Content creators and web designers have different data storage options for EPS and WEBP graphics and rely heavily on such images to complete their work.
However, each file format has disadvantages and advantages, namely compression technique, file size, quality, support for animation and transparency, scalability, and compatibility with various computer systems and software.
While web designers now adore WEBP, EPS is often overlooked. This article explains the key differences and similarities between the two file formats, helping users learn and choose the most versatile format for a specific use case.
When is WEBP better than EPS?
Lossless-WEBP images are smaller, improve user experiences, and enhance website responsiveness, while lossless-EPS images are data-rich and larger, resulting in decreased web performance.
As a result, the WEBP file type is ideal for creating high-quality web imagery that boosts image loading times, causes search engine optimization, and escalates user experience.
The WEBP file type preserves image data, requires less bandwidth, and supports animation and transparency. It is a versatile file format for creating, displaying, and sharing lively and dynamic website imagery.
When is EPS better than WEBP?
EPS images are vector graphics that preserve detailed image information when scaled up or down. In contrast, WEBP images are raster graphics composed of individual pixels, making them pixelated or blurry when scaled up or down.
Scalability makes EPS images suitable for creating and sharing images that necessitate resizing for various purposes, including company logos, billboards, illustrations, and other design elements.
The advantages of EPS images include scalability, which enables them to store high-quality images when scaled downwards or upwards; easy embedding in other documents, including InDesign layouts, Word files, and PDFs; and wide support and compatibility with various software.
EPS versus WEBP Table Comparison
| Aspect/Factor | EPS | WEBP |
| Transparency | Does not support transparency or transparent backgrounds. | Supports alpha channel transparency. |
| File Size | Larger file sizes than WEBP. | Comparatively smaller file sizes than EPS. |
| Image Quality | Preserves detailed image data even when scaled downwards. | Prone to compression artifacts with repeated lossy compression; Images are sometimes blurry. |
| Performance | Larger images increased web loading times than WEBP. | Smaller file sizes than EPS increase web responsiveness or reduce image loading times. |
| Structure | A vector graphics with file header, PostScript Program, encapsulated image data, and end-of-file marker. Has vector and raster graphics functionalities. | A raster graphics format with block prediction, image metadata, and RIFF container. Contains ASCII four-feature code for identifying chunks. |
| Animation | Does not support animated images or animation. | Supports animation or animated image sequences |
| Storage | Stores compressed and uncompressed vector data; large storage space; Data stored forever in cloud, CDN, HDD, file systems, and FD. | Compressed and uncompressed metadata are stored in RIFF, with less storage space, and data is stored forever in CDN, cloud, Base64 encoding, and file systems. |
| Compression | Supports lossless compression; uses ZIP and LZW compression algorithms. | Supports lossless and lossy compression; Uses LZ77-Huffman variation coding and VP8/VP8L algorithms. |
| Browser Support | Google Chrome is the only supported browser. Vivaldi, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Discord are unsupported. | Supported by Opera, Edge, Firefox, and Chrome. Unsupported by older browsers like Internet Explorer. |
Differences and similarities between WEBP and EPS images
WEBP and EPS are essential file formats in the digital world, sharing features such as storage mediums, lossless compression, and high image quality.
On the other hand, EPS and WEBP exhibit remarkable differences in web performance, transparency, animation, lossy compression, file size, structure, and browser support.
Transparency
WEBP files support alpha channel transparency, while EPS does not. WEBP supports transparency in graphics or logos with non-rectangular shapes. WEBP supports multi-sample pixels by encrypting files with an alpha channel, which allows information to be transparent.
EPS files do not have inherent support for transparency or transparent backgrounds. An EPS file's fundamentals are its textual form, which uses the PostScript programming language. The PostScript interpreter in EPS is ideal for rendering an EPS file for review.
File Size
EPS files are larger than WEBP files. EPS was developed to create and store documents for professional printing, while WEBP was meant to generate smaller web imagery.
EPS images or files can be larger than WEBP files as they contain uncompressed metadata. WEBP VP8/VP8L compression algorithms considerably reduce file size compared to lossless EPS’s LZW and PackBits/ZIP compression algorithms.
Image Quality
WEBP and EPS are both high-resolution file formats. However, EPS files stand out in terms of resolution because their images are high-quality and high-resolution, even after scaling upwards or downwards.
WEBP images are high-quality but can be of low or high resolution when scaled up or down because they are pixel-based, unlike vector-based EPS. Thus, EPS images have the most significant visual accuracy compared to WEBP images.
Lossy WEBP images are also subjected to compression artifacts compared to lossless EPS images. Although EPS is not pixel-based, it supports 1-bit, 8-bit, and 24-bit color channels, as are WEBP files. The EPS preview header with 32 bytes produces crisper and higher-quality images than WEBP images.
