Once created or downloaded, STL files are generally exported into a 3D printing slicer, such as Ultimaker Cura. Alternatives to STL files such as OBJ files, however, can store data related to color and texture profile.
An STL file does not contain any information regarding texture, color, or qualities such as flexibility or strength – only the shape and geometry. The more complex the design, the more triangles are used to represent it. In STL files, these designs are represented by triangles – hence “triangle language” or “tessellation language.” Because these triangles share edges, their location can be determined by a computer or slicing program (more on this below) to create a full image that can be 3D printed. These digital files contain geometric information about a design that is meant to be 3D printed. An STL (for “Standard Triangle Language” or “Standard Tessellation Language”) file is one of the most common file formats for both 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD).
