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Adobe illustrator (History)

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Originally designed for the Apple Macintosh, development of Adobe Illustrator began in 1985. Along with Creative Cloud (Adobe’s shift to monthly or annual subscription service delivered over the Internet), Illustrator CC was released. The latest version, Illustrator 2022, was released on October 26, 2021, and is the 25th generation in the product line.

Illustrator is a graphic design application. Graphic designers use Illustrator to create vector graphics. Vector images and graphics are made of points, lines, shapes, and curves based on mathematical formulas rather than a set amount of pixels, and therefore can be scaled up or down while maintaining image quality.

Why We Use illustrator?

Illustrator is a graphic design application. Graphic designers use Illustrator to create vector graphics. Vector images and graphics are made of points, lines, shapes, and curves based on mathematical formulas rather than a set amount of pixels, and therefore can be scaled up or down while maintaining image quality. So, vector artwork can fit different sizes — larger or smaller — without losing any detail.

Vector art can appear on everything from enormous banners to wallet-sized business cards, and everything in between. This makes Illustrator a very good application for graphics that are going to be printed on signs or banners. Create with virtual brushes and ink.

Designers using Illustrator can create graphics and images freehand, using a stylus and digital drawing tools. An artist’s intuition and personal style is a powerful asset for creating distinctive images, and Illustrator allows artists to create with virtual brushes, pens, inks, and other powerful tools on a variety of digital surfaces.

How much does Photoshop cost?

Adobe Illustrator is only available via subscription. It costs $20.99 per month with an annual commitment or $31.49 on a month-to-month basis. Adobe does not offer a perpetual license version of Illustrator, so you can’t pay once and own it forever. You can only get it with a subscription.

The full Adobe suite of 20-plus apps costs $52.99 per month. It includes 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark. The related Fresco drawing app is free. A free 30-day trial lets you test the software out with no commitment and no credit or debit card information required.

System Requirements for Adobe illustrator

The following are the minimum requirements for using illustrator on Windows or Mac OS Systems.

For Windows:

To use illustrator on a Windows, a computer must meet these requirements:

  • Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor
  • Microsoft Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10
  • 1 GB of RAM (3 GB recommended) for 32 bit; 2 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended) for 64 bit
  • 2 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash storage devices)
  • 1024 x 768 display (1280 x 800 recommended)
  • To view Illustrator in HiDPI mode, your monitor must support a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or more. For more information, see Enhanced Windows Support: HiDPI devices.
  • OpenGL 4.x
  • To use the new Touch workspace in Illustrator, you must have a touch screen enabled tablet/monitor running Windows 8.1. (Microsoft Surface Pro 3 recommended).
  • Optional: To use GPU Performance: (NVIDIA video adapter listed below (medium/high-end recommended); 1 GB of VRAM (2 GB recommended); and latest drivers for optimal performance

Supported GPU devices

GPU devices (video adapters or graphic cards) should meet the minimum GPU requirements in the table above. Here’s a list of commonly used GPU devices:

NVDIA

  • 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 drivers for NVIDIA GPU cards. Get the latest GPU drivers. Click the Link:

INTEL

  • Intel HD Graphics 4600 Series
  • Intel HD Graphics 5000 Series
  • Intel Iris Graphics 5000 Series
  • Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5000 Series
  • Intel HD Graphics 6000 Series
  • Intel Iris Graphics 6000 Series

AMD

  • 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

Mac OS

Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support

  • Mac OS X versions 10.9, 10.10, or 10.11
  • 2 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended)
  • 2 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices)
  • 1024 x 768 display (1280 x 800 recommended)
  • To use the GPU performance features: Your Mac should have a minimum of 512 MB of VRAM (2 GB recommended), and your computer must support OpenGL version 4.0 or greater.
    • To check for VRAM values:
      Mac 10.9: Click Mac > About This Mac > More Info (Graphics information)
      Mac 10.1010.11: Click Mac > About This Mac (Graphics information)
    • To check if your computer supports the required OpenGL version (4.0 or later), check this Apple Support document.
  • Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.*

Available language versions

illustrator is available in the following languages:

Dansk

Deutsch

English

Español

Français*

Hebrew*

Hungarian

Italiano

Nederlands

Polish

Português (Brasil)

Svenska

Turkish

Ukrainian

čeština

Русский

عربي*

日本語

简体中文

繁體中文

한국어

* Illustrator supports Arabic and Hebrew in the following versions with full right-to-left language support and Arabic/Hebrew features:

  • Middle Eastern version with an English interface.
  • North African French (Français*) version with a French interface.

