Adobe Illustrator

4.8 (8,627)
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Industry-standard vector graphics editor

About Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator CC is an industry-standard tool in vector drawing and editing for professional design and artwork. Users can create graphic designs that go virtually anywhere including print, websites, video games, logos for brand corporations, packaging for general merchandise, as well as business cards, billboards, bus wraps and even clothes.

Illustrator CC enables graphic designers to create sketches, typography and illustrations for print, web, video, and mobile, and offers a wide set of tools, filters and effects. Illustrator works with vector graphics which are resolution independent and defined mathematically for quality control, and also with the more traditional, raster graphics.

Illustrator CC comes with thousands of royalty-free stock art and all projects can be loaded into InDesign for a complete design workflow. The solution also integrates with animation and video apps like Animate CC, Premiere Pro, and After Effects.

With the seamlessly integrated Adobe Creative Cloud, users can easily access, organize, and share creative assets with other users, as well as other Adobe desktop and mobile apps.

Adobe’s mobile apps include Illustrator Draw, Capture CC, and Comp CC that let users intuitively capture creative vision with shapes, color, and typography with their mobile devices and seamlessly continue projects on the desktop with Illustrator CC.


Key benefits of Adobe Illustrator

  • Create freeform vector designs on-the-go with the Adobe Illustrator Draw app for Android, and seamlessly move the designs over to desktop Illustrator CC.

  • Users can pull creative assets (live text, images and graphics) into the Comp CC iPad and iPhone app from the shared Creative Cloud Libraries and instantly send layouts to Illustrator CC.

  • Creative Cloud is always synced so users can browse and access colors, type styles, graphics, brushes and more anytime, anywhere, from within Illustrator and mobile apps like Sketch and Draw.

  • With the Capture CC app, users can extract a color theme or create a vector graphic using an iPad, iPhone or Android phone and load them into Illustrator for further editing.

  • Users can import / export content and projects from Photoshop and Dreamweaver with testing support for content management solutions like WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal.

  • Images

    Adobe Illustrator Software - With Illustrator CC, the touch type tool allows users to take individual letters and transform them, as well as change the text itself
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Illustrator CC users have the possibility to free transform elements in a more intuitive way
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Use images in brushes (pattern brush tool) and choose the way the image runs around corners with Illustrator CC
    Adobe Illustrator Software - The export CSS feature in Illustrator CC allows users to copy elements from the illustrator document and transfer them into CSS directly
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Search fonts quicker with Illustrator CC's font search window that enables the choice between searching entire font names or first words only
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Import multiple images and place them on the page with the integrated place gun tool that allows users to drag and place images exactly where they want them with Illustrator CC
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Illustrator CC's live corners tool lets users intuitively shape corners with on-art controls or specific values
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    Adobe Illustrator video
    Adobe Illustrator video
    Adobe Illustrator Software - With Illustrator CC, the touch type tool allows users to take individual letters and transform them, as well as change the text itself
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Illustrator CC users have the possibility to free transform elements in a more intuitive way
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Use images in brushes (pattern brush tool) and choose the way the image runs around corners with Illustrator CC
    Adobe Illustrator Software - The export CSS feature in Illustrator CC allows users to copy elements from the illustrator document and transfer them into CSS directly
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Search fonts quicker with Illustrator CC's font search window that enables the choice between searching entire font names or first words only
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Import multiple images and place them on the page with the integrated place gun tool that allows users to drag and place images exactly where they want them with Illustrator CC
    Adobe Illustrator Software - Illustrator CC's live corners tool lets users intuitively shape corners with on-art controls or specific values

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    4.8 (8,627)
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    Starting Price

    £31.49
    month
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    one-time

    Pricing Options

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    Integrations

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    Ease of Use

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    Reviews

    Overall rating

    4.8 /5
    (8,627)
    Value for Money
    4.3/5
    Features
    4.7/5
    Ease of Use
    4.0/5
    Customer Support
    4.3/5

    Already have Adobe Illustrator?

    Software buyers need your help! Product reviews help the rest of us make great decisions.

    Showing 5 reviews of 8,627
    Jeffrey
    Jeffrey
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Retail
    • Company size: Self Employed
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Customer Support
    • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

    Illustrator - the standard for graphic design

    Reviewed on 24/09/2020

    Overall my experience has been great. I definitely recommend AI if you are serious about design. It...

    Overall my experience has been great. I definitely recommend AI if you are serious about design. It can handle any area of design and is a workhorse of a program - it is very flexible.

    But with great flexibility, comes great complexity. So, therefore, even though I have a pretty good understanding of how to use Illustrator, there's still more for me to learn after many years. Not to mention they always add new features.

