I'm new to Inkscape and to vector graphics in general, so apologies in advance if this is an Inkscape 101 question. I've searched the forum and read through the "How do I open/save this filetype?" thread, but I haven't found an answer.

I'm using Inkscape to vectorize a few pixel designs for a T-shirt manufacturing company that requires .eps vector format files for printing. I've already saved and submitted two vector designs successfully, but the third is giving me problems.

The only difference between this and the previous designs is that it has multiple layers (three total). To create each layer, I imported a .png image, traced the bitmap, then filled the vector with a colour.

When I try to save it as an .eps, the program works for several minutes, then I get the message "File <name> could not be saved". If I open the resulting .eps in another program, it only includes one layer of the design. I've saved the file as an SVG, reopened it, and tried to save as an .eps again with the same result.

In a last ditch effort to solve the problem, I used an online service to convert the SVG to .eps, which I believed had worked until the T-shirt company rejected the design for being a pixel graphic. So now I'm thoroughly confused.

How can I save this design as an .eps while preserving the three different layers (the T-shirt company requires that each print colour be on a different layer in the design)?

Thanks in advance! Any help is appreciated.

Inkscape doesn't do layers like that. But really vanilla .eps doesn't either. If i remember correctly - a rare thing these days - there is something called Illustrator eps that preserves layer info??? Someone might have more current info about that.
Your printer is probably using an Adobe app to print from.

I think perhaps if you split your file into three different eps files (by deleting two layers from each), one for each color they will accept it if you name them for each color ....

Alternatively, you might ask them what resolution pixel images they require...

print shops can and do create their own color separations.
all you probably need to do is flatten the 3 layers into one layer and then the export to eps should work for you and printer.
the online conversion service is probably rasterizing the svg before converting into eps, i.e. embedding the svg as a raster picture inside a eps file. which understandably is not what a printer wants.
make sure your monitor is color callibrated, and do that using the correct "gamut". the "gamut" is one of the few colorspace industry standards. this way you'll get the colors on the print that you designed on screen.
even with the inherent flaws with color rendering in display technology, print technology is generally much better (in professional outfits). printing ppl work with graphics of higher bit depth than even shows on screen. so when it gets printed, subtle shadows and gradients impossible to render on screen still will show up on the print.
if you already knew all that (or more) just ignore.
Not sure if the color profiles in inkscape itself mean that much...adjust at system level.

Okay, I did manage to solve the first problem of saving the file in .eps format. I had to delete the .png element from each layer. I'm not sure exactly why... for my previous two designs, I had similarly opened a pixel graphic, traced it, and saved it as an .eps with no problems.

Unfortunately, according to the printer the file still contains pixel elements, and they won't accept it. Is there a way to view vector vs. pixel elements using Inkscape? I just don't know what the problem is.

druban -- Yes, they may very well be using an Adobe app. They're very specific that the file must be .eps format with each colour saved on a different layer. If I can only do that with Illustrator, I'm in trouble. I will ask them, though, about separating the layers out and submitting as three files. I can't substitute a pixel graphic because they only accept vectors for plot printing. They will print pixels graphics using digital printing, but I would sacrificing quality for a design that doesn't require that much additional colour support.

Chris -- No, they do require that each colour be saved to a different layer. They won't do the colour separation for you. Thanks for the information on the conversion service. You may very well be right about that, although, again, now I don't why Inkscape would be saving some of my file as a raster inside an .eps file.

Vespertine wrote:although, again, now I don't why Inkscape would be saving some of my file as a raster inside an .eps file.

Every transparency anywhere in the SVG file (be it object opacity; fill, stroke or gradient stops with reduced alpha; or layer opacity), every SVG filter effect and blur is rasterized on export to PS/EPS because the PostScript file format does not support those features. For details, read about the (cairo-) export to PDF/PS/EPS in the release notes of Inkscape 0.47 which still apply to the current version.

Inkscape defaults to rasterize those features because normally same appearance is requested by users. Otherwise - if SVG filter effects and transparency in attributes were ignored (as in Inkscape 0.46) - the resulting EPS/PS file would often look quite different from how the file was rendered in Inkscape and exported to bitmap.

There are some known bugs reported about unexpected rasterization, but without having access to your SVG sources it is hard to tell if any of them is triggered by your content.

Suv, thank you for the information! I did fill the vector paths, so that must be the issue.

Is there any way I can save the document without the fill being rasterized? If I delete the fill and save, I just end up with a blank-looking .eps that I'm not sure would be of use to anyone. Hmm.

Vespertine wrote:I did fill the vector paths, so that must be the issue.

Is there any way I can save the document without the fill being rasterized?

Using a (flat) fill color doesn't cause rasterization, unless it uses transparency (reduced alpha) or the object itself has reduced opacity.

Aha! One of the layers did have reduced opacity. I've resaved it. Hopefully the third time's the charm.