• The AI format is a strictly limited simplified subset of the EPS format. It is the standard format used when saving out Adobe Illustrator files. Actions: AI to PDF - Convert file now View other image file formats: Technical Details: Earlier versions of the AI format are restricted syntax that conform to DSC's Open Structuring Conventions.
• Likewise, this dual path approach is used in newer versions of Adobe Illustrator when EPS compatible files are created and saved. AI files are saved as vector images. This means that the image quality is not getting lost if the user enlarges the image. More information about the AI file format.

1. Convert Ai File To Older Version

CC / CS6 / CS5 / CS4 / CS3 / CS2 / CS / 10 / 9 / 8 / 3. Hello Fellow Illustrator Users, It’s not a free service, but there is only a small fee of $5 per file to backward save (also known as down saving) an Adobe Illustrator file to a version you can open, whether it is a.ai or.eps file.

Note:

The content in this article is applicable to products that have a perpetual license, such as Adobe Premiere Elements. For information on converting a Creative Cloud trial, see Convert a Creative Cloud trial to a paid Creative Cloud membership.

The content in this article is applicable to North America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) geos only.

Use these steps to convert the trial version of a single-user Adobe product to a fully licensed copy:

In the trial splash screen of the product, click the Buy Now button.

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the purchase process.

Notes:

• To convert a beta or preview version to a full version, uninstall the beta or preview and then install the current trial version.
• To qualify for an upgrade license, you must provide a valid serial number for an earlier version of the same Adobe software application as your tryout.
• Ensure to uninstall the trial versions of Authorware or Homesite before you install the full version.

After you complete the purchase, the product serial number appears on your receipt page. Ensure to save this serial number.

You will also receive a receipt page via email.

Since you have already installed the trial version on your computer:

• You need not download the product again, or
• Remove the trial version to use the fully licensed product.

Products purchased from the Adobe Store are automatically registered to the purchaser. You do not need to register a Try And Buy product a second time.

To activate the fully licensed copy, follow these steps:

Some trial versions do not contain the complete set of content available with the retail product. Click the link on the receipt page email to access any content that was missing from the tryout version. Use your Adobe ID and password to access this content at any time. Product content is available for up to three years after the product is released.

Note: Back up the trial download and additional downloadable content when you complete the download process.

I haven't tested this one yet, but plan do do so right away. Great tip.

True, but you still have to sucker-punch your client into getting that for you. Any hackish solution is generally easier than getting what you need from a client…
That was meant to be a reply to the 'CS5 can save back to Illustrator 3' comment. Whoops.

Illustrator CS5 can save in older formats well below CS4: When saving or doing a Save As for the first time, you can choose Illustrator CS5 (15), CS4 (14), CS3 (13), CS2 (12), CS (11), 10, 9, or earlier.
Note that this is not the case for Adobe InDesign. InDesign CS5 (7) maintains backward compatibility only to CS4 (6), and only when the INDD document is exported in IDML (InDesign Markup). Similarly, InDesign CS4 (6) is backward-compatible with CS3 (5) when exporting to INX (InDesign Interchange).
--Gerrit

Well, the point of this hints, really, is more about using a newer (postscript-EPS format) file and be able to use it with a legacy software, not really about 'how to save a file to a legacy format'...

This would have been a good hint if not for the inaccurate CS5-cannot-save-to-CS3 part. If you had instead focused on the more basic need of how to get the CS5 AI file into CS3 when the client cannot or will not export to a legacy version, then this hint would have been much better.

Jeez louise!
The POINT here is to provide useful tips or useful critiques. >*(
There are clients that will email/FTP a file and want the work completed YESTERDAY. You can't always get a downsized file as that file might be from another source/designer and complicate the production.
The Tip works. As long as you have InDesign and can import/place the EPS.
And yes, CS5 can dumb down to legacy versions, however, you may lose features that newer incorporates (transparencies, layers, ...).
Anyway, thanks for the tip...saves some folks I know from plopping down $$$ to upgrade just to open a CS5 illustrator file...

I think you need to reread the 2nd sentence of the comment you are responding to. The tip is of course useful; it just implies false information. As for your comment about saving to legacy versions, you will not lose much going CS5 to CS3, and anything lost will almost certainly also be lost going the PDF route (i.e., you will get a flattened, not very editable version, with either the CS3 or PDF route).

I am still using CS2... obviously everyone on earth is ahead of me which makes it difficult to open ANY EPS vector files sent to me. Same idea as the InDesign option, and I don't know if it'll work for other versions, but I Control-click the file and go to 'Open With', choose my Acrobat Professional application, save out as PDF and open the PDF in Illustrator. Works like a charm...

Regardless of semantics... it worked and saved me from emailing the client (once again) to ask for digital assets.
Thanks for the tips!

Convert Ai File To Older Version