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Stereolithography CAD data
File type: 3d graphics, CAD-CAM-CAE file
Files with stl extension can be mainly found as stereolithography files for 3D printers. Used in many CAD programs as output format for models and prototypes that could be printed in stereolithography devices.
Found 9 different file type records with the same stl filename suffix.
File type category:
3d graphics, CAD-CAM-CAE file
Date updated: June 21, 2025
File extension stl is probably best known for its use for 3D format used for 3D printers.
STL stands for Standard Tessellation Language, and as a format was developed by the Albert Consulting Group (Albert-Battaglin Consulting Group today) for 3D Systems in 1987 for moving 3D CAD models to its stereolithography apparatus (SLA) machines. Historically, the use of this format is tightly tied with stereolithography - 3D printing in series slices.
A, stl file describe only the surface geometry of a 3D object without any representation of color, texture or other common CAD model attributes. It exists in both binary and ASCII format and probably many variants were created through the years.
It is easy to output, so most CAD programs that deal with 3D models can export to STL.
Note that STL is one of the world's worst 3D file formats. Many people continue to believe it is a high quality CAD file format when that has little reality. It should never be used to convert data from one 3D program to another, and especially not from any CAD program. If you are sent a STL file then the data vendor should be asked for the original, native CAD file, IGES or STEP file instead.
A .stl file only contains a run of individual triangles with only vertex information and nothing else. There is no accurate vertex normals smoothing information, no uv texture coordinates or vertex colors, no materials, no hierarchy, no lights, no cameras, etc. It doesn't get much worse.
Note: In Windows, the STL extension is by default associated with Certificate Trust List. This is not in any way related to stereolithography.
MIME type:
application/sla
Many prototyping and solid modeling CAD programs can import or at least view STL format. Also used in 3D printers.
Whole models and prototypes in 3D CAD formats can be exported for use in STL.
Software applications that can open stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
On-line services
Software applications that can edit stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
On-line services
Software capable of saving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
On-line services
Programs for viewing stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
Software apps that create stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software apps that convert stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
On-line services
3D Transform
Software apps that import stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
On-line services
Software apps that export stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Multiplatform
On-line services
Software apps that print stl files:
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: July 30, 2018
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The stl file extension is associated with the Adobe Fireworks a bitmap and vector based pictures editing software for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac.
The stl file stores style library.
Adobe Fireworks is obsolete product.
Use Adobe Fireworks to work with *.stl files.
Probably cannot be converted to other formats.
Software applications that can open stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software apps that create stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software applications that handle other tasks involving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
File type category:
Source code and script file
Date updated: July 24, 2018
The stl file extension is associated with the Microsoft Visual C++, an integrated development environment for apps developed in C/C++ programming language.
The .stl file contains standard template library.
Use compatible tools to work with *.stl files.
Templates are used to produce new projects in the original program.
Software applications that can open stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software applications that can edit stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software capable of saving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that create stl files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: March 27, 2019
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The stl file extension is associated with the ClarisWorks (AppleWorks) an office suite for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS and Mac OS X operating systems. The .stl file stores various data used for internal purposes of the ClarisWorks.
ClarisWorks is obsolete product.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving stl files:
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
File type category:
Document file
Date updated: March 21, 2019
The stl file extension is also used for EBU-standard open and teletext file format. Used in SoftNI solutions. No further information could be found.
Subtitler Suite is subtitling solution for Microsoft Windows.
Probably not meant to be accessed by the user.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
Software applications that can open stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software applications that can edit stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software capable of saving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that create stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software applications that handle other tasks involving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: July 29, 2019
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The stl file extension was used by Micrografx Designer.
Micrografx was acquired by Corel. The STL file format is now probably used by iGrafx Designer.
The stl files contain style sheets.
Use compatible tools to work with *.stl files.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
Software applications that can open stl files:
Microsoft Windows
iGrafx Designer
Software apps that create stl files:
Microsoft Windows
iGrafx Designer
Software applications that handle other tasks involving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
iGrafx Designer
File type category:
Game file
Date updated: December 5, 2018
The stl file extension is also associated with the Korean MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) game for Microsoft Windows called ROSE Online.
This type of stl file stores various game data for ROSE Online.
You cannot directly open this type of resource files.
Game files are rarely converted to anything else. At best they can be extracted for individual resources.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: October 24, 2018
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The stl file extension is associated with the SPEFO (A Simple, Yet Powerful Program for One-Dimensional Spectra Processing) for MS-DOS operating system.
The stl file stores spectra analysis file is used by SPEFO.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving stl files:
Microsoft MS-DOS
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: November 2, 2018
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The stl file extension is also related to the Win2020 a screen subtitling systems application for Microsoft Windows operating system. This type of .stl file stores screen subtitles.
The Win2020 seems to be obsolete product without support from developer.
Although a little outdated format, some subtitle editors can still work with .stl formats.
Subtitles can be typically converted between various formats.
Software applications that can open stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Swift Create
Software applications that can edit stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Swift Create
Software capable of saving stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Swift Create
Software apps that convert stl files:
On-line services
Software apps that import stl files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that export stl files:
Microsoft Windows
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