we need it to be without loosing clarity of the image. It is truly a beautiful thing, however, the newer Adobe Illustrator opts to save the .eps file in such a way that if you try to open the file with an older version of Illustrator you get the estranged error message "Can't Open the illustration. The file was generated by a newer version of Illustrator and can not be opened. Please resave it in a format compatible with your version of Illustrator." Now, is it just me, or does that completely make no sense. If I could 'resave' it...wouldn't that mean that I could open it in the first place?

Up until today, I have always had to waste time back tracking the logo to see if either...one, the client could resave it for me...(how embarrassing) or two, remember what networking design buddies I know who have newer versions of Illustrator. That, my friend, was until today...today I drew the proverbial line in the sand, and the EPS error message stops here and now.

Through some research, and trial and error I have discovered the 'way round' the EPS nightmare. It is relatively simple. It does require a professional version of Acrobat, but it doesn't need to be the most current. (Mine is 6.0.2). Open Acrobat under the Advanced tab you will find Acrobat Distiller. Open Distiller, and then open the misbehaving .eps file...select the high resoultion pdf option. Distiller will save the file in the same folder as the original with a .pdf extension. You will then be able to open the file in Illustrator. Eureka! We have discovered the undiscovered country...okay, well probably not. But it is a wonderful little trick that might just save you some time and aggravation. And we could all use a little of that in our lives I am sure.

What is a PNG? and what can it do for you?

Occasionally you will run across a Portable Network Graphic (or .png) file. Which by definition, according to Wiki, it is a bitmapped image format that employs lossless data compression. For those of us who don't speak geek, this simply means that the image won't lose it's clarity when you attempt to make the file size smaller. The image will maintain its integrity.

The .png file is a web based file extension that was designed to replace the .gif file extension. I'm sure there are very extensive explanations as to why and wherefore the .png is the best thing since sliced bread. I use the .png extension if I am saving an image that either I need to have a transparent background on the web, or if I need a smaller filesize than the .jpg extension allows me, also in web applications. That in a nutshell is what it does for me. And as a side note, I rarely even look at a .gif unless I am planning an animation of some sort.

The .png file does come with some warnings. Very much like it's older cousin the .gif file, the .png file doesn't like to play well with others. I learned a while back that while trying to move layers from one file to another, that if you try to drag a .png file layer into a .psd or a .jpg file, it has a fit. The .png file layer appears to be locked, thus unallowing you to move the layer over. It does have a simple fix however, just select all (Mac Apple A - PC control A) then copy and paste it into the new document layer. Presto, you will have overcome the bad attitude of the .png file.