What is the EAP file format?
An .eap file is an Adobe Photoshop Exposure preset - a small binary settings file storing the parameter values for Photoshop's Exposure adjustment layer. The format was introduced with Adobe Photoshop CS3 (approximately 2007), when the Exposure adjustment was added to the application.
Each .eap file captures three numeric values: Exposure (a linear-light correction in stops), Offset (a shadow-level shift), and Gamma Correction (a midtone power-curve adjustment). These controls are designed for correcting over- or under-exposed photographs in HDR and linear-light workflows, and operate in scene-linear space - distinct from Levels or Curves adjustments.
Photoshop ships with four built-in presets: Minus 1.0.eap, Minus 2.0.eap, Plus 1.0.eap, and Plus 2.0.eap. On Windows these reside in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop\Presets\Exposure\. Custom presets saved by the user are placed in the same directory.
The format is proprietary and undocumented; only Adobe Photoshop can read or create .eap files. It should not be confused with camera RAW exposure metadata stored in .dng files or .xmp sidecar files - .eap presets apply solely within Photoshop's adjustment-layer pipeline and store no image data.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWSettings-only file; contains no executable code. Safe to share and install via Photoshop preset mechanism.
Format details
in a nutshell- Enterprise Architect Project File - Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect uses .eap for its project database (JET 3.5/MS Access-based UML modeling repository); entirely unrelated to Adobe.
Programs that open EAP files
Windows1 app
Adobe Photoshop
Paid Image → Adjustments → Exposure → click gear icon → Load Preset → select the .eap file. 
macOS1 app
Adobe Photoshop
Paid Image → Adjustments → Exposure → click gear icon → Load Preset → select the .eap file. Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Adobe proprietary binary adjustment preset |
| Encoding | Binary |
| Byte order | Undocumented (Adobe proprietary) |
| Container | Adobe proprietary preset container; structure not publicly documented |
| Typical size | 1-10 KB |
| Stored parameters | Exposure (stops, linear-light), Offset (shadow shift), Gamma Correction (midtone power curve) |
| Target feature | Photoshop Exposure adjustment layer (introduced in Photoshop CS3, ~2007) |
| Built-in presets | Minus 1.0.eap, Minus 2.0.eap, Plus 1.0.eap, Plus 2.0.eap |
| Windows preset path | C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop\Presets\Exposure\ |
| Associated OS | Windows, macOS |
| Format documentation | Proprietary and undocumented; no public specification available |
| Versioning | Tied to Photoshop release; no independent version number in the file |
| Released | ~2007 (Photoshop CS3, which introduced Exposure adjustment layer) |
EAP conversions
Community Q&A
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