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Format

Encapsulated PostScript File Format

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Summary

Name
Encapsulated PostScript File Format
Version
3
Identifiers
  • MIME: application/postscript
  • Apple Uniform Type Identifier: com.adobe.encapsulated-postscript
  • PUID: fmt/124
Format type
Page Description
Disclosure
Full
Description
Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) is a page description format, developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Version 3, the third version of the format, was developed in 1992, and subsequently revised in 1999 to include a number of extensions and features of the PostScript language not previously documented. An EPS file comprises a header section followed by a PostScript document. The header can refer to version 3.0 or version 3.1. An EPS can optionally include a preview raster image, in which case a binary header is prepended to the header.
Note
Specification: http://www.opennet.ru/docs/formats/ps3.pdf
File extensions
eps, epsf, ps
Source
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Developed by
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Relationships

Has lower priority than
Has priority over
Is subsequent version of

Internal signatures

EPS 3.0

Note
Absolute from beginning of file, magic bytes: %!PS-Adobe-3.0 EPSF-3.0(.|..)

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
None
Byte Sequence
252150532D41646F62652D332E3020455053462D332E30(0D|0A|0D0A|0A0D)
Endianness
None

EPS 3.0 Preview

Note
Absolute from beginning of file, magic bytes: ÅÐÓÆ Variable, magic bytes: %!PS-Adobe-3.(30|31)EPSF-3.0(.|..)

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
None
Byte Sequence
C5D0D3C6
Endianness
None
Min Frag Length
Variable
Offset
None
Max offset
None
Byte Sequence
252150532D41646F62652D332E(30|31)20455053462D332E30(0D|0A|0D0A|0A0D)
Endianness
None

EPS 3.1

Note
Version comment ASCII: %!PS-Adobe-3.1 EPSF-3.0

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
None
Byte Sequence
252150532D41646F62652D332E3120455053462D332E30(0D|0A|0D0A|0A0D)
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Updated in V114

    Release date
    22 August 2023

    Encapsulated PostScript File Format 3: Added description of magic bytes and specification. Submitted by Digital Preservation Department, The National Archives (UK).

  • Updated in V67

    Release date
    26 February 2013

    Encapsulated PostScript File Format 3: Set priority over new format fmt/501 PostScript 3.1

  • Updated in V60

    Release date
    11 June 2012

    Encapsulated Postscript File Format 3: Existing signature EPS 3.0 Preview refined through PRONOM Research.

  • Added in V50

    Release date
    20 May 2011

    Encapsulated PostScript File Format 3: Record title updated to encompass different versions.

    Encapsulated PostScript File Format 3: New signature developed through PRONOM Research to identify different versions.

  • Updated in V49

    Release date
    5 April 2011

    Encapsulated PostScript File Format 3.0: Priority information changed to avoid potential clash with Cascading Style Sheet and EndNote Import File identifications.