Linux – How to import an EPS file in Inkscape

epsimagesinkscapelinuxpostscript

I'm using Inkscape, and I'm trying to import an EPS file to use it as a vector and eventually save it as an SVG.

This link here mentions several methods:

http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=797

But the responses aren't rated since it's a forum, so I thought I'd ask here to find the best answer. I'd prefer not to have to use some website to convert the file to a PDF first.

Either way, when I import an EPS into Inkscape, or use the website to convert it to a PDF, in both cases the resulting file loses all colour and gradients, and the EPS file gets cut off on the right side.

It looks like ps2pdf is clipping the file incorrectly, and Inkscape is eliminating the colour.

I have these version installed in Ubuntu Lucid Linux:

Inskape     0.47.0-2ubuntu2
Ghostscript 8.71.dfsg.1-0ubuntu5.3

Best Answer

This link: importing-eps-files-into-inkscape contains a very detailed tutorial on how to do this and it worked perfectly for me. It is based on instructions found at inkscapeforum.com, specifically this quote from eelke:

Inkscape's PS and EPS import now uses Ghostscript instead of pstoedit. If you need to open files of these types, install Ghostscript and make sure the directory with the ps2pdf utility from Ghostscript installation is in your PATH. On importing a file, you will see a preferences dialog, similar to PDF import; for multipage PS files, this dialog allows you to select which page to open.

It works only when you put both links; "bin"and "lib" from Ghostscript in : exc. C:\Program Files\gs\gs8.70\lib;C:\Program Files\gs\gs8.70\bin Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced; Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH (or make it in the new..), and click on it. In the Edit windows

That is the gist of the solution. The tutorial in the link at the top of this answer shows how to do this step-by-step with pictures.

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