Adobe Illustrator Artwork

Adobe Illustrator Artwork (AI) is a proprietary file format developed by Adobe Systems for representing single-page vector-based drawings in either the EPS or PDF formats. The .ai filename extension is used by Adobe Illustrator.

Adobe Illustrator Artwork (AI)
Filename extension
.ai
Internet media type
application/postscript[1]
Developed byAdobe Systems[2]
Initial release1987 (1987)[3]
Type of formatVector image format
Open format?No[4]

The AI file format was originally a native format called PGF. PDF compatibility is achieved by embedding a complete copy of the PGF data within the saved PDF format file. This format is not related to .pgf using the same name Progressive Graphics Format.[5]

The same “dual path” approach as for PGF is used when saving EPS-compatible files in recent versions of Illustrator. Early versions of the AI file format are true EPS files with a restricted, compact syntax, with additional semantics represented by Illustrator-specific DSC comments that conform to DSC's Open Structuring Conventions. These files are identical to their corresponding Illustrator EPS counterparts, but with the EPS procsets (procedure sets) omitted from the file and instead externally referenced using %%Include directives.

Programs that support AI files

Editors

Aside from Adobe Illustrator, the following applications can edit .ai files:

  • Adobe After Effects can open and use .ai files for video editing.[6]
  • Affinity Designer can open .ai files with PDF stream.[7]
  • Cinema 4D can import .ai files for conversion to 3D images or for basic editing.
  • CorelDRAW (proprietary program) can natively edit this file format with some limitations.
  • Corel Paint Shop Pro (proprietary program) can natively edit this file format.
  • DrawPlus (proprietary program) can import v9 and above versions of this file format (must be saved as being PDF compatible).[8]
  • FlexiSign (Vector Program used in Signmaking) Can read AI files.
  • FreeHand (proprietary program) can natively open and edit .ai file format version 8 or lower. FreeHand will export to .ai version 7 format.
  • Ghostscript (GPL-licensed program) can convert AI postscript files into various formats, and also allows programs that use Ghostscript such as GIMP to import AI files.
  • Inkscape (a free, GPL-licensed program) can import the old PostScript-based Adobe Illustrator format (up to AI ver.8) and AI files based on PDF (AI 9.0 and above).[9][10]
  • OmniGraffle (proprietary program) a diagramming and digital illustration application from The Omni Group.
  • Scribus (a free, GPL-licensed Desktop publishing program) can open, edit and embed both PostScript- and PDF-based AI files.
  • Skencil (GPL-licensed program) also claims to have some AI support.
  • sK1 (a free, GPL-licensed vector graphics editor) supports PostScript-based AI files up to AI ver. 9.[11]
  • UniConvertor (a free, GPL-licensed vector graphics translator) supports PostScript-based AI files up to AI ver. 9.[11]
  • Xara Xtreme (proprietary program) has support for the format that is described as "working". Xara Xtreme for Linux has similar support.[12]
  • XnView uses Ghostscript to handle AI, EPS, PS, and PDF; this might work for AI files saved with the PDF compatibility option.[13]
  • Zamzar (a free online web-based tool) can convert AI files into a variety of image formats, including BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG.[14]

Viewers
  • Adobe Reader can open .ai files for viewing if they are saved with the PDF compatibility option.
  • Adobe Photoshop can open .ai files if they are saved with the PDF compatibility option.
  • Preview can view .ai files if they are saved with the PDF compatibility option.
  • Irfanview can open .ai files for viewing.
  • Evince[15]

See also

References
  1. "What is AI? What Opens a AI? File Format List from WhatIs.com". WhatIs.com. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  2. "SVG Pottery Documentation". Stefano Costa. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  3. "Adobe Illustrator File Format Specification" (PDF). Adobe Systems Incorporated. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  4. "Graphic File Types Overview". Lawrence San. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  5. "Optimize native and PDF file sizes". Illustrator Help. Adobe. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  6. "How To Prepare And Import Illustrator Files Into After Effects For Animation". The Shutterstock Blog. 2015-01-06. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  7. "Affinity Designer - Complete Feature List". Serif.
  8. "Serif DrawPlus - Opening Adobe Illustrator files". Serif. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  9. "Inkscape - Current Adobe Illustrator support". Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  10. "Inkscape - What formats can Inkscape import/export?". Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  11. "sK1 - UniConvertor - universal vector graphics translator". Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  12. "What can Xara Xtreme for Linux do now?". Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  13. "XnView - supported formats". Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  14. "Convert AI files to JPG, PNG, GIF, PDF and more". Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  15. https://git.gnome.org/browse/evince/tree/NEWS#n34
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