Workflow: Preview EPS Files in Finder and QuickLook
Some of you may have noticed that Leopard’s finder doesn’t really like EPS files. Its a huge inconvenience to have to open a file just to see what’s in it, and if you’re at all like me, you have a hard drive full of downloads that need to be browsed once in a while. Never fear, EPSQuickLookPlugin is here to help. It’s a (freeware) plugin for QuickLook, that allows you to view the contents of an EPS file (in Finder and QuickLook) without opening an application. Now that’s gonna save me about 500 hours per year, I’d guestimate.
Not only is EPSQuickLookPlugin a godsend, it’s also a breeze to install. It comes with it’s own installer. Just drag the plugin icon and drop it on the ‘QuickLook” folder and you’re done. Note: You may have to Logout of your Mac and Log back in in order for it to start working.
Not only can you use Quicklook to view EPS files, but you can get an “Icon Preview” with some EPS files. The older versions of Illustrator, like 8, will sometimes only have an icon, but you can still use Quickloook to peek inside. You can force the older versions to display a thumbnail if you check “Include Document Thumbnails” when saving to EPS format.
If you would like to preview files other than EPS, you might check out QLPlugins.com, a site with a growing collection of QuickLook Plugins. Not everything on the site is free, but you may find something worth a few bucks if it saves yu enough time.
Thanks for the plugin! This makes my workflow so much faster.
There are also a ton of other quicklook plugins that I just noticed online. I had no clue there were so many. SneakPeek Pro is another one of my favorites: http://www.code-line.com/software/sneakpeekpro.html
It certainly isn’t free, but it has some nice features.
hello…I love your website..Im new @ using illustrator..I´m an architect and started using it because I really needed some graphics recently but Im a newbie and Im always amazed at the quality of the work you guys produce…Im reading some tutorials when I have specific doubt and learning as I work in it…..the browser and plugin you speak about seems wonderful, is there anything like it for PC users (I dont have mac)? thank you
The only thing I have found is Adobe Bridge for viewing those type of files. The only drawback is it uses so much memory it’s hard to use on my older PC with AI and PS open.
I kept searching but never found anything close to preview or quicklook on the PC side of things.
This is so huge!! thank you so much. Im blown away how convenient this is.
Wow, this is wonderful!
Nice one. Starting to get to the point where everything can be quicklooked. Love it!
Bitt Im not sure how powerful your Mac is, but mine a PB 15″ does take some time previewing them, even the quicklook plugin for .ai files is like dragging your dog down the sideway.
btw why didn’t you mention the ai quicklook plugin?
this is what ive been looking for! too bad its for mac though. doesw anyone know a PC version? if so, please let the rest of us PC users know!
I discovered this tip recently. It’s a variation of an old System 7 technique. It works with 10.4.11 (I don’t have OS 10.5).
Generic icons can be replaced by thumbnails. As far as I know, this works with all programs.
1. If a file displays a generic icon in the Finder, open the file in the program that created it and make a screengrab (Shift-Control-Command-4. The image is copied to the Clipboard.
2. In the Finder, select the file and `Get Info’ (Command-I).
3. Click the small icon in the top, left-hand corner of the Get Info box.
4. Select `Paste’. The generic icon is replaced by the image on the Clipboard.
In the Finder, select `View>as Icons’.
Select `View>Show View Options’ (Command-J) and drag the icon size slider to the right. I use the maximum size—128 x 128 pixels.
Click the `All Windows’ radio button.
When you open a folder of files, thumbnails of the actual files appear, making things much easier to find.
You don’t have to screengrab all the document. Thumbnails can be created by making a screengrab of a selected part of a document.
This is SO helpful. Thanks for this plugin!
Or you could just use Bridge, couldn’t you?
Yes. This is an incredible time-saver. Thanks so much.
OMG
I made the switch to Mac last week (I’ve used them since i was maybe 8 but never owned one before).
So I was copying over all my files yesterday, and I ran into this issue and thought I’d cry. You’re a god send :-)
Thanks!
ah this really is a godsend…so time saving considering the amount of eps’ we have…pity it dont work on OS 10.4.11…i wonder can i get an app which does
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Been using Adobe Bridge to view those files, very slowly.. and now just need to “space” :D
@Esben
I didn’t mention the AI quicklook plugin because it will probably be obsolete pretty soon. With newer versions of Illustrator files, Finder can preview them when saved with PDF data.
~Bitt
You have no clue how much i love you for this post.
I was getting POed at having to use adobe bridge (or worse yet save a jpg preview) for each eps file in my collection.
Rock on bittbox.
Doesn’t Bridge do the same thing, much more efficiently?
[...] you’re on Mac 10.5 (Leopard), this will help speed up your workflow… the ability to preview EPS files through Quicklook. [...]
arg.. no tiger support – useless for meh. :(
After installing this plugin i can now view EPS but cant view JPG/PNG…very frustrating….anyone know a fix?
Sweeeet. Thank you sir for letting us know. Downloaded, installed, and using.
The other way around it on a mac is, rename all your eps files with no file-extension. Example “file.eps” should be renamed to “file” without the quotation-marks. Now you can preview them with quicklook and it also works with .ai files if you remove the .ai extension…
Kind regards
Barner.dk
I installed it, rebooted, and it doesn’t work. any ideas?
Thank you so much!!! This is what I’ve dreamed for!
This looks like a nifty tool – for Mac users… Guess we lowly PC users are left out on this one.
BTW Bitt, I’ve recently been choosing NOT to save eps files with preview, that can increase the size 70% or even more. This is very important when dealing with all vector objects and needing to keep under a very low size restriction (In my case for submitting T-Shirt designs the max filesize is 300KB which can be quickly eaten up by the thumbnail option).
Thanks so much for this post. BittBox never fails!!
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.
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just excellent. ?
thanks !
it doesn’t work for snow leopard? any ideas
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