Need help with vector .eps files

[Mark II]

I've had some vector .eps files made for my website and I need help with them.

They were sent to me via email after 1000 buissness cards were made for my website.

When I open them in the email link, it tries to open them with Adobe. No can do.

I'm new to this type of file and lost like a goose when dealing with them. I want to save them to a special file and use them to put logos on all of my published pictures. I was told that all it took was a "click and drag" to each picture. Easier said than done. HELP! :o

... also, I'd like to put them on CD (or whatever?) to take to a print shop and have T-shirts and bumper stickers (as well as other promotional items) made.

If anyone can relay the steps needed to do these things, I'd be so grateful!

Thanks

[tracknut]

eps files can be read by Photoshop, but they will be converted to a bitmap as they're imported. What you need if you plan on scaling them up and down is Adobe Illustrator, which is Adobe's vector graphics program.

Dave

[Todd Lambert]

Dave is correct, however you can scale them up in Photoshop, it's just that you need to do it when you originally open the file. Say it opens at 415px wide by 165px tall... you can change those numbers to whatever you want, and the file, since it's vector, will open up at that size perfectly, no degradation. However, once it's opened, it becomes raster.. so any more resizing, WILL cause degradation.

A little more information about what platform and what software you use, would help us recommend a bit more info.

[Mark II]

eps files can be read by Photoshop, but they will be converted to a bitmap as they're imported. What you need if you plan on scaling them up and down is Adobe Illustrator, which is Adobe's vector graphics program.

Dave

Thanks, Dave.
Can I use the scaled down version from CS4 for logos on my pics?
...If so, its it complicated or even possible to click and drag 'em to each pic?

Any noobie tutorials out there?

Todd,
I'm using CS4 ... Not sure what you mean about "Platform"... and thanks ...I was wondering about the sizing window when I opened it in CS4.

One of these days I hope to help you guys with something.

[tracknut]

Yes, you can absolutely use the file from CS4. As long as it's the right size (or you make it right as Todd describes), then I'd save it back out as a PNG file or a PSD file. Then when you want to use it for your watermark, just open that file, and cut/paste it on top of your photo, and move it to wherever you want to put it.

Dave

[Todd Lambert]

You can open it in Photoshop and then copy it and paste it into another file (your photo) or there's a ton more ways as well.. creating a brush out of your eps file, creating a pattern, etc.. depending on your needs.

Here's two I found with a quick googling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuIQSPMHk2U
http://www.developertutorials.com/tutorials/photoshop/making-your-own-watermark-with-photoshop-8-03-07/page1.html


PS - by platform, I was referring to mac or pc. If you didn't have Photoshop, this would be more important, because it would determine what other tools you might have at your disposal - but since you've got the Photoshop, no worries!

- Todd

[john-in-japan]

Timely thread. I just received a 52MB EPS file of a logo we are now authorized to use, and when opened it in PS elements 7, quality looked poor. I want to be able to print it at very large size, and also to use it on brochures, namecards and letterhead paper. Since I can open it in PSE7, what is best quality to save it in - .TIFF or Bitmap? Not sure I explained this correctly. This is my first experience with this type of huge file.
Cheers,
John

[tracknut]

If you want to be able to arbitrarily print it "very large, on brochures, and letterheads", you want to save it as a vector file. Ie, EPS.

Dave

[john-in-japan]

Thanks Dave - I also want to send it to a company that makes gold embossed seals. Can I send a 52mb file or will I need to reduce it (and I don't know how)?

[Mark II]

Lots of thanks, Guys!
That should help and get r done.;)

This site is the BOMB!

[tracknut]

Thanks Dave - I also want to send it to a company that makes gold embossed seals. Can I send a 52mb file or will I need to reduce it (and I don't know how)?

Assuming the eps file is "good" (your comment about it looking poor quality makes me wonder), then you need to:
1. Ask the company that makes the seals what file type they want
2. Ask the company what size the image should be
3. Make whatever they ask for, which could be an EPS, a JPG, or any other format.

That's why I suggest keeping your EPS (sort of equivalent to a raw image file), since you can make pretty much any other format or size from it. It would be extremely unlikely that you'd end up sending them a 52MB EPS file.

Dave

[Todd Lambert]

I'm curious why an eps file is 52mb! It must either be a very complex file or it was tons of raster files in it that are increasing the size.

Vector files are normally pretty small, since they're mathematically based.

[john-in-japan]

Thanks Todd - Company wants an .eps or a .ai file (don't know what that is). The .eps file is indeed 52MB downloaded from the site which provided it to us. File is a gold seal logo. Maybe I'll just burn it on a CD and send it to them.
Again thanks,
John

[asysin2leads]

The *.ai file is Adobe Illustrator, which, as mentioned above, is Adobes vector image program.