| Version | Release Year | Major Innovation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1.0 | 1987 | First vector drawing app for Mac | | 88 (2.0) | 1988 | Style sheets | | 3.0 | 1990 | Gradients & Layers | | 4.0 | 1992 | First Windows version | | 5.0 | 1993 | Color separation & PMS | | 6.0 | 1996 | Unstable rewrite (the bad one) | | 7.0 | 1997 | Photoshop-style interface | | 8.0 | 1998 | Pencil & Eyedropper tools | | 9.0 | 2000 | Transparency & SVG export | | 10.0 | 2001 | Live Path Effects | | CS (11.0) | 2003 | 3D effects & Creative Suite | | CS2 (12.0) | 2005 | Live Trace & Live Paint | | CS3 (13.0) | 2007 | Intel Mac native | | CS4 (14.0) | 2008 | Multiple artboards | | CS5 (15.0) | 2010 | Perspective Grid & Width Tool | | CS6 (16.0) | 2012 | 64-bit & pattern creation | | CC (17.0) | 2013 | Creative Cloud & Touch Workspace | | CC (18.0) | 2014 | Live Corners | | CC (19.0) | 2015 | Export for Screens | | CC (20.0) | 2017 | Variable Fonts & Puppet Warp | | CC (21.0) | 2017 | Visual Font Browsing | | CC (22.0) | 2018 | Freeform Gradients | | CC (23.0) | 2019 | GPU acceleration | | CC (24.0) | 2020 | Cloud Documents | | CC (25.0) | 2021 | 3D panel & Share for Review | | CC (26.0) | 2022 | Intertwine | | CC (27.0) | 2023 | Mockup & Retype | | CC (28.0) | 2024 | Generative AI (Firefly) | | CC (29.0) | 2025 | AI texture fills & Project Neo |
embraced the internet revolution by adding support for Flash, PDF, and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), as well as transparency capabilities, positioning Illustrator as a super-tool for web and cross-media design. Illustrator 10 (November 2001) refined these capabilities and was the final version before the Creative Suite rebranding.
The release of Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) in 2013 marked a major shift towards cloud-based software delivery. Illustrator CC (version 17.0) introduced a new user interface, improved performance, and integration with other CC applications. Subsequent releases during this era included: adobe illustrator versions by year
Introduced highly requested creative tools, including the Art Brush , Scatter Brush , Gradient Mesh tool (for photorealistic vector shading), and the Live Freehand tool . 2000: Adobe Illustrator 9.0 Platforms: Macintosh and Windows Key Milestone: The birth of transparency features.
CC 2014–2018 (v18–v22) – Introduced key tools like the Curvature tool, Shaper tool, and Puppet Warp. | Version | Release Year | Major Innovation
– Introduced "Live Trace" (converting raster images to vectors) and "Live Paint" (filling shapes easily).
The introduction of TrueType font support, pathfinder operations, and the Eyedropper tool. Illustrator CC (version 17
From this version onward, the features and user interfaces of the Mac and Windows versions were identical. This release also added support for TrueType fonts and web-focused export features. 1998: Adobe Illustrator 8.0 Platforms: Macintosh and Windows Key Milestone: Focus on creative versatility.