Affinity Designer EPS Export and Re-Import failure

[axelwhahn]

Hello,
i created a very simple text phrase with gradient and exported into an EPS-file.
Before i send the result to my client, i re-imported the generated EPS-file in Affinity Designer 2.5.7 (latest version as of 17.01.2025).

Result: only one character of the full phrase out of the original is imported and shown on screen.
What's wrong with the EPS?
If i open it in a image viewer like XNView MP or IrfanView, i see the full (rasterised) text.
I actually can not test the generated EPS elsewhere, as i gave up on using Ad. tools additionally.

Is it me, maybe just a setting in Affinity Designer or a bug?
 

Regards, Axel

Affinity V2 Design Suite on Windows 10 Pro 64

EPS Test V1 EPS Export.eps EPS Test V1 EPS Export.afdesign

[Hangman]

Hi @axelwhahn and welcome to the forums,

This is because the EPS format doesn't support gradients (or transparency). Adobe Illustrator gets around this problem by converting the gradient object to a bitmap - which means it's no longer a pure vector.

If you change the gradient to a solid colour you'll find all characters are shown when re-importing the exported EPS file back into Designer...

[lacerto]

Export it with PS v2 and it exports fine (Illustrator opens just fine the v3 EPS export, too, so this limitation seems to be specific to Affinity apps). Note though that Affinity apps always convert to curves fonts, both when exporting and importing (or opening) EPS.

 

[MikeW]

13 minutes ago, Hangman said:

...This is because the EPS format doesn't support gradients (or transparency). Adobe Illustrator gets around this problem by converting the gradient object to a bitmap - which means it's no longer a pure vector. ...

Yes, AI does support "simple" gradients in vector. But yes, .eps does not support any object with varying transparency (just background/surrounding transparency).

[axelwhahn]

Hi all,
thanks for your input.
So i know about the issue. Didn't knew that yet.