

The same "dual path" approach as for PGF is used when saving EPS-compatible files in recent versions of Illustrator. Binary files are more common since they are more compact. The STL format specifies both ASCII and binary representations.

STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without representing color, texture, or other common CAD model attributes. It is widely used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and computer-aided manufacturing. Many other software packages support this file format. STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software created by 3D Systems.

PDF compatibility is achieved by embedding a complete copy of the PGF data within the saved PDF format. The AI file format was originally a native format called PGF. Adobe Illustrator Artwork (AI) is a proprietary file format developed by Adobe Systems to represent single-page vector-based drawings in EPS or PDF formats.
