Designers and print teams reach for EPS when a logo or icon has to ride from screen to vinyl, signage, or offset press. The catch is that PNG is a raster format and EPS is meant for vector. The conversion is not a checkbox, it is a two stage workflow. This guide shows the real method in Photoshop and the cleaner method in Adobe Illustrator, plus what vectorization actually does.
What you will learn
- What PNG and EPS really are, and why direct conversion needs care
- How to convert PNG to EPS in Photoshop step by step
- How to convert PNG to EPS in Illustrator with Image Trace
- How to vectorize a PNG so the EPS is print ready
- Why online PNG to EPS converters are risky for brand artwork
PNG vs EPS: What You Are Actually Converting
PNG is Portable Network Graphics, a W3C standard since 1996. It is a raster format, which means pixels in a grid with full transparency support.
EPS is Encapsulated PostScript, an Adobe specification from 1992. It is a vector container based on the PostScript page description language. EPS is the safe handoff format for print shops and signage cutters that expect resolution independent artwork.
When you save a PNG as EPS without vectorizing, you do not get vector paths. You get a raster image wrapped inside an EPS shell. The print shop will see the same blur the PNG had. For a clean, sharp EPS, the PNG must be traced into vector paths first.
I once sent a Photoshop EPS of a client logo to a sign printer. The artwork looked fine on screen and the file passed their upload check. The vinyl came back jagged at 600 mm wide. I redid the same job in Illustrator with Image Trace, and the next vinyl print was crisp. The format alone did not save it, the vector data did.
Method 1: Convert PNG to EPS in Photoshop
This is the fastest route and it works in Photoshop CS6, CC and the 2025 release. The output is a raster EPS, fine for web previews and basic placement, not ideal for large format print.
Open the PNG
In Photoshop, click File > Open and pick your PNG file. If the layer is named Background, double click the layer in the Layers panel to unlock it.
Flatten if Needed
For a single-layer PNG, skip this. For a layered PSD that you opened as PNG, click Layer > Flatten Image so EPS can write one image.
Save a Copy as EPS
Click File > Save a Copy. In the dialog, set Save as type to Photoshop EPS (*.EPS). Click Save.
Pick EPS Options
The EPS Options dialog opens. Use these defaults for general use:
- Preview: TIFF (8 bits/pixel)
- Encoding: Binary
- Include Halftone Screen: unchecked
- Include Transfer Function: unchecked
- Image Interpolation: checked if you plan to scale up
Click OK. Photoshop writes the EPS to disk.
Verify the File
Double click the .eps in your folder. It should preview in Photoshop, Illustrator or your OS preview pane. If it opens, the EPS is valid.
A Photoshop EPS is enough when the file goes into a layout app for screen output or small print at the original PNG size. It is not enough when the artwork must scale up without pixel loss.
Method 2: Convert PNG to EPS in Adobe Illustrator with Vectorization
Illustrator is the right path for logos, icons and line art that need to scale. The trick is Image Trace, which converts the PNG raster into editable vector paths before you save EPS.
Open or Place the PNG
In Illustrator, click File > Open and pick your PNG. The image lands on a new artboard.
Select the Image
Click the placed PNG once with the Selection Tool (V). A bounding box appears.
Run Image Trace
Click Object > Image Trace > Make. Illustrator scans the PNG and builds a preview of the traced vector. Open the Image Trace panel from Window > Image Trace to fine tune.
Pick a Preset
The preset dropdown lists Black and White Logo, High Fidelity Photo, 6 Colors, 16 Colors, Sketched Art and more. For a flat logo, Black and White Logo usually wins. For a multi color icon, try 3 Colors or 6 Colors. Watch the preview update as you switch.
Expand to Paths
Click Object > Image Trace > Expand. The preview becomes real anchor points and bezier paths. You can now edit each path with the Direct Selection Tool (A).
