Adobe Illustrator is an industry-standard vector graphics software used by millions of designers and artists to create everything from gorgeous web and mobile graphics to logos, icons, book illustrations, product packaging, and billboards.
Instead of using bitmap images to store data, this program used algorithms to draw shapes. That is why the vector graphics created within Illustrator can be scaled to any size without losing their quality or overall resolution. Because of this unique design, Adobe Illustrator is used to make everything from business logos to detailed illustrations to animated concepts. It can print layouts, create stunning website graphics, and give users complete control over their typography.
First release (version 1.0) on Classic Mac OS platform in January 1987. Latest version is 2020 (24.0.2) for Mac/Windows platform, released in December 2019.
Feature summary | Illustrator (March 2020 release)
With this feature, the object scaling and the effect application on objects are no longer displayed as outlines. Now, these tasks are fully rendered as you work.
Set the following preference to enable this feature:
- [Windows] Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance > Real-Time Drawing and Editing.
- [macOS] Choose Illustrator > Preferences > Performance > Real-Time Drawing and Editing.
You can now copy and paste entire artboards between different open documents . Choose one of the following options:
- Drag and drop artboards between two open documents.
- Use Cut, Copy, and Paste options in the Edit menu.
- Use keyboard shortcuts.
Free distort lets you modify shapes freely through a bounding box. Now, the box is easier to work with and lets you seamlessly edit the object without any resetting.
Feature summary | Illustrator (November 2019 release)
If you have complex paths in your artwork and you find it difficult to edit them, use the Path Simplify feature to make your path editing easier. This feature now has an enriched and intuitive user interface.
When you use this feature (Object > Path > Simplify), a dialog is displayed with essential options for simplifying a path. To view advanced options, click the More Options icon () to open the Simplify dialog. With this dialog, you can simplify curves, adjust the corner point angle for smoothness, and convert curved paths into straight lines.
Checking spellings is now easy with the Auto Spell-Check feature. If you’re designing a book, brochure, resume, poster, or any other artwork that includes text, then do not worry about spelling errors as Illustrator will automatically highlight them as you type the text.
Note: Illustrator supports spell-check in over 50 languages and dialects. It is currently not supported for East Asian languages.
If you have ever wished for an improved performance when applying Illustrator effects on images and objects, you’ll be pleased to know that this release brings a significant improvement in the execution of Blur, Drop Shadow, and Inner and Outer Glow effects. Applying these effects in Illustrator is now much faster and quicker!
Benefits
1. It provides a helpful user interface.
With Adobe Illustrator, you have an extra level of flexibility when working to customize your overall workspace. Your interface allows for custom viewing. There is an option to enable space saving as well. These processes allow you to work on your project in whatever way is most comfortable, while maintaining complete control over all the available options.
2. It allows for in-panel editing.
You also save a bunch of time when working with Adobe Illustrator thanks to its option for in-panel editing. You also have the use of multiple artboards simultaneously. That allows you to work on multiple images in a similar fashion all at once, which makes you much more productive than the other programs which force you to work on one image at a time.
3. It is completely scalable.
You have zero resolution issues when working with Adobe Illustrator. Because the graphics are based on mathematics equations instead of stored pixels, you’re always given sharp, crisp lines that are print-ready in any dimension. You never lose resolution when you’re working with graphics through this program, which means you have much more versatility when designing multimedia for various purposes.
4. It creates files in manageable sizes.
You’re not stuck with enormous files that are difficult to transfer when creating something with Adobe Illustrator. Compared to similar platforms, Illustrator creates files that are relatively small. You can share them quite easily, mail them as an attachment, or use them without absorbing a majority of your computing resources. You don’t waste a bunch of time syncing your massive files to the cloud either to share them through a service like Dropbox either.
5. It works on almost any computer system.
Although Adobe Illustrator doesn’t work well on mobile devices, it does an exceptional job on almost any computer system. You can use it on Windows PCs or on Apple products. It will even work adequately on older computers, even from the early 2000s, if you are using an older top-of-the-line option. That means most people are going to be able to access the benefits of this platform if they have their system’s operating system up-to-date.
