How to Edit an AI File with & without Adobe Illustrator

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The best software to edit any .ai file on Windows and Mac

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: June 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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What are AI Files?

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Free Programs

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Paid Programs

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FAQ

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AI files are the native vector file format that Adobe Illustrator saves projects as. If you don't have Adobe Illustrator, a variety of other programs also allow you to open and edit AI files. This wikiHow article teaches you what programs can edit AI Files.

Best Way to Open an AI File

AI files are Adobe Illustrator's native vector files, so you can only fully open them with Adobe Illustrator. If you open it with another program like CorelDRAW, Gravit Designer, or Affinity Designer, your file may not look as it should, and some aspects of the image may need to be rasterized.

Section 1 of 4:

AI Files Overview

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AI files are native Adobe Illustrator files. When you save a file in Adobe Illustrator, it is saved as a ".ai" file by default (AI is short for "Adobe Illustrator). Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editing program. Vector graphics are made up of points of data that determine shapes, colors, lines, curves, and more.^{[1]
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- Vector vs. Raster: Most digital images are raster images. These images are made up of a series of colored pixels. When you zoom in or enlarge a raster image, you start to see the pixels. This makes the images look fuzzy and jagged. Because vector graphics are made up of points of data instead of pixels, they retain their clarity no matter how much you zoom in or enlarge the image.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 4:

Best Free Program to Edit AI Files

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InkscapeInkscape is the best free alternative to Adobe Illustrator. Inkscape is a free vector graphics editor. You can use Inkscape to open and edit AI files. However, Inkscape cannot save or export files in AI format. Instead, you will need to save the file in an alternate format, such as SVG or EPS.
- You can download the latest version of Inkscape for free at inkscape.org.
- AI files may not be 100% accurate in Inkscape, as certain features supported by one program may not be supported by the other.
- Newer versions of Adobe Illustrator can import SVG files. If you import an AI file into Inkscape and save it as an SVG, you'll still be able to import it back into Adobe Illustrator.

Section 3 of 4:

Best Paid Programs to Edit AI Files

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Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator is the best program for editing AI files. AI is the native file format for Adobe Illustrator. It is the software that is best equipped to edit AI files and save files in AI format. Adobe Illustrator supports all features needed to open and edit AI files accurately. The downside to using Adobe Illustrator is that it requires a subscription fee to use.
- New Adobe Illustrator users can download a 14-day free trial of Adobe Illustrator at adobe.com/products/illustrator.html.
- After the free trial, you can subscribe to Adobe Illustrator for $22.99 per month. Discounted plans are available for students and teachers.
  - Note that Adobe's subscription plans are billed monthly, but they are considered annual subscriptions. If you need to back out of the plan early, you may have to pay a fee.^{[3]
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Affinity DesignerAffinity Designer is another graphics editor that can edit AI files. Affinity Designer can edit both vector and raster graphics. Unlike Adobe Illustrator, you only have to pay a one-time fee to use Affinity Designer, and it's much cheaper than a year's subscription to AI. While Affinity Designer can import and edit AI files, it cannot save or export files in AI format.^{[4]
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- Affinity Designer can be purchased at affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/. A license costs $70 for Mac and Windows computers, and about $19 for iPad.
- As with other programs, AI files imported into Affinity Designer may not look entirely accurate.
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CorelDRAWCorelDRAW can also edit and export AI files. CorelDRAW is Illustrator's biggest competitor. It can open AI files.^{[5]
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Research source} It is one of the few third-party programs that can export files in AI format. However, AI files may not look the same in CorelDRAW as they do in Adobe Illustrator. CorelDRAW also requires a subscription fee.
- You can start a free 15-day trial of CorelDRAW at coreldraw.com/en/product/coreldraw/. After the free trial, you can subscribe to an annual plan for about $17 per month or pay a one-time fee of $400.
- You can open AI files the same way you would open any other vector file in CorelDRAW. To export the file in AI format, click File followed by Export. Select "AI - Adobe Illustrator" next to "Save as Type." Then click Export.

Section 4 of 4:

FAQ

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Can I edit AI files with a raster program? Yes, but only in raster format. You can open AI files in raster graphics editor programs like Photoshop or GIMP, but they will be converted to a raster image. You can then use the tools to edit the image in raster format and save the files as a raster image. Also, AI files that have multiple layers will only have one layer when imported into Photoshop or GIMP.
- Photoshop is best equipped to handle AI files. While it's not a vector graphics program, AI files imported or placed in Photoshop will look more accurate than AI files imported into non-Adobe programs, like GIMP.
- In Photoshop, you can place an AI file as a smart object in a new Photoshop layer. This allows the file to retain the clarity of a vector graphics image inside the layer.
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Can I convert AI files to a different format? Yes, there are a number of websites that can convert AI files to a different format. You can convert AI files to a different vector format or to a raster format. However, converting AI files to a different format may not be accurate. The following are a few websites that can convert AI files to a different format:
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Can I edit AI files in programs other than Adobe Illustrator? Yes, but there are limitations. While other vector graphics programs can open and edit AI files, they may not look how they're supposed to. This is because some features that are native to Adobe Illustrator may not be supported by other programs. Also, different programs handle files differently. For example, the way Adobe Illustrator processes transparencies and gradients may not be the same as how CorelDRAW processes these features. Some aspects of the image may need to be rasterized when opened in another program.
- Saving files in SVG format will ensure the best compatibility with other vector graphics programs, like Adobe Illustrator.