Save As EPS
Click File > Save As. Pick Illustrator EPS (*.EPS) from the type dropdown. Click Save. In the EPS Options dialog, pick an Illustrator version that matches your printer’s workflow, usually Illustrator CS or higher. Tick Include CMYK PostScript if the file goes to print. Click OK.
Before you click Expand, raise the Threshold slider for cleaner edges and lower the Paths and Corners sliders to drop noise. A logo with five hundred extra anchor points is harder for a print operator to fix than a logo with fifty clean ones.
How to Vectorize a PNG for True EPS Output
Vectorization is the heart of clean PNG to EPS conversion. Image Trace in Illustrator is the built in route. If you do not have Illustrator, Inkscape (free, cross platform) offers Path > Trace Bitmap with similar controls.
Two checks before you save the EPS:
- Path count. Open the Layers panel and count vector objects. Hundreds of stray paths means the trace was too noisy. Tune the Threshold and Paths sliders and re-trace.
- Color count. A two color logo should not have ten color swatches after Expand. Use Select > Same > Fill Color to merge stray fills.
When path count and color count look clean, the EPS will hold up at any size, on any press.
EPS Options That Matter for Print
| Option | Purpose | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Preview: TIFF 8 bit | Cross platform preview thumbnail | Most workflows |
| Encoding: Binary | Smaller file, native PostScript | Standard print and design tools |
| Encoding: ASCII | Larger file, plain text | Old RIPs that reject binary |
| Include CMYK PostScript | Force CMYK separations | Press jobs only |
| Embed fonts | Keep text typography | If your EPS uses live text |
If the print shop sends a spec sheet, match their EPS options exactly. The shop’s RIP cares about preview type and encoding more than the visual output you see locally.
About Free and Online PNG to EPS Converters
Free online PNG to EPS converters are everywhere. They are quick for personal sketches, but we do not recommend them for brand artwork, client logos or anything you cannot afford to leak.
- The PNG has to leave your machine and sit on a stranger’s server.
- Terms often allow the service to keep, share or train on the uploaded artwork.
- The output is usually a raster-wrapped EPS, not a real vector trace.
- Logo work from public converters has shown up on stock graphic sites within days.
For anything tied to a brand or client, keep the file local. Photoshop and Illustrator handle the job offline. If you do not own Adobe, Inkscape is a free local alternative.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Saving a PNG as Photoshop EPS and treating it like vector. It is still raster.
- Skipping Image Trace in Illustrator and exporting the placed PNG as EPS.
- Leaving the Threshold slider at default for a high contrast logo.
- Forgetting to Expand after Trace, the EPS will not hold paths.
- Exporting in RGB when the printer asked for CMYK.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert PNG to EPS in Photoshop?
Open the PNG in Photoshop, click File > Save a Copy, choose Photoshop EPS as the file type, set Preview to TIFF and Encoding to Binary, then click OK. The output is a raster EPS, fine for general use but not vector.
How do I convert PNG to EPS in Adobe Illustrator?
Open the PNG in Illustrator, select it, click Object > Image Trace > Make, pick a preset, then click Expand. Save with File > Save As as Illustrator EPS. This produces a true vector EPS.
Is PNG to EPS conversion really vector?
Only if you vectorize first. A direct save from PNG to EPS wraps the raster inside an EPS file. For real vector output, run Image Trace in Illustrator or Trace Bitmap in Inkscape, then Expand the paths.
What is the difference between PNG and EPS?
PNG is a raster image format made of pixels. EPS is a vector format from Adobe based on PostScript, used for print artwork that needs to scale to any size without losing sharpness.
Should I use online PNG to EPS converters for a client logo?
No. Online converters require you to upload the artwork to a third party, often with permissive terms, and the output is usually a raster-wrapped EPS. Use Photoshop, Illustrator or Inkscape locally for brand work.
Which EPS options should I pick for print?
Use TIFF 8-bit preview, Binary encoding and CMYK PostScript if the press requires CMYK separations. Match the print shop’s spec sheet when one is provided.
