Vertopal

Adobe Illustrator Artwork (.ai)

AI stands for Adobe Illustrator and is a proprietary file format for vector images. Unlike raster files made from pixels, vector files don’t lose resolution when scaled because they’re built on a complex graph-like formula that is infinitely expandable. AI files render Illustrator drawings, logos, and illustrations in a high degree of detail.

Their small file sizes and easy scalability make them a popular choice for many designers and illustrators. They’re also very versatile, allowing for layering and transparency where other file types don’t. Because AI is a proprietary Adobe file type, you’ll need to use Illustrator to create, edit, and save an AI file.

Adobe introduced the AI image format with Illustrator 9 in 2000. Before that, Illustrator used the EPS file format. AI files were designed to display vector-based EPS files and single-page PDFs. Today, designers can still save, edit, and reopen EPS images as AI files.

AI Specifications

Name Adobe Illustrator Artwork
File Extension(s) .ai
Category Vector Images
Use For Design vector files and logos, icons, and posters. Typography design and creating fonts.
Developer Adobe Systems
MIME Type(s) application/pdf application/postscript application/illustrator
License N/A
File Sample(s) N/A
Compression Lossy and lossless
Max Dimensions N/A
Color Modes N/A
Animation No
Transparency Yes
Interlacing No
Metadata Yes
Layers Yes
Multipage Yes
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