LAY File

What are LAY files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a LAY file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your LAY files.

What is a LAY file?

LAY files have multiple uses, and DVD Studio Pro Project is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

DVD Studio Pro Project

The .lay file extension is frequently found on files created using the Apple DVD Studio Pro. DVD Studio Pro is a high-end software tool published by Apple. It allows users to produce DVD primaries that will serve as the master disk for software replication in the mass production process.

The .lay file format contains metadata internal to DVD Studio Pro and the DVD project and is typically stored within the VIDEO_TS directory of a DVD project.

Please note that .lay files are just the layout of the project and not the project itself. It is the 'blueprint' of the project and is not to be included in the projects when burning them to disk.

The DVD Studio Pro software has been discontinued.

How to open LAY files

Important: Different programs may use files with the LAY file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your LAY file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different LAY openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 7, 2026

All known file formats using extension .LAY

While DVD Studio Pro Project is a popular type of LAY-file, we know of 9 different uses of the .LAY file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Advanced Layouter Project

We know that one LAY format is Advanced Layouter Project. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Applause Layout Data

We know that one LAY format is Applause Layout Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Magnetic Scrolls Collection Layout

We know that one LAY format is Magnetic Scrolls Collection Layout. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator (MAME) Layout

A MAME Layout (.LAY) file is a text file in XML format used by MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) to define how visual components are arranged when emulating arcade or vintage computer systems. It controls where emulated screens, artwork, overlays, panels, lamps, buttons, text, and other visual elements appear onscreen, how they respond to inputs and outputs, and how the user interacts with them. It allows customizing the visual presentation beyond the basic game screen - for instance adding bezels or control panels.

These layout files are either bundled with MAME ("internal") or provided by users ("external artwork layouts"). When MAME runs a system it reads the appropriate .LAY file and builds "views." Each view specifies a named arrangement of zero or more screens and layout elements. Elements and reusable groups are defined first, then placed within views. Elements may consist of shapes, images (PNG, JPEG, BMP/DIB, SVG), text or composite graphics. Elements can have dynamic states driven by emulated buttons, lamps or controls. Views include bounds definitions to position and size everything; items within a view may have animations, blinking or color changes as the state changes.

Inside the file, the root XML tag is

LAY opener for Windows

We have identified one LAY opener that is compatible with this specific type of LAY file.

PolyPlot Layer

We know that one LAY format is PolyPlot Layer. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Sprint Layout Printed Circuit Design

Sprint Layout Printed Circuit Design files (extension .LAY) store full board layouts for printed circuit boards (PCBs) created using the Sprint-Layout software by ABACOM. These files hold the copper layer design, routing of tracks, pads, drill holes, component placement, board outline, silkscreen, solder mask, and layer metadata needed for producing the physical PCB.

Created and edited inside Sprint-Layout, these files serve as editable project files. After design work, the PCB layout stored in .LAY files is typically exported (for example to Extended Gerber format) to drive manufacturing processes. Older versions of Sprint-Layout save files using .LAY; in version 6 and later the native save format became .LAY6, while still retaining compatibility with the earlier .LAY files.

Technical markers help identify .LAY files: the file begins with the byte sequence 0x05 0x33 0xAA 0xFF at offset zero, and somewhere inside contains the ASCII string EIA'CODE.

Programs that open these LAY files

We have identified one LAY opener that is compatible with this specific type of LAY file.

SuperKey Keyboard Layout

We know that one LAY format is SuperKey Keyboard Layout. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Tecplot Layout

Tecplot Layout files are used by Tecplot 360 visualization software to record how a plot or set of plots should appear without embedding the heavy raw data. They store page layout, frame arrangement, style settings, axes, color maps, and links to the dataset files required to reproduce the visual results. Users load these files when they want to reapply the look of previous work or share visualization designs without sending large data.

These layout files are written by Tecplot 360 when using commands such as File → Save Layout As → Linked Data (.lay) or created programmatically via PyTecplot. When reopening, Tecplot reads the .lay file, locates the linked data files, and applies all the saved display and styling instructions to recreate the visual workspace. If data files have moved, the file paths in the layout must be valid. A variant, the layout package file (.lpk), includes both the layout and a copy of the data so that layout and appearance are preserved even if the original data are unavailable.

Inside a Tecplot Layout file there is plain-text macro-style content beginning with an ASCII signature such as "#!MC"; commands include tokens like $!READDATASET, $!PAPER, and individual frame setting statements. Keywords within such files define paper size/orientation, frames' widths and heights, color map types (contours, rainbow), clipping offsets, and layout spacing.

Programs that open these LAY files

We have identified one LAY opener that is compatible with this specific type of LAY file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of LAY files. Remember, different programs may use LAY files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about LAY file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.