When is ICO better than EPS?
Most web browsers and programs widely support ICO images and animations and transparency, while EPS images are smaller but incompatible with most web browsers and software and hardly support animations and transparency.
This ICO file format is suitable for generating desktop shortcuts and computer application icons and ensuring that the icons appear professional and high-pitched.
When is EPS better than ICO?
EPS images are smaller, info-rich, and high-quality, which result into better online user experience and minimal storage space demands, while ICO images are larger, support limited color space, and slightly low-quality, which make them less suitable for comprehensive and textured images like photographs. This makes EPS file type suitable for expanded images such as inclusive advertising billboards.
EPS versus ICO Comparison Table
| Element | ICO | EPS |
| Transparency | Supports transparency. | Does not support transparency. |
| File Size | Larger files than EPS files. | Smaller files than ICO files. |
| Image Quality | High-quality images. | High-quality images than ICO. |
| Performance | Slow image loading times than EPS. | Loads faster on websites than ICO. |
| Structure | Vector graphics: Has an Icon directory, image mask, bitmap data, a block, and the AND bitmap. | Has raster-based and vector graphic data: Starts with file header, metadata, and ends with file markers. |
| Animation | Supports animations. | Does not support animation. |
| Storage | Requires more storage space than EPS. | Requires less storage space than ICO. |
| Compression | Supports lossless compression. | Supports PackBits/ZIP and lossless compression. |
| Browser Support | Wider web browser support compared to EPS. | Limited browser support compared to ICO. |
Differences and similarities between ICO and EPS images
The ICO versus EPS comparison table shows that the formats support lossless compression. However, they differ in image quality, storage demands, support for transparency and animation, file structure, web performance, web browser support, file size, and PackBits/ZIP compression method.
Transparency
ICO files support alpha channel transparency, while ESP files do not. The EPS files use textual forms that rely on the PostScript codes and hardly have the integral ability to support transparent backgrounds. Its PostScript interpreter renders files for review but hardly supports alpha channel transparency.
The ICO supports 8 bits of transparency and allows users to add semi-transparent backgrounds like anti-aliasing, glass-like effects, and shadows to an image. It has icons of unlike dimensions, diverse transparency levels, and color depths. Hence, ICO is ideal for creating images with transparent backgrounds, unlike EPS.
File Size
EPS files are smaller than ICO files. Both formats are detailed and multilayered. However, .ICO files have no size limit, while a single EPS file can be 0.5-10MB. This implies that multiple ICO files can be larger when pooled together than EPS files.
The compression methods used in both cases could be more efficient, reducing their sizes significantly. As such, file format users, including graphic designers and web developers, should choose the EPS format over the ICO format for smaller file sizes.
Image Quality
EPS and ICO images are high-quality, but EPS supports more color profiles, making it superior to ICO in terms of image quality. The EPS allows users to save the header in black and white, 4-bit, and 8-bit grayscale. The EPS preview header is 32 bytes, but the format supports 1-bit, 8-bit, and 24-bit color channels.
The EPS format also supports CMYK, Grayscale, and RGBA color profiles but hardly supports the ICC profile. In contrast, ICO images support 24-bit colors per channel and 8 bits of transparency. Both formats do not lose image quality during compression and can produce high-quality images.
Performance
ICO files are larger than EPS files. Each EPS file can be 0.5-10MB, while ICO files do not have specific size limits. ICO supports TinyPNG or PNGOUT algorithms, which result in larger files than PackBits/ZIP and lossless EPS files. Hence, EPS files are easier to transfer over low network bandwidths than ICO files.
ICO files use more bytes and load slower online than EPS files. EPS files optimize web responsiveness and improve online user experience, giving them a comparative edge over ICO files. Thus, users like graphic designers and website developers should choose EPS over ICO format for better web performance.
Structure
EPS is both raster- and vector-based, while ICO is vector-based. An EPS file comprises mathematical equations and graphics defining the image shapes, lines, and colors. The graphics include lines and curves instead of pixels, which separates them from different raster file types or image formats.
The EPS has a header, encapsulated image data, a PostScript Program, and an end-of-file marker. Its header has primary data about the file, like its version number, the bounding image box, and resolution levels. In an EPS file, the PostScript Program stores the PostScript commands used to render its images.
The EPS file information includes image pixels, color depth, and palette data and ends with a file marker showing its conclusion. ICO and EPS are exciting to compare. Conversely, ICO has an Icon directory (ICONDIR) with the ICONDIRENTRY for each image in the ICO file.
A contiguous block with image bitmap data closely follows the image file. ICO also has the AND bitmap, the XOR bitmap, and an image mask. The image bitmap data is in PNG or Windows BMP format, which excludes the BITMAPFILEHEADER structure.
Animation
ICO file extensions support animations and interactive web content, while EPS files do not. The ICO file has icon features that enable enhanced customization of websites or computer applications that support multiple color depths and resolutions. These features enable ICO file extensions to be animated.
On the other hand, EPS only supports still images since it lacks the multimedia abilities to support live content, animated images, or animations. Its files are intended for specialized printing and, therefore, unsuitable for screen-based displays or animations. Hence, choose ICO over EPS format for animations or lively content.
Storage
ICO files support lossless compression, resulting in larger files than PackBits/ZIP or lossless EPS files. Both formats store multilayered image data, although ICO has no definite file size limit. In contrast, each EPS file is 0.5-10MB, implying that multiple EPS files necessitate less storage space than ICO file types.
The compressed EPS and ICO files can be stored indefinitely in Content Delivery Networks, Base64 Encoding, folders, sub-folders, programs, the cloud, and Hard Drives. The storage period depends on handling processes and storage conditions. However, for storage efficiency, choose the EPS format over the ICO format.
Compression
ICO files support lossless compression, while EPS files support lossless and PackBits compression. Lossless EPS are detailed, smaller, and require less storage space than ICO files. An ICO image can be compressed using TinyPNG or PNGOUT lossless compression methods.
The ICO file's performance is optimized when compressed and stored in PNG format. The TinyPNG or PNGOUT algorithms compress the ICO files to ensure that the resulting image files are smaller and image qualities are retained.
Browser Support
ICO format has a competitive edge over EPS regarding web browser support. ICO enjoys wider web browser support and is compatible with top browsers, including Firefox, Edge, Chrome, and Opera, while EPS format is incompatible with all browsers except Google Chrome.
Legacy web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, which hardly favor scaling icons, and do not support ICO. Safari also supports only a preview of an ICO's file format. On the other hand, users must add PostScript Viewer and Compiler extensions to Google Chrome to open and view EPS files.
Convert ICO to EPS or EPS to ICO
Use Convertjack to convert ICO to EPS online. EPS images are smaller and can be scaled upwards or downwards while ensuring high-resolution and high-quality levels at varying screen sizes.
Convertjack is the favorite and free online EPS to ICO converter. ICO files hold multiple images with different sizes and color depths. They enable web developers and graphic designers to store icons in a single file, making it easier and more flexible to create icons for screen displays with varying resolution levels.