Adobe Illustrator Versions By Year

| Year | Version | Code Name / Key Innovation | |------|---------|----------------------------| | 1987 | 1.0 | The original "Picasso" | | 1988 | 1.1 | Color separation | | 1989 | 2.0 | First color & Place command | | 1990 | 3.0 | Pen tool + Bezier handles | | 1992 | 4.0 | First Windows native | | 1993 | 5.0 | Layers & Type outlines | | 1996 | 6.0 | Align palette | | 1997 | 7.0 | UI unified with Photoshop | | 1998 | 8.0 | Pencil tool & Magic Wand | | 2000 | 9.0 | Live Transparency | | 2001 | 10.0 | Symbols & Envelope warp | | 2003 | CS (11) | 3D effect | | 2005 | CS2 (12) | Live Trace + Live Paint | | 2007 | CS3 (13) | Isolation Mode | | 2008 | CS4 (14) | Multiple artboards | | 2010 | CS5 (15) | Perspective Grid + Width tool | | 2012 | CS6 (16) | Last perpetual license | | 2013 | CC (17) | Touch Type + Cloud fonts | | 2014 | CC 2014 (18) | Curvature tool | | 2015 | CC 2015 (19) | Export for Screens | | 2016 | CC 2017 (21) | Puppet Warp | | 2017 | CC 2018 (22) | Properties panel | | 2018 | CC 2019 (23) | Freeform Gradient | | 2019 | CC 2020 (24) | Auto-wrap text | | 2020 | CC 2021 (25) | Cloud Documents | | 2021 | CC 2022 (26) | 3D & Materials | | 2022 | CC 2023 (27) | Text to Vector (beta) | | 2023 | CC 2024 (28) | Generative Recolor | | 2024+ | CC 2025 (29) | Vector Model + Pattern AI |

This era established Illustrator as the industry standard for vector design, heavily reliant on Adobe's PostScript language. adobe illustrator versions by year

| Year | Version / Name | Notable features / milestones | |---:|---|---| | 1987 | Illustrator 1.0 | Initial Mac-only vector drawing app (PostScript-based). | | 1988 | Illustrator 88 (v1.7) | Major update with drawing/pen tool improvements; became known as "Illustrator 88". | | 1990 | Illustrator 3.0 | Added native color support and improved type handling. | | 1992 | Illustrator 5.0 | Introduced editable text and multiple artboards (early forms). | | 1994 | Illustrator 6.0 | Improved printing and PostScript Level 2 support. | | 1997 | Illustrator 7.0 | Full rewrite with new interface; introduced TrueType support and Windows parity. | | 1999 | Illustrator 8.0 | Focus on web graphics and improved gradient mesh. | | 2001 | Illustrator 9.0 | Enhanced type layout and drawing precision. | | 2003 | Illustrator 10 | First version with improved effects and PDF compatibility. | | 2003 | Illustrator CS (11.0) | Rebranded under Creative Suite; tighter integration with Photoshop/other apps. | | 2005 | Illustrator CS2 (12.0) | Performance improvements, Live Trace (bitmap-to-vector). | | 2007 | Illustrator CS3 (13.0) | Enhanced UI, multiple artboards, better integration with other Adobe CS apps. | | 2008 | Illustrator CS4 (14.0) | Multiple artboards official support, enhanced 3D effects, transparency grid. | | 2010 | Illustrator CS5 (15.0) | Improved pathfinder, perspective drawing tools, GPU acceleration beginnings. | | 2012 | Illustrator CS6 (16.0) | Reworked UI, Mercury Performance System, pattern creation improvements. | | 2013 | Illustrator CC (17.0) | Creative Cloud transition — subscription model, cloud features, Typekit integration. | | 2014 | Illustrator CC 2014 (18.0) | Touch-type tool, CSS extraction for web, sync settings. | | 2015 | Illustrator CC 2015 (19.0) | Performance improvements, CC Libraries, better export options. | | 2016 | Illustrator CC 2017 (21.0) | Real-time drawing enhancements, glyph panel, advanced effects. | | 2017 | Illustrator CC 2018 (22.0) | Properties panel, global edit, improved Puppet Warp. | | 2018 | Illustrator CC 2019 (23.0) | Multiple glyph alternates, GPU performance improvements. | | 2019 | Illustrator 2020 (24.0) | Recolor Artwork, enhanced global editing, performance gains. | | 2020 | Illustrator 2021 (25.0) | New home screen, enhanced cloud document support, real-time stylus smoothing. | | 2021 | Illustrator 2022 (26.0) | 3D effects rewrite (3D and Materials), repeat grid, improved color workflows. | | 2022 | Illustrator 2023 (27.0) | Expanded 3D features, generative/AI-assisted tools introduced incrementally. | | 2023 | Illustrator 2024 (28.0) | Continued 3D polishing, vector export improvements, performance updates. | | 2024 | Illustrator 2025 (29.0) | Ongoing feature refinements and workflow integrations (versioning names vary by release cadence). | | Year | Version | Code Name /