Free online FH to EPS converter

EPS is required by some print, sign-making, engraving, and older desktop-publishing systems that cannot open FreeHand documents. Converting an FH file also makes legacy artwork easier to share or preserve when the original FreeHand software is unavailable.

What the FH format is

FH is the native document format of Aldus FreeHand, later Macromedia FreeHand and Adobe FreeHand. Depending on the application version, files may use extensions such as .fh, .fh8, or .fh11. They can contain editable vector paths, text, gradients, layers, clipping paths, placed images, page layouts, and FreeHand-specific effects.

FreeHand was discontinued after FreeHand MX, so FH files are now mainly found in legacy design archives. Opening one may require the same or an earlier FreeHand release than the version originally used; newer releases do not reliably open every older or damaged file.

What the EPS format is

EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) stores PostScript drawing instructions, a defined bounding box, and optionally a low-resolution preview. It is accepted by many prepress, illustration, sign-production, engraving, and page-layout applications.

EPS preserves scalable vector geometry, but it can also contain resolution-dependent bitmap images. It is useful when a receiving system explicitly requires EPS, but PDF or SVG is usually better for modern print delivery, web graphics, transparency-heavy artwork, and long-term interchange. EPS does not guarantee that fonts, transparency, color management, or application-specific effects will remain editable.

How to convert FH to EPS

Using 101convert.com

1. Make a copy of the original FH file and keep the source unchanged.
2. Open the FH-to-EPS converter on 101convert.com, upload the FH file, and select EPS as the output format.
3. Start the conversion, then download the generated EPS file when processing finishes.
4. Open the EPS in the destination application and check its page boundary, artwork position, text, colors, clipping paths, gradients, and placed images.

This method requires no installed software and is suitable when the file is not confidential. Check the site's current file-handling terms before uploading unpublished, personal, or commercially sensitive artwork.

Using FreeHand

1. Start the FreeHand version that created the file, or an appropriate compatible release, and open the document with File → Open.
2. Restore missing fonts and linked graphics before exporting. Check the page size, layers, artwork position, clipping paths, colors, and effects.
3. Convert text to outlines only when the recipient lacks the required fonts and further text editing is unnecessary. Outlining removes font-dependency but also removes normal text editability.
4. Choose File → Export, select Encapsulated PostScript or EPS, and set the output filename.
5. Use the PostScript level and other export options supported by the destination. Level 2 is safer for older equipment; Level 3 can preserve more recent imaging features when the receiving application supports it.
6. Open the exported EPS in another PostScript-capable application and inspect it before delivery or printing.

Using compatible desktop software

Some older Adobe Illustrator releases can open selected FreeHand versions, but support depends on the exact Illustrator and FH versions; current Illustrator releases do not provide dependable native FH import. If a compatible legacy Illustrator installation opens the file, use File → Save As or File → Export and choose EPS, then verify the result. A modern vector editor may open an EPS after conversion, but it should not be assumed to open the original FH file.

Quality and compatibility limits

Export is not guaranteed to be lossless. FreeHand transparency, complex blends, mesh-like fills, unsupported filters, overprinting settings, and other application-specific effects may be flattened, rasterized, or changed. Inspect the output at high magnification and check separations when the EPS is intended for professional printing.

Placed bitmap artwork remains limited by its original resolution. Missing linked files can create empty or incomplete regions; restore the links before export or embed them when the available export option supports embedding.

Verify the required CMYK, spot-color, or RGB setup with the recipient. Color conversions between FreeHand, the EPS exporter, and the receiving application can change appearance, especially for spot colors and unmanaged RGB artwork.

If the destination rejects the file, resave the EPS in a compatible PostScript version using a PostScript-capable vector application. Do not treat a PDF intermediary as an equivalent editable conversion: it may preserve appearance while changing text, transparency, clipping, or editability.