The multiple artboards feature finally returned (inspired by the old 1.1 concept) but now fully integrated. Also added: blob brush (draws merged vector shapes), gradient on stroke , transparency in gradients , and separations preview . The interface got a darker, more modern theme. The Creative Cloud Era (2013–Present) Illustrator CC (17.0 – June 2013) The first subscription-only version. CC introduced cloud sync of preferences, libraries, and brushes; touch workspace for pen displays; CSS extraction for web designers; and auto corner rounding . Purists grumbled about the subscription model, but many loved the rapid updates.

Added live shapes (rectangles, polygons with on‑canvas controls), pencil smoothing , and jointype options . Also introduced Creative Cloud Libraries for sharing colors, characters, and graphics across apps.

Here’s a detailed, well-structured piece on the , tracing its evolution from a bold experiment to the industry standard for vector graphics. From Macintosh Maverick to Creative Cloud Colossus: The Release History of Adobe Illustrator When Adobe Illustrator 1.0 launched in 1987, the idea of creating sophisticated vector art on a personal computer was still a novelty. Nearly four decades later, Illustrator stands as one of the most enduring and influential creative tools ever made. Its release history isn't just a list of version numbers—it's a map of the digital design revolution itself. The Early Years: Defining Vector Graphics (1987–1990) Illustrator 1.0 (January 1987) Born exclusively for the Apple Macintosh, Illustrator 1.0 was a companion to Adobe’s revolutionary page description language, PostScript. It featured basic Bézier curve tools (pens, paths, anchor points) and a monochrome interface. There were no color gradients, no layers, and only one fill per object. Yet, it was a revelation—designers could now manipulate curves on screen that printed exactly as previewed.

A refinement masterpiece. This version gave us the Pencil tool , smooth and eraser tools , the Actions palette (macro recording), and a cleaner interface. It also introduced live brush previews and smart guides . Many designers consider 8.0 the peak of the “classic” Illustrator era. The Modern Foundation: 2000–2010 Illustrator 9.0 (June 2000) The first version to embrace transparency in a big way (drop shadows, opacity masks, blending modes). It also added PDF support (save and open native PDFs) and vector feathering . However, it was unstable at launch and dropped support for older Mac OS 9 features, causing friction.