Supported file format can open or save include:

Place and Open Formats

  • Adobe Illustrator (ai, ait)
  • Adobe PDF (pdf)
  • AutoCAD Drawing (dwg)
  • AutoCAD Interchange File (dxf)
  • AV1 Image (avif)
  • BMP (bmp , rle , dib)
  • Computer Graphics Metafile (cgm)
  • CorelDRAW 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (cdr)
  • Encapsulated PostScript (eps, epsf , ps)
  • Enhanced Metafile (emf)
  • GIF89a (gif)
  • High Efficiency Image (heic, heif)
  • Illustrator EPS (eps,  epsf , ps)
  • JPEG (jpg, jpe , jpeg)
  • JPEG2000 ( jpf , jpx , jp2, j2k, j2c, jpc )
  • Microsoft RTF ( rtf )
  • Microsoft Word (doc)
  • Microsoft Word DOCX (docx)
  • PCX (pcx)
  • Photoshop (psd, pdd)
  • Pixar (pxr)
  • PNG (png, pns)
  • SVG (svg)
  • SVG Compressed (svgz)
  • Targa (tga, vda, icb, vst)
  • Text (txt)
  • TIFF (tif, tiff)
  • WebP (webp)
  • Windows Metafile (wmf)

File Save Formats

  • Adobe Illustrator (ai)
  • Adobe PDF (pdf)
  • Illustrator EPS(eps)
  • Illustrator Template (ait)
  • SVG (svg)
  • SVG Compressed (svgz)

Output Export Formats

  • AutoCAD Drawing (dwg)
  • AutoCAD Interchange File (dxf)
  • BMP (bmp)
  • CSS (css)
  • Enhanced Metafile (emf)
  • JPEG (jpg)
  • Photoshop (psd)
  • PNG (png)
  • SVG (svg)
  • Targa (tga)
  • Text Format (txt)
  • TIFF (tif)
  • Windows Metafile (wmf)

History of Adobe illustrator

The first version of Illustrator, which was conceived of by Adobe cofounder John Warnock, appeared about 28 years ago, in late 1986. The first version available to the general public was released on March 19, 1987.

In many ways Illustrator’s release was a gamble: the Macintosh did not have high market share, the only printer that could output Illustrator documents was Apple’s own LaserWriter, also very new and expensive, and the drawing paradigm of Bézier curves was novel to the mainstream user. Not only did the Macintosh show only monochrome graphics, but display options were basically limited to its built-in 9 monitor. Illustrator helped drive the development of larger monitors for the Macintosh. citation needed

Illustrator was a reliable, capable product, however, and its relatively shallow learning curve let users quickly appreciate that the new paradigm was not only better, but finally solved the problem of imprecision from existing programs like MacDraw. It also provided a tool for people who could neither afford nor learn high-end software such as AutoCAD. Illustrator successfully filled a niche between painting and CAD programs.

Adobe was willing to take risks with Illustrator’s user interface. Instead of following Apple’s UI guidelines to the letter or imitating other popular Macintosh programs, they made it possible to switch between the various navigation tools (i.e, Zoom and Pan) using various keyboard key combinations.

Adobe illustrator CC and CS

There is a difference between illustrator cc and illustrator cs6 on the base of their unique features and uses. CS stands for Creative Suite it is the non-subscriptions version of adobe apps. Now adobe offers CC apps or creative cloud apps. They are subscriptions based. CS is old technology that used the perpetual lines.

Photoshop CC is the current technology that used the subscription model and offering some cloud space. A CC subscription gives us access to the latest version of adobe Cs6 software. Cs6 is less supported than adobe illustrator CC.

Versions 2 – 5

Although Adobe developed Illustrator primarily for the Macintosh during its first decade, it sporadically supported other platforms. In the early 1990s, Adobe released versions of Illustrator for NeXT, Silicon Graphics IRIX, and Sun Solaris platforms, but they were discontinued due to poor market acceptance. The first version of Illustrator for Microsoft Windows, version 2.0, was released in early 1989, but it was a flop. The next Windows version, version 4.0, was widely criticized as being too similar to Illustrator 1.1 instead of the Macintosh 3.0 version, and certainly not the equal of Windows’ most popular illustration package CorelDraw. (Note that there were no versions 2.0 or 4.0 for the Macintosh. Version 4 was, however the first version of Illustrator to support editing in preview mode, which did not appear in a Macintosh version until 5.0 in 1993.

