tool and the "Beautiful Strokes" feature for variable-width lines. 2012: Illustrator CS6 (v16)
The 3D Renaissance. Adobe introduced a brand new, modern 3D engine (replacing the ancient CS4 3D effects). adobe illustrator versions by year
– Launched Illustrator for iPad and introduced "Recolor Artwork" powered by Adobe Sensei. 2021: Illustrator 2022 (v26) tool and the "Beautiful Strokes" feature for variable-width
Whether you cut your teeth on Illustrator 3.0 or just launched CC 29.0, you are using a tool built on nearly 40 years of design history. – Launched Illustrator for iPad and introduced "Recolor
Understanding the is more than a history lesson; it’s a roadmap to the evolution of digital design itself. Below, we break down every major release, highlighting launch dates, operating system changes, and the groundbreaking features that changed the industry.
Adobe Illustrator has evolved from a specialized font development tool into the global industry standard for vector graphics. Since its debut in 1987, it has undergone nearly 30 major generational updates. The Early Years (1987–1996)