FormatDrop
Image Format

AI

Adobe Illustrator Artwork

AI is Adobe Illustrator's native file format — it stores vector artwork with full Illustrator feature support: multiple artboards, text as editable layers, gradients, effects, and precise typography controls. Like PSD for Photoshop, AI is a working file format, not a delivery format. When you need to share AI artwork, you convert it to PDF, SVG, or PNG.

What is AI?

Adobe Illustrator's AI file format has evolved significantly since Illustrator's launch in 1987. Modern AI files (Illustrator CS and later) are actually PDF files with additional Illustrator-specific data appended. You can verify this: rename a .ai file to .pdf and open it in Adobe Acrobat — it opens as a PDF, though some Illustrator-specific features may not render correctly. AI files contain: vector paths (Bézier curves defining shapes), text objects with font references, embedded or linked images, colour profiles, layer structure, artboard definitions, effects (drop shadows, distortions, transparencies), gradient meshes, and Illustrator-specific metadata. Because modern AI files are PDF-based, many PDF-capable applications can partially open AI files. Acrobat Reader opens them. Affinity Designer opens AI with limited fidelity. Inkscape can open AI files (it reads the PDF data). However, for full feature access — editable text, live effects, gradient meshes, linked assets — only Adobe Illustrator provides complete round-trip compatibility. File size varies enormously: a simple logo AI might be 200 KB, while a complex multi-artboard illustration with embedded images could be hundreds of MB.

AI pros and cons

Advantages

  • Full Illustrator feature support — editable text, live effects, all vector tools
  • Multiple artboards in one file
  • Based on PDF — partially openable in many applications
  • Native format for professional vector design workflow
  • Excellent compatibility across Illustrator versions (with some feature limitations)

Limitations

  • Requires Adobe Illustrator for full editing
  • Not supported by most design tools outside Adobe ecosystem
  • Not suitable for web delivery (use SVG) or print delivery (use PDF/EPS)
  • Can be very large when containing embedded images
  • Limited support in non-Adobe tools (Inkscape opens AI but with limitations)

When should you convert AI files?

Convert AI to SVG for web use (vector graphic on websites, scalable icons, web app assets). Convert AI to PDF for client review, print production, and sharing while preserving vector quality. Convert AI to PNG or JPG for raster use cases (presentations, social media, email). Convert AI to EPS for compatibility with older print workflows and non-Adobe vector applications. Keep AI as the working/master file for all active editing.

Convert AI files

IMAGE-CONVERTER→

All FormatDrop conversions run entirely in your browser — no file upload, no server processing. Your files stay on your device.

AI FAQ

Can I open an AI file without Illustrator?
Partially. Options: (1) Inkscape (free, open-source) opens AI files by reading the embedded PDF data — editing capability is limited. (2) Affinity Designer (paid, one-time) opens AI files with reasonable fidelity. (3) CorelDRAW (paid) opens AI files. (4) Any PDF viewer (Preview on Mac, Acrobat Reader) can display the AI file as a flat image. (5) Figma can import AI files with varying success. For full editing capability, Illustrator is the only reliable option.
What's the difference between AI and SVG?
AI is a proprietary working format for Illustrator, containing Illustrator-specific features and data. SVG is an open standard for vector graphics used on the web. AI supports features that don't exist in SVG (Illustrator effects, gradient meshes, multiple artboards as a single file concept). SVG is universally supported in browsers and most design tools. When delivering final vector artwork for web use: export SVG from Illustrator. Keep AI as your working master.
How do I convert AI to SVG?
In Illustrator: File → Export → Export As → select SVG format → Export. Options: Inline Style vs. Class Attribute (affects CSS structure), Embed vs. Link for images, decimal precision. For clean SVG code: use 'Presentation Attributes' styling and 3 decimal places. For maximum Illustrator fidelity: use CSS Preserve. Clean up the SVG afterwards with SVGO (free optimiser) to remove Illustrator-specific metadata and reduce file size.

More formats

HEICWebPAVIFEPUBWebMOpusMP3WAVM4AFLACAACMP4AVIMKVMOVJPGPNGGIFSVGTIFFICOBMPEPSARWOGGWMVPPTXPagesPDFDOCXRAWHEVCH.264AIFFM4VWMA3GPDNGRTFPSDOGVTSFLVXLSXCSVZIPAPNGMIDIJPEG XLMPG/MPEGVOBM2TSAC3ALACDTSJP2HEIFAPECBZ3G2SRTDOCPPTXLSODTODSM3URAR7ZM4BAMRTXTMOBITARGZJSONXMLYAMLKEYMTSCR2NEFMXFTGACAFASSVTTDSFRMF4VWVASFRMVBORFRW2EAC-3TTAISODMGXZDjVuFB2AUM4RAZW3MKAEXRVCFICSAAXPRCMP2SPXXSPFM3U8