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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.
| 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 |