Let's make something clear EPS does not (necessarily) equal Adobe Illustrator . Adobe Illustrator is really good at editing its own EPS files but you'll have mixed results with anything else. Not all EPS vector s created using seismic data analysis applications GIS applications and even flowchart diagramming applications. They all use Postscript to define the way an object appears but they can implement that Postscript in a way that makes them un-editable in Illustrator. But you can try. Illustrator can probably open the file or even part of the file but don't be surprised when you see a error message like Unsupported shading object encountered or worse. I've encountered some weird things opening EPS files like a map file where all the lines were expanded to outlines and used as masks over large rectangles instead of a simple rule with a stroke assigned to it. I wish could be more help but EPS files are considered output files. They are containers to allow other applications to its contents in their own files and provide the output device with enough information to accurately print or reproduce the file.