JUST NODU
Open Illustrator (.ai) Files Online
JUST NODU is a free AI file viewer: open Adobe Illustrator files on your phone or computer and convert them, without Illustrator.
How to open an AI file
- Tap Open an AI file above (or use the JUST NODU Android app).
- Choose your .ai file.
- The artwork opens in a few seconds. Zoom in to check it.
- Save it as PDF, PNG, SVG or a CorelDRAW file, or edit it in the NODU Editor.
What is an .ai file?
An .ai file is an Adobe Illustrator drawing: logos, icons, labels, packaging and print layouts. The artwork is made of vectors (lines and curves), so it stays sharp at any size. Most .ai files saved by Illustrator also hold a PDF copy of the artwork inside ("Create PDF Compatible File", on by default), which is what lets other programs show them.
Ways to open an .ai file
- Adobe Illustrator: the original program, needed for full editing of layers and effects.
- Adobe Photoshop: can open a PDF-compatible .ai file, but turns it into a picture (pixels) at the size you choose, so it is no longer a vector drawing.
- Free vector programs such as Inkscape can import many PDF-compatible .ai files.
- JUST NODU: open it in a phone or computer browser, or in the Android app, with nothing to install, then save it as PDF, PNG, SVG or CorelDRAW.
When an .ai file shows a white page or an error
If a file was saved with "Create PDF Compatible File" switched off, most viewers show only a message such as "This is an Adobe Illustrator file that was saved without PDF content". JUST NODU then tries to draw the artwork from the Illustrator data itself. If that fails too, ask the sender to open the file in Illustrator, choose File > Save As, keep "Create PDF Compatible File" ticked, and send it again, or to send a PDF.
Devices, sizes and limits
- Any modern browser on phone or computer, and the free Android app
- Files up to 1 GB
- Most Illustrator files open directly; very old Illustrator formats are converted first, which takes a little longer
- Missing fonts are replaced by a similar font
Privacy
Your file is sent over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection to our server only to make the preview or the export you ask for, and it is deleted automatically when that is done. See the privacy policy.
Questions
Is the AI file viewer free?
Yes, opening and converting Illustrator files is free.
Can I convert AI to CorelDRAW?
Yes. Open the .ai file and choose CorelDRAW (CDR) when you save it.
Do I need Adobe Illustrator?
No. You only need a browser or the JUST NODU app.
Can Photoshop open AI files?
Yes, if the file is PDF-compatible, but Photoshop turns the drawing into pixels. To keep it as a vector, open it in Illustrator or another vector program, or convert it to PDF or SVG.
How do I open an .ai file on my phone?
Open justnodu.com in your phone browser or install the JUST NODU Android app, tap Upload File and choose the .ai file.