Questions about layers (one general, one Inkscape)

i'm working to submit as illustrator, but i have a problem: saving a vector as eps 8 (Adobe-3.0 EPSF-3.0 with inkscape) and opening it with illustrator cs4 to check compatibility, all my layers and layers names are gone, i have only one single layer named "layer 1", and all the elements grouped (with sublayers <Compound Path> ) .


- it's accettable a file like this? (all the elements grouped within one layer with a generic name - layer one)


- searched forums and found old replies from inkscape users submitting to istock without problems: there is a way to preserve levels and levels name in eps with inkscape? maybe i'm doing something wrong


Thanks!

(Edited on 2012-07-28 09:02:29 by Torquetum)

Layers should stay intact in your EPS8 files. I have found that if there is a problem in the file, such as open shapes, the layers will merge into one. You can use this plug-in to make finding open shapes easier.


 

Thanks, i'll try this!

I've found that if my vector contains any non compatible eps8 effects, such as transparencies, and I don't flatten the effects before saving as version 8, all the layers are merged the next time I open it.
So make sure you flatten any such effects before saving as eps8. Alternatively save as eps10. I think iStock are now accepting eps10 uploads (better double check) but I don't know if that also applies for your initial application.

no,  nothing worked for me .. i've searched online and seems that eps can't retain layers data:


" Illustrator will open EPS files, yes... but it just interprets the PostScript in that case, and PostScript doesn't support layers. Nothing you put in an EPS can force Illustrator to create Illustrator features, such as a layer.

How does Illustrator do it, then, with EPS files it creates? By storing binary data in the file. Specifically, a big comment at the end that it calls a "PrivateData" dictionary. It's ASCII-85 encoded binary data.

When Illustrator opens an Illustrator EPS, it totally ignores the PostScript. It jumps right down to the private data, and uses it to create an Illustrator file."


quote from a layers discussion here


but if t's correct, all contributors not using AI (coreldraw, inkscape, etc) are exporting eps with only one layer with standard name (like my first example)...it's correct?


 

I don't know anything about inkscape so the following suggestion may be nonsense, but,
how about creating a new illustrator file with the same dimensions and number of layers as the inkscape file and then just copy and pasting the contents one layer at a time into the illustrator layers, then saving as eps8. Always use "paste in front" and don't forget to flatten transparency and other non compatible eps8 effects.