The Adobe Illustrator Artwork format is a proprietary vector graphics file type. It is primarily associated with Adobe Illustrator, a professional design and illustration software application. Files of this type store vector-based images, meaning images are composed of mathematical equations rather than pixels. This allows for scalability without loss of quality, making it suitable for logos, illustrations, and print designs. A common example involves creating a company logo in Illustrator; the saved result is an artwork file preserving the editable vector paths.
Its significance stems from its ability to maintain high-resolution graphics regardless of size, crucial for designs that need to adapt to different media formats, from small web icons to large-scale banners. Historically, this format has been instrumental in the graphic design industry, enabling designers to create and share complex artwork while preserving editability. This characteristic fosters collaboration and iterative design processes.
