Which programs can edit AI files? How to open an AI file without Adobe Illustrator?

AI is the native file format of Adobe Illustrator. When you save a file in Adobe Illustrator, the content is saved as a ".ai" file by default. Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphic editing program. When it comes to vector graphics, you can understand it as images made up of specific data points that determine shapes, colors, lines, curves, and so on.

• Vector vs. Raster: Most digital images are raster images. These images are created by a series of color pixels. When you zoom in on a raster image, you will see the individual pixels. This is what causes raster images to become blurry and jagged when zoomed in. On the other hand, vector graphics are made up of data points, which means they maintain clarity no matter how much you zoom in.

Yes, but there are limitations. While other vector graphic programs can open and edit AI files, the results may not be exactly as expected. Additionally, each program handles the file differently. For example, the way Adobe Illustrator handles transparency and gradients may differ from how CorelDRAW processes them. Also, some aspects of the image may need to be rasterized when opened in another program.

• It's recommended to save the file in SVG format for better compatibility with other vector graphic programs like Adobe Illustrator.

Adobe Illustrator is the best program for editing AI files. AI is the native file format of Adobe Illustrator, making it the most equipped software for editing and saving files in this format. Adobe Illustrator supports all the necessary features for accurately opening and editing AI files. The downside of Adobe Illustrator is that it requires a paid subscription to use.

• You can start a 7-day trial of Adobe Illustrator at https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html

CorelDRAW can also edit and export AI files. CorelDRAW is Adobe Illustrator's biggest competitor. This software can open AI files and is one of the few third-party programs capable of exporting files to AI format. However, the appearance of an AI file in CorelDRAW may differ from how it appears in Adobe Illustrator. CorelDRAW also requires a subscription fee.

• You can start a 15-day trial of CorelDRAW at https://www.coreldraw.com/en/product/coreldraw/.
• To open an AI file in CorelDRAW, simply open it like any other vector file. To export the file as AI, click File > Export > "AI - Adobe Illustrator" > "Save as Type" > Export.

Gravit Designer is a cloud-based program that can edit AI files. The Pro version of Gravit Designer allows you to import and edit AI files, but the displayed images might not be entirely accurate when imported into Gravit Designer. Furthermore, Gravit Designer cannot save files with the ".ai" extension, so you'll need to save them in another format. The Pro version of Gravit Designer also requires a subscription, but at a lower cost than Illustrator and CorelDraw.

• You can subscribe to Gravit Designer at https://www.designer.io/en/pricing/. Gravit Designer also has a free version, but it has limited features and cannot edit AI files.

Affinity Designer is a graphic editor that can edit AI files. Affinity Designer can edit both vector and raster graphics. The software requires a paid subscription, but at a lower cost compared to Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW. Although it can import and edit AI files, Affinity Designer cannot save or export files in the AI format.

• As with other programs, AI files imported into Affinity Designer might not appear completely accurately.

Inkscape is the best free program that can replace Adobe Illustrator. Inkscape is a free graphic editor that allows you to open and edit AI files. However, Inkscape cannot save or import files in the AI format. Therefore, you'll need to save your files in an alternative format, such as SVG or EPS.

• You can download the latest version of Inkscape for free at https://inkscape.org/release/inkscape-1.1.1/.
• AI files may not display perfectly in Inkscape because some features specific to other programs might not be compatible with it.

Yes, but only in raster format. You can open AI files in graphic editors like Photoshop or GIMP, but they will be converted to raster images. Afterward, you can use tools to edit the image in raster format and save it as a raster file. Additionally, an AI file with multiple layers will be reduced to a single layer when imported into Photoshop or GIMP.

• Photoshop is the most optimized software for handling AI files. Although not a vector graphic program, AI files imported or placed into Photoshop will retain their accuracy better than when used in other non-Adobe software (like GIMP).
• In Photoshop, you can place an AI file as a Smart Object in a new Photoshop layer, which helps preserve the sharpness of the vector graphic within that layer.

Yes, many websites can do this. You can convert AI files to other vector formats or raster formats. However, the converted AI file may not display as accurately as the original. Here are some websites that can convert AI files to other formats:

• https://cloudconvert.com/ai-converter
• https://fileproinfo.com/tools/converter/ai#
• https://www.imageconvert.org/