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pdflatexepsfile-conversionpdflatex
user3326508
user3326508

Reputation: 31

How to convert PDF figures to EPS while keeping the original quality?

I have 10 figures (graphs and schematics) in PDF format to be published in a journal.

The journal accepts the figures only in the EPS format to correctly locate them when it compiles the Latex file containing my article.

What would be the best way to convert my PDF figures to EPS while maintaining their quality?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 4570

Answers (3)

Kurt Pfeifle
Kurt Pfeifle

Reputation: 90263

1. Ghostscript

You can use the most recent release of Ghostscript, v9.16, with the eps2write device to extract page 4 from some.pdf as an EPS:

gs -o some.eps -sDEVICE=eps2write -dFirstPage=4 -dLastPage=4 some.pdf

However, don't use an older version of Ghostscript (which has only the epswrite device, not eps2write), because this would create only PostScript Level 1 (large file size, lots of rasterization, not-so-good quality in some cases...).

The eps2write device creates PostScript level 2.

2. pdftops (by XPDF/Foolabs or by the Poppler fork)

You can also use the command line tool pstopdf, like this:

pdftops -level3 -eps -origpagesizes -f 4 -l 4 some.pdf some-page4.eps

This would create PostScript Level 3 EPS output. To see more command line options, type pdftops -h.

Upvotes: 2

Max Wyss
Max Wyss

Reputation: 3615

Probably the best quality EPS can be achieved using Acrobat and then save as EPS.

However, in any case, check the results, because (E)PS is less capable than PDF, and certain features (such as transparency or overprinting) may not work properly when exporting as EPS.

Upvotes: 0

Roland Smith
Roland Smith

Reputation: 43523

Use a tool such as ghostscript or one of its front-ends.

Upvotes: 0

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