Placing Illustrator files—AI or EPS?

[Fern157F]

I have a multi-page document and am placing .AI files. Is there any benefit to converting them to .EPS files? Or will either work for print?

Thanks!

[Willi Adelberger]

Avoid EPS as far as you can. Avoid PostScript in any form as it is archaic file type which does not support transparency or color management.

Use AI or save as PDF/X-4, also from other programs. PDF/X-4 is the recommended standard.

[Fern157F]

Thanks! Good to know since I've been placing AI files and it's working great. Just wanted to check since this will go to print. (It's not ePub but I didn't see any tags for print...) Appreciate your comment! 🙂 

[Steve Werner]

EPS are very old and out of date. They don't support transparency, I can't think of any positive reason to use them.

[Fern157F]

Thank you!

[Randy Hagan]

Adobe Illustrator-native files are the answer for your own workflow, with most all vendors who will be able to produce excellent results with it.

EPS is kind of a lowest-common denominator currency for passing graphics files, and doesn't incorporate many of the more advanced capabilities of Illustrator files. For sophisticated graphic work with transparency and various effects, Illustrator-native files may be the only way to render elaborately styled illustrations and graphics.

Randy

[Fern157F]

Thanks, Randy!

[Willi Adelberger]

I agree that AI is the best way, but it must be saved with the PDF part otherwise InDesign is not able to use them.

When someone delivers AI files it happens often that a printer or coworker opens them without having linked assets or fonts. When this happens close immediately the AI file without saving, otherwise it is destroyed. A complete AI file has embedded all used assts and fonts and öinked in InDesign no one needs to open them.

[Fern157F]

I see that they show up as PDF files in the Links directory. BTW, can you place an AI file and then copy and paste it elsewhere in the same document? (My document has lots of icons that repeat and it would be a timesaver!)

Thanks!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Of course you can re-use linked file(s) - as many times as you need. 

[Fern157F]

I don't know ID-tasker. Will look into it, thanks! So, I can copy a placed file and paste it on a different page....fabulous!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

If you keep pressing Alt and click on an object - you will get instant copy - Alt+Shift will move only vertically or horizontally.

[Fern157F]

Cool! Thanks!