

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. It was developed by a Russian software engineer, Eugene Roshal, and the RAR software is licensed by win.rar GmbH. RAR is a proprietary archive file format that supports data compression, error recovery, and file spanning.
