- AI (Adobe Illustrator, not all subformats)
- PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format)
- PS (Postscript)
- EPS (Encapsulated Postscript)
GhostScript allows for printing and displaying vector graphics and converting these to raster graphic files.
Please note:
- Only reading these formats is supported.
- For these formats thumbnails are not displayed because of performance reasons.
- For AI files not all subformats are supported
- For CAD vector files, there's a special plug-in available, see topic "How to view .dwg files?"
1.) Download AGPL Ghostscript
For using GhostScript with XnView, you simply download AGPL GhostScript (~12MB) and install it on your computer:
- For XnView Classic (Windows) and XnView MP 32 bit:
Download AGPL GhostScript 32-bit from website http://www.ghostscript.com/download/gsdnld.html , choose the version for your Operating System (Windows, ...), link "Ghostscript x.xx for Windows (32 bit)"". - For XnView MP 64 bit:
Download AGPL GhostScript 64-bit from website http://www.ghostscript.com/download/gsdnld.html , choose the version for your Operating System (Windows, ...), link "Ghostscript x.xx for Windows (64 bit) ".
2.) Run Ghostscript setup
Run the setup file you have just downloaded (e.g. "gs910w32.exe"), the setup will guide you through the installation process.
3.) Restart computer
It's recommended to restart the computer after installation of AGPL Ghostscript. Otherwise interaction between XnView and Ghostscript might not work.
That was the installation part. XnView will automatically recognize that GhostScript is installed and interact with it for displaying files that have one of the formats listed above.
4.) Test correct installation
Check correct installation and viewing by browsing with XnView to a directory containing PDF, PS, AI, or EPS files to check whether support for these formats works properly.
Here's a PDF-sample which you can download and use for testing. Right-click on the link and save the PDF document to a local directory. Then, start XnView and open the PDF in XnView.
5a.) Fine tuning: Resolution
By default the raster images generated have 72dpi. If you want more detailed raster images set a higher resolution (DPI, dots per inch) in Tools > Options, Category "General > Read/Write", Tab "Read" > EPS/PS/AI/PDF".
5b.) Fine tuning: High quality display
When viewing vector images, often they contain thin lines and/or text. It is strongly recommended to activate high quality display for both thumbnails and images. In options dialog, category "Browser > Thumbnails" activate the checkbox "Use high quality". And in category "View" activate the checkboxes for "High zoom quality (slower)". I recommend to activate "Reduce" and "Fit to Window/Desktop". Please note that when activate "Enlarge" zooming might become very slow for large images and large zoom factors (>400%).
5c.) Fine tuning: Thumbnails for Vector images.
Converting vector files to image files needs quite some calculation. For this reason by default you will not see thumbnails for vector images. If you do not care too much about performance and want to see thumbnails for vector graphics, in Tools > Options, Category "Browser > File List" check the checkbox "Show as thumbnail" in the row labeled "AI, PS, PDF files". Then, browsing a folder with vector files will be slow because XnView creates all the thumbnails. Browsing the same folder for a second time will be fast because XnView will load the thumbnails from its thumbnail cache and display them.
Related topics:
Cannot open AI file
Can't open EPS files?
"How to view .dwg files?"
XnView and Ghostscript
Show thumbnails of PDFs
