IL CS eps files NOT visible in Word 2003

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From: Theano (Theano_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 12/30/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 13:09:04 -0800

We use EPS graphics created in Illustrator with TIFF previews. We recently
upgraded to Illustrator CS (11), and that is when this problem appeared.

Our final print files are PDFs exported from InDesign CS. The EPS graphics
import, appear, and print fine in InDesign and the PDFs.

Prior to being imported into InDesign, our files are authored, edited, and
tech reviewed in Word 2003. Authors, editors, and reviewers need to be able
to view the graphics onscreen in the Word files. (Screen-rez preview is
fine.)

Illustrator CS EPS files imported into Word 2003 DO NOT APPEAR. Only a blank
bounding box with resize handles appears. (Picture placeholders is not
checked; print drawing objects is checked. In fact, the EPS graphics print
and PDF fine out of Word. They just don't appear on screen. As noted earlier,
a TIFF preview IS being created in IL. However, according to MS KB, the Word
EPS import filter doesn't use this preview anyway, but creates its own from
the PS header info.)

Our designer has discovered that Exporting the graphics from IL CS as
"Legacy EPS" with Illustrator 8.0 compatibility allows them to appear in
Word. However, we need to use the latest versions of all programs including
Illustrator. We need to use the EPS format for our print release process, and
it is time and resource-prohibitive to create second versions of these
graphics simply for Word display purposes.

My current workaround is to create a PDF from the Word docs, copy the
graphics from the PDF, and paste the PDF copies back into the Word docs. Of
course, they are screen resolution, but but that's not a problem. When I
create the InDesign files, I import the actual EPSs. However, this takes
considerable extra time and introduces the possibility of increased
variability and error.

THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Neither Adobe or Microsoft will admit to or take any
responsibility for this problem. WHAT TO DO.

Thanks for any help,
Theano

"Jeroen Dekker" wrote:

> "Suzanne S. Barnhill" <sbarnhill@mvps.org> wrote in message news:<OSynf4hwEHA.3096@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl>...
> > Recent versions of Word/Windows have native support for EPS graphics, but
> > older versions cannot display them unless the graphic was created with a
> > placeable header, which is what is displayed in Word and also what is
> > printed on a non-PostScript printer.
>
> The EPS import filter you're referring to uses a PostScript
> interpreter that doesn't offer full Level 3 support. So I'm not sure
> what would happen with such files. Does it just choke, or revert to
> the preview if any? Since bonnie's EPS files come from Illustrator,
> chances are they're Level 3.
>
> bonnie, keep in mind that even if you get the TIFF preview to display,
> it will be a low-quality preview. You don't get the actual PostScript
> vector artwork on screen, just basically a large thumbnail of it.
>
> Can't you export a good EMF from Illustrator instead? That's a vector
> format that Windows/Office supports natively, and it supports most of
> the graphical features that EPS does. So you'll get vector quality on
> screen as well as in print - PostScript or non.
>
> If you have a lot of EPS files already: our ps2vector software batch
> converts them to EMF. Commercial solution.
>
> Jeroen Dekker
> --
> Square One - The Graphics Connection
> Visit http://www.square1.nl/index.htm
> jeroen@square1.nl
>

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