Creating EPS Files

You might create a special shape or design in InDesign that you would like to use in another layout program. Export the file as an EPS, or Encapsulated PostScript, file so that you can use it in other applications.

Tip

Most of today's layout programs import PDF files. Use the EPS format for older programs than can't import PDF files.

To create an EPS file:

• Click the General tab in the Export EPS dialog box to display the pages, bleed, and general controls .
  
  

  The Export EPS dialog box lets you create an EPS file that can be placed in other programs.

  

  or
  
  Click the Advanced tab to display the production controls . These are the same as the graphic options for printing (See page 476 for information on setting the graphic options.)
  
  

  The Advanced section in the Export EPS dialog box contains production controls for creating an EPS file.

  

To set the EPS pages options:

1.

In the General area, choose All Pages to export all the pages in the document as EPS files . Choose the pages to convert with the Pages controls in the Export EPS dialog box. Tip Each page is exported as its own EPS file. or Choose Ranges and enter the numbers of the pages you want to export. Tip Use hyphens to export a range of pages, such as 4-9. Tip Use commas to export individual pages, such as 3, 8.

2.

Check Spreads to export spreads as a single EPS file.

The PostScript level sets the complexity the instructions that are sent to the printer.

To set the EPS PostScript level:

• In the General area, use the PostScript menu to choose the following :
  
  

  • Level 2 is used with older printers.

  • Level 3 is used with newer printers. Use Level 3 only if you know the printer can handle Level 3 PostScript.

  Use the PostScript menu in the Export EPS dialog box to set the type of printing instructions.

  

You can control the color space in the file.

To set the EPS colors:

• In the General area, use the Color menu to choose one of the following options :
  
  

  • CMYK forces the colors to CMYK. Use this setting for process separations.

  • Gray converts the colors to their grayscale values. Use this to limit the colors to a black plate.

  • RGB converts the colors to the RGB color space. Use this for onscreen presentation programs.

  • PostScript® Color Management lets a PostScript printer use its own in-RIP separations to control the color.

  Use the Color menu in the Export EPS dialog box to control the colors in the file.

  

Not all programs can create a preview directly from a placed EPS file. For those that can't, you need to set a preview.

To set the EPS preview:

• In the General area, use the Preview menu to choose one of the following :
  
  

  • None adds no preview to the file.

  • TIFF creates a preview that is visible on both the Mac and Windows platforms.

  • PICT (Mac only) creates a preview that is visible on the Mac only.

  Use the Preview menu in the Export EPS dialog box to give a preview to the image.

  

Just as you can embed fonts in a PDF file, you can also embed fonts in an EPS file.

To embed fonts in the EPS file:

• In the General area, use the Embed Fonts menu to choose one of the following options :
  
  

  • None does not embed any fonts in the file.

  • Complete includes all the characters in the fonts.

  • Subset includes only the characters you have used in the file.

  Use the Embed Fonts menu in the Export EPS dialog box to control how many characters in a font are added to the EPS file.

  

EPS files need to be formatted with a specific type of data.

To set the data format of the EPS file:

• In the General area, use the Data Format menu to choose one of the following options :
  
  

  • Binary is acceptable for most instances.

  • ASCII is used for a PC network that requires ASCII data.

  Use the Data Format menu in the Export EPS dialog box to specify the formatting language of the EPS file.

  

Tip

Choose Binary. If you have trouble printing, then switch to ASCII.

Just as you can add a bleed area when printing a document, you can add a bleed to an EPS file. (See page 468 for additional discussion on creating a bleed.)

To set the size of a bleed:

• In the General area, use the Bleed fields to create a bleed area .
  
  

  Set the size of the bleed in the Bleed fields in the Export EPS dialog box.