An ai file extension is associated with Adobe Illustrator and used for vector graphic file created in the program. CorelDraw is also able import and work with ai file.

There are 6 other file types using
the AI file extension!

empty icon.ai - Mopac Internal chemical modeller output

empty icon.ai - Progress database after image

empty icon.ai - Advantage Database Server data

empty icon.ai - Rise of Nations game data

empty icon.ai - AIwin project

empty icon.ai - Battlefield 2 artifical intelligence file

AI file extension - Adobe Illustrator graphics

What is ai file? How to open ai files?

File type specification:

Vector graphic file type icon Vector graphic file type

Graphics file type icon Graphics file type

ai file icon: ai filetype icon

File extension ai is associated with the Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics editing software for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac.

Illustrator's AI vector format is used to store and exchange 2D objects.

The ai files contain a series of ASCII lines that may be comments, data, commands or combinations of commands and data. Currently, these data use PDF (Portable Document Format) language specification.

Older versions of AI documents are based on Adobe Encapsulated PostScript (EPS). These older .ai files, are slightly limited with to smaller number of drawing commands than documents based on full PostScript.

Simple ai files are easy to construct, and a program can create files that can be read by any AI reader or can be printed on any PostScript printer software. However, complex AI documents are difficult to view in third-party tools and may not be displayed correctly.

MIME types:
application/postscript

Updated: November 8, 2023

The default software associated to open ai file:

Adobe Illustrator icon

Adobe Systems Incorporated logoAdobe Illustrator  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and part of some editions of Adobe Creative Suite and Cloud. It is a direct competitor to programs like CorelDraw. Illustrator allows users  to create sophisticated artwork for virtually any medium.

The latest version, Illustrator CC is available through the new Adobe Creative Cloud suite. The previous version was Illustrator CS6.

Ai Viewer picture or screenshot

Ai Viewer  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
ideaMK

A free software that supports .ai graphic files, display preview images, provides options to convert and save opened image in other file formats as JPEG, Bitmap, GIF, PNG and other extensions.

Adobe Illustrator for Mac icon

Adobe Systems Incorporated logoAdobe Illustrator for Mac  Apple macOS / Mac OS X software

Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Mac version of Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics editor that is part of some editions of Adobe Creative Suite and Creative Cloud. The newest member of Illustrator family is the CC version available in Creative Cloud bundle. 

Adobe Creative Cloud icon

Adobe Systems Incorporated logoAdobe Creative Cloud  Multiplatform software

Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Creative Cloud is latest member of Creative family. With this version Adobe moved from one-time fee to subscription based model, while no longer plans to offer one time purchase options like the users were used. There is either annual or monthly fee for using the whole bundle or just one program.

Inkscape icon

Inkscape  Multiplatform software

Company or developer:
The Inkscape Project

Inkscape is vector graphics editor that using with W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. Inkscape supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.)

Help how to open:

Use Adobe Illustrator to open and edit the graphics with all features (layers, vectors, effects etc.). You can use any other vector graphics solution (e.g. CorelDRAW) capable to import and edit the file contents.
You can open/import graphics to Adobe Photoshop (but without layers).

How to convert:

Open with Adobe Illustrator or import with CorelDRAW and then save into another vector graphics file format or export to PDF or bitmap image.

Find conversions from ai file:

ai to cdr

ai to dst

ai to dwg

ai to emb

ai to eps

ai to indd

ai to pes

Find converter to ai file type:

afdesign to ai

cdr to ai

dwg to ai

fh11 to ai

indd to ai

jpg to ai

pdf to ai

File identification strings:

HEX code: 25 21 50 53 2D
ASCII code: %!PS-

Related links:

Adobe Illustrator Tutorials

Third-party plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator

List of software applications associated to the .ai file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open ai file, edit ai file, convert ai file, view ai file, play ai file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting ai files.

Software that open ai file - Adobe Illustrator graphics

Programs supporting the exension ai on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open ai file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with ai file by default:
Adobe Illustrator small icon Adobe Illustrator
Other suggested software:
Affinity Designer for Windows small icon Affinity Designer for Windows

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Main software associated with ai file by default:
Adobe Illustrator for Mac small icon Adobe Illustrator for Mac
Other suggested software:
Art View small icon Art View
Affinity Designer small icon Affinity Designer

Multiplatform:

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AGD1 file extension

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