Author Topic: Making EPS files smaller (Read 4138 times)

Monkeyman · « **on:** January 30, 2015, 09:55 »

I'm struggling trying to make my complex files smaller than 15 MB. How the heck do people do it? I have a file (somebody else's) that is 14,8 MB and I believe it was saved in CS5 (it says version 15 in the eps file).

When I'm just trying to save a copy of it, with no changes at all, the new file is 313 MB. I've tried CS5, CS6 and CC, all with the same result. So what magic trick am I missing?? This is driving me insane.

I've checked the file, and nothing has been rasterized. And there's no preview image. And I know that reducing the artboard size reduces file size but that shouldn't matter with the file I'm experimenting with, since I should get the same result as the original creator.

I did however try to make the artboard so tiny I can hardly see it at 6400% zoom (which wouldn't be accepted at the microstocm sites) but the file size only went down to 44 MB, which is still too big.

What am I missing???

Shelma1 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:18 »

It's impossible to tell without seeing the image and the outline, and knowing what kind of effects are in the file. But why such a complex file for micro stock? Hardly seems worth it.

leo83 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:28 »

Try to resize art board, example if you use 500x500 you should try with 50x50, that can be helpful!

H2O · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:42 »

To make an EPS Vector file smaller in MB simply make it smaller on the past board also make the past board smaller the smaller you go the less coding ie 101010 needed to make up the code for each position of a node, so less coding equals less MB, also delete any symbols and color swatches in the pallets again this is all coding.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2015, 11:19 »

The OP has already tried shrinking the image and it's still too large.

H2O · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2015, 11:41 »

Well this is the only way, you have to reduce the coding, must be extremely complicated

Shelma1 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2015, 12:45 »

No, there are several ways to reduce the complexity and file size of an image. Shrinking it is just one option.

Monkeyman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2015, 12:46 »

I've now been fiddling with all the settings and found a solution.

Set "Raster/Vector Balance" to "0". I've always thought (like the idiot I am...) that this setting is affecting the actual file, but if I'm not mistaken it only affects printing. So, when printing, the image will be rasterized. Anyway, this makes a HUGE difference on file size on complex files.
Set "Line art and text resolution" and "Gradient and mesh resolution" to "1". This seems to save another megabyte or two.
Make artboard smaller.

Another weird thing I found out was that adding some pointless transparency to a file could decrease its size. Example: I have a file with just normal solid fills and about 200000 anchor points. By making artboard smaller I can get it down to about 16 MB. But if I add just a little rectangle and set it to "Multiply" (or any other transparency effect) I will get access to the transparency settings when saving the EPS, where I can use the tips I listed above. This way I can get the file down to around 6 MB.

So there you have it. The mysterious world of the vector format... nothing makes any sense.

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Author Topic: Making EPS files smaller (Read 4138 times)

Monkeyman

Shelma1

leo83

H2O

Shelma1

H2O

Shelma1

Monkeyman

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