6. It creates print graphics and web graphics.
You can create print-ready graphics with ease thanks to Adobe Illustrator. You are also able to create web graphics with this platform. It works in any screen resolution, offering a tool set that is constantly updated, which allows you to create professional vector graphics with relative ease.
Licensing
It is available for either as a single app license subscription or as part of Creative Cloud All Apps Illustrator + all Adobe creative apps license subscription basis. For your licensing requirement, feel free to contact E-SPIN, we can supply in hassle free all-in-one solution, include hardware (desktop, laptop, workstation with operating system), Graphics tablet (digitiser, drawing tablet, drawing pad, digital drawing tablet, pen tablet, or digital art board) and third-party software application you may needed in one package solution.
System requirements
Minimum system requirements for Illustrator
Minimum requirement | |
Processor | Multicore Intel processor (with 64-bit support) or AMD Athlon 64 processor |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows 7 (64-bit) with Service Pack 1 or Windows 10* (64-bit) |
RAM | 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended) |
Hard disk | 2 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation; SSD recommended |
Monitor resolution | 1024 x 768 display (1920 x 1080 recommended)
To use Touch workspace in Illustrator, you must have a touch-screen-enabled tablet/monitor running Windows 10 (Microsoft Surface Pro 3 recommended). |
GPU | OpenGL 4.x
Optional: To use GPU Performance: Your Windows should have a minimum of 1GB of VRAM (4 GB recommended), and your computer must support OpenGL version 4.0 or greater. |
Internet connection | Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.* |
Note:
- Scalable UI feature is supported on Windows 10 (minimum resolution supported is 1920 x 1080).
- Auto handle feature is supported on Windows 10.
- GPU in Outline mode is supported on monitor with display resolution at least 2000 pixels in any dimension.
NVIDIA
- NVIDIA Quadro K Series
- NVIDIA Quadro 6xxx
- NVIDIA Quadro 5xxx
- NVIDIA Quadro 4xxx
- NVIDIA Quadro 2xxx
- NVIDIA Quadro 2xxxD
- NVIDIA Quadro 6xx
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX Series (4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx, 9xx, Titan)
- NVIDIA Quadro M Series
- NVIDIA Quadro P Series
- NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000
Important: Microsoft Windows may not detect the availability of the latest device drivers for NVIDIA GPU cards. Get the latest GPU card device drivers:
The following series are supported only on Windows 8 or later:
- AMD Radeon R9 Series Graphics
- AMD Radeon R7 Series Graphics
- AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series Graphics
- AMD Radeon HD 8000 Series Graphics
- AMD FirePro V Series Graphics
- AMD FirePro W Series Graphics
Note:
Ensure that you have the latest GPU card drivers installed. See Illustrator GPU Performance | Driver Updates.
Minimum requirements | |
Processor | Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support |
Operating system | macOS version 10.15 (Catalina), macOS version 10.14 (Mojave), and 10.13 (High Sierra) |
RAM | 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended) |
Hard disk | 2 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation; SSD recommended |
Monitor resolution | 1024 x 768 display (1920 x 1080 recommended) |
GPU | Optional: To use GPU Performance: Your Mac should have a minimum of 1 GB of VRAM (2 GB recommended), and your computer must support OpenGL version 4.0 or greater.
For eGPU, support on Mac OS 10.13.5 or above. |
Internet connection | Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.* |
Note:
- Scalable UI feature (minimum resolution supported is 1920 x 1080)
- GPU in Outline mode is supported on Retina display
* NOTICE TO USERS:
- Internet connection, Adobe ID, and acceptance of license agreement required to activate and use this product. This product may integrate with or allow access to certain Adobe or third-party hosted online services. Adobe services are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms of use and the Adobe Privacy Policy. Applications and services may not be available in all countries or languages and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Additional fees or membership charges may apply.
- Illustrator is not supported on virtualized or server-based environments. These environments include, but are not limited to, Citrix Metaframe/Citrix Presentation Server, NVIDIA Grid, Microsoft App-V, VMWare, Parallels, and Virtual PC. “Thin Clients” are also server-based environments.
- Illustrator is not supported on case-sensitive file system, removable flash storage devices, and network drives.