Versions 6 – 10

With the introduction of Illustrator 6 in 1996, Adobe made critical changes in the user interface with regards to path editing (and also to converge on the same user interface as Adobe Photoshop), and many users opted not to upgrade. To this day, many users find the changes questionable. Illustrator also began to support TrueType, making the “font wars” between PostScript Type 1 and TrueType largely moot. Like Photoshop, Illustrator also began supporting plug-ins, greatly and quickly extending its abilities.

With true ports of the Macintosh versions to Windows starting with version 7 in 1997, designers could finally standardize on Illustrator. Corel did port CorelDRAW 6.0 to the Macintosh in late 1996, but it was received as too little, too late. Aldus ported FreeHand to Windows but it was not the equal of Illustrator. Adobe bought Aldus in 1994 for PageMaker, and as part of the transaction it sold FreeHand to Macromedia (which was later acquired by Adobe). Clarifying difference in strengths between Photoshop and Illustrator with the rise of the Internet, Illustrator was enhanced to support Web publishing, rasterization previewing, PDF, and SVG.

Versions CS (11) & CS2 (12)

Illustrator 11 and 12, respectively known as Adobe Illustrator CS and CS2 to reflect their integration with Adobe Creative Suite and Creative Suite 2, were available for both the Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows operating systems. These were the last versions for PowerPC-based Macs which did not run natively on Intel processors. Illustrator CS was the first version to include 3-dimensional capabilities allowing users to extrude or revolve shapes to create simple 3D objects.

Among the new features included in Illustrator CS2 were Live Trace, Live Paint, a control palette and custom workspaces. Live Trace allows for the conversion of bitmap imagery into vector art. Live Paint allows users more flexibility in applying color to objects, specifically those that overlap.

Version CS3 (13)

Adobe Illustrator CS3 was announced on March 27, 2007, and shipped on April 16. The Mac version is a universal binary. New features include Live Color, which provides tools for creating color harmonies based on color theory, and the ability to dynamically apply colors to selected objects and shift the tone of an entire illustration at one time. Remapping controls are also provided for reducing the numbers of colors in an artwork. Also new are better integration with Flash, with named symbol instances and dynamic/static text; improved drawing tools and controls; faster runtime performance; an Eraser tool that works on vector objects; a Crop Area tool; and an improved Isolation Mode for groups and symbol definitions.

Branding

Starting with version 1.0, Adobe chose to license an image of Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” from the Bettmann Archive and use the portion containing Venus’ face as Illustrator’s branding image. Warnock desired a Renaissance image to evoke his vision of Postscript as a new Renaissance in publishing, and Adobe employee Luanne Seymour Cohen, who was responsible for the early marketing material, found Venus’ flowing tresses a perfect vehicle for demonstrating Illustrator’s strength in tracing smooth curves over bitmap source images. Over the years the rendition of this image on Illustrator’s splash screen and packaging became more stylized to reflect features added in each version.

The image of Venus was replaced (albeit still accessible via easter egg) in Illustrator CS (11.0) and CS2 (12.0) by a stylized flower to conform to the Creative Suite’s nature imagery. In CS3, Adobe changed the suite branding once again, to simple colored blocks with two-letter abbreviations, resembling a periodic table of elements. Illustrator was represented by the letters Ai against an orange background.

FAQs

Is Adobe Creative Cloud free for college students?
No, Adobe Creative Cloud is not free for college students — but we do offer a seven-day free trial. It provides free access to over 20 apps, including Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro, plus 100GB of cloud storage. After the free trial expires, the student membership price is US$19.99/mo for the first year, and US$29.99/mo after that. Please Click Here for More information.

Is Illustrator on Available for iPad?
Yes. Illustrator on the iPad works intuitively with your Apple Pencil so you can design on the go from anywhere, even offline – it’s never been easier to take your creativity to new places. Design with precision, as naturally as you would with pen and paper. Create vector lines, shapes, type, gradients, and effects. Please Click Here for More information.

Learn More:

Adobe Photoshop Overview

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