References ▼
STL (an abbreviation of "STereoLithography"), is a file format native to the STereoLithography CAD software created by 3D Systems.
STL has several after-the-fact backronyms such as "Standard Triangle Language" and "Standard Tessellation Language". It is widely used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing.
STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without any representation of color, texture or other common CAD model attributes.
The STL format specifies both ASCII and binary representations. Binary files are more common since they are more compact.
LEADTOOLS supports loading both STL file types (ASCII and binary representations).
STL files can be loaded as either vector images or raster images. However, saving to STL is not supported.
For a list of products, refer to the Products Overview.
The default extension used by this format is STL.
File constants associated with this file format are:
| Constant | Read Support | Write Support | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILE_STL | Yes | No | STereoLithography CAD software created by 3D Systems. |
STL files are rasterized as 24 BPP images.
Required DLLs and Libraries
Related Formats
Win32, x64.
Help Collections
Raster .NET | C API | C++ Class Library | HTML5 JavaScript
Document .NET | C API | C++ Class Library | HTML5 JavaScript
Medical .NET | C API | C++ Class Library | HTML5 JavaScript
Medical Web Viewer .NET
Multimedia
Direct Show .NET | C API | Filters
Media Foundation .NET | C API | Transforms
Supported Platforms
.NET, Java, Android, and iOS/macOS Assemblies
Imaging, Medical, and Document
C API/C++ Class Libraries
Imaging, Medical, and Document
HTML5 JavaScript Libraries
Imaging, Medical, and Document