STL
STL is the standard file format for 3D printing, storing raw triangulated surface geometry without color, texture, or material information.
What is STL?
STL (STereoLithography) is a file format that describes the surface of a 3D object as a mesh of triangles. It stores geometry only, with no color, textures, materials, or units. Created for 3D printing in 1987, it remains the dominant format for sending models to slicers and printers.
When to Use It
Use STL when the destination is a 3D printer and color isn't needed. For multi-material or full-color prints, formats like 3MF or OBJ carry more information. For games and web, STL is the wrong choice because it has no textures; reach for GLB instead. Our guide to preparing a model for 3D printing covers getting a mesh print-ready, and you can convert other formats to STL with the file converter.
