LOW  | | |
| Name | STereoLithography | 3D Studio |
| File extension | .stl | .3ds |
| Original software | 3D Studio (DOS) | |
| Binary | ■ | ■ |
| ASCII | ■ | |
| Polygonal | ■ | ■ |
| NURBS | ||
| Solids | ||
| Smoothing groups | ■ | |
| Textures, materials | ■ | |
| Developer/Owner | Autodesk | |
| Description | ||
| Specification | The StL Format | |
| Format features | One of the most ubiquitous exchange formats polygonal geometry between CAD-systems. Can have both binary and ASCII-structure, which is why the same file can vary in size tenfold. See also PLY | Has a limit on the number of polygons in a single file. Today is considered obsolete |
| Viewing software | GLC_Player (free), MeshLab (free) | GLC_Player (free), MeshLab (free) |