Nonetheless, EPS and WEBP retain and store information-rich details, offering richer color depths and broad resolution levels. Both file formats offer high-resolution and high-quality images.
Performance
WEBP is a more versatile file format than EPS, although both are widely compatible with various computer systems and applications or software. Nonetheless, lossless EPS files are larger than lossy and lossless WEBP files, making EPS unsuitable for web use as its files increase web loading time.
EPS files consume more bytes because they necessitate additional bandwidths than the smaller WEBP files. As a result, EPS file sizes decrease web responsiveness or performance compared to high-website-responsive WEBP files, offering an increased user experience.
Structure
An EPS file extension structure has a file header, PostScript Program, encapsulated image data, and an end-of-file marker. The header contains primary information about the file, including the resolution level, the bounding image box, and its version number.
The PostScript Program stores the PostScript instructions used in rendering the image. Conversely, the encapsulated image data comprises the palette information, color depth, and image pixels. Finally, the end of the file marker shows the end of an EPS file.
In contrast, the WEBP file format structure comprises block prediction. The values from three blocks predict each block from the left and above. WEBP’s block decoding follows a raster scan sequence: top to bottom and left to right.
The four basic block prediction modes are TrueMotion, DC, vertical and horizontal. WEBP has RIFF and SCII four-feature code for identifying chunks and uses VP8 or VP8L encoding. It is worth noting that both EPS and WEBP compare in terms of raster graphics features.
Animation
EPS does not support animation, while WEBP does. EPS was designed to support still images or content and has no multimedia or live content capabilities to support animated images or animations.
WEBP file format uses its advanced lossless and lossy compression methods to support animated images and lively content increasingly.
While EPS files are meant for professional printing and are not ideal for screen-based displays, WEBP surpasses the precincts of static pictures and boasts vigorous support for animations.
Storage
WEBP and EPS can store uncompressed and compressed data. However, EPS stores image data, including vector graphics, lines, texts, and other document elements. It stores single images, while WEBP stores multiple images. Both file formats preserve image information, but lossy-WEBP degrades image quality.
The EPS file format can also store file information as raster data, similar to the WEBP format. EPS and WEBP image metadata can be stored compressed or uncompressed, but EPS files or images are larger and require more bandwidth or storage space than WEBP files.
The compressed and uncompressed WEBP and EPS files hardly degrade over time and can last forever with proper handling and storage conditions. Both formats store data in CDN, HDD, cloud, file systems, floppy drives, and Base64 encoding.
Compression
WEBP and EPS use lossless compression techniques, although WEPB further uses lossy compression. Lossless EPS supports the PackBits or ZIP and LZW compression algorithms. On the other hand, WEBP uses efficient prediction algorithms, LZ77-Huffman variation coding, and VP8L entropy encoding.
While most EPS files are uncompressed, their sizes are larger than those of lossy and lossless WEBP files, whose sizes are effectively reduced. For instance, lossless EPS using LZW compression algorithms can result in a 10% to 20% file size reduction or even zero compression.
Lossy-WEBP uses entropy coding to remove duplicate image data and compress the remaining file information into smaller files than the compressed EPS files. WEBP’s VP8 and VP8L key frame encoding breaks the frame into fragments, reconstructs the image, and transforms it into desirable sizes and quality.
Lossless EPS is less effective than lossy and lossless-WEBP. Hence, lossless WEBP files load faster than lossless EPS.
Browser Support
EPS has existed for almost four decades, while WEBP is only a decade old. However, WEBP is widely supported and used by 93.3% of the top and most popular web browsers and sites compared to EPS. Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Edge support WEBP, but it is only unsupported by Internet Explorer.
EPS is supported only by Google Chrome, but its compatibility requires installing additional plug-ins or extensions to view EPS files, such as PostScript Viewer and Compiler extensions. EPS is unsupported by Apple's Safari, Discord, Microsoft Edge, Opera Mini, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Vivaldi.
However, both file formats are widely supported by resizing, opening, and editing software or apps. EPS's limited browser support makes its images and files more difficult to create, store, and share than WEBP's.
Conclusion
The history of WEBP and EPS is a testament to their practical values and enduring utilities. Emerging from Adobe's innovative knack, EPS's scalability, flexibility, and compatibility enabled it to find a place in digital graphics and professional print realms, including logos, illustrations, and billboards.
On the other hand, the traditional EPS has been overshadowed by the next-gen and flashy format, WEBP, which boasts small but ideal file sizes, high-quality images, and optimized search engines, making it the best choice for creating, storing, and sharing web imagery than Encapsulated PostScript.