    And I still have to take some time to creatively express exactly what I envision.

    For this reason, I also use Affinity Designer on my Mac, alongside illustrator. The reason is, Affinity Designer is much more simple and certain tasks are quicker with Affinity.

    However, anytime I need to do more complex stuff, such

    Pros

    The nice thing about Adobe Illustrator is you can do anything you want, as far as manipulating graphics and creating any digital artwork or illustration imaginable. It's so versatile in what you can do, that it also can seem very complex to the novice.

    But if you stick with it and use it consistently or take some tutorials, once you learn the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator, you begin to realize what it's capable of. I have used Inkscape and affinity designer and though I use affinity designer (due to the simplicity and quickness at some tasks), I always turn to Adobe Illustrator when I need to do more complex tasks.

    I am old school, and typically like drawing by hand. The great thing about digital design is you can still get a tablet and draw by hand if you like. This is obvious to many people but some may not be aware or haven't made the jump over to trying a drawing tablet yet. If you haven't tried one and you love drawing with traditional media, you are going to love working with a tablet in Illustrator.

    Cons

    The biggest con I can think of is the learning curve. When first starting to use Adobe Illustrator is it can seem very complex. So when you're new, is a pretty big learning curve. With that said, I still am learning after 5+ years.

    For this reason, I recommend taking some tutorials or classes to understand what illustrator is capable of and for learning what every tool does. Taking tutorials also gives you an insight into how to creatively use tools for different purposes.

    I know when I first learned Illustrator. I had a good idea of what most tools did. But I just wasn't aware of the different use cases on how to creatively construct my artwork, actually using the tools. It was something that slowed me down, compared to just grabbing a pencil and paper and sketching out my vision.

    But once you learn to use the different tools together, you start to get a flow going and you get quicker with time.

    Alternatives Considered

    Inkscape and Affinity Designer

    Reasons for Switching to Adobe Illustrator

    I chose adobe illustrator because it is well known as being a standard in the graphic design industry. So since I knew that it was one of the top choices, I started learning AI early on. However, over the years, they changed to a subscription model, which isn't ideal for everyone, and some may opt for a one-time fee software products. If that is you, and you don't demand the top of the line features and abilities, Affinity designer is a great choice. Inkscape is also a good free version, but I don't think the latest mac OS is compatible. But if you want the best of the best, adobe illustrator is it.
    Samuel
    Samuel
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Media Production
    • Company size: Self Employed
    • Used Weekly for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Customer Support
    • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

    Illustrator, a connection to the past. But what does the future hold?

    Reviewed on 15/09/2020

    Adobe Illustrator scores above average, much more because of its solid foundation than current...

    Adobe Illustrator scores above average, much more because of its solid foundation than current features.

    It is a program that, in a way, has stopped in time. (I still expect compatibility improvements)

    It is a program that you must have, or at least give it a try. There are many possibilities, if your creativity allows it.

    If you are a design professional or student, you should give preference to AI.

    Pros

    Writing about Illustrator is very passionate. One of the most important Pros of the program is its solid foundation, built over decades. Yes! Decades.

    Therefore, the main resources of the illustration industry are here. Shapes, Fills, lines, vectors, compositions. Ease of basic understanding of features.

    Learning curve, of the basic resources is fast. Numerous editing possibilities (the limit is your creation)
    high degree of SVG compatibility.

    These are, for me, the best reasons to use AI since 2011.

    Cons

    Against the grain, AI presents a high consumption of computer resources. RAM, VRAM, Processor, these are abundantly consumed by the program. The more you have, the more it will consume.

    With the exception of the SVG format, any non-native format will have serious compatibility problems, causing constant breaks.

    The learning curve for advanced items is complex and requires more effort than other programs in the same category.

    However, in my opinion, the X of the question is: Is Adobe Illustrator the program of the future for vectors? or was he stuck in time and his Status Quo?

    Kenyon
    Kenyon
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Photography
    • Company size: 2–10 Employees
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Customer Support
    • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

    The Core of the apple

    Reviewed on 04/11/2020

    Building logos for myself and customers, Creating various types of art.

    Building logos for myself and customers, Creating various types of art.

    Pros

    This is a beautifully put together piece of software with various features and applications. If you are a designer animator or even just a hobbyist. You can make anything graphic wise and paint as realistically a real brush!! Ai is a must-have for any serious designer

    Cons

    It can be a little hard to master although learning it is fun and rewarding in many ways. There are bugs and certain system errors but over its great

    Alternatives Considered

    Photobucket

    Reasons for Choosing Adobe Illustrator

    The functions were alot better.

    Switched From

    Clip Studio Paint

    Reasons for Switching to Adobe Illustrator

    Its very professional and well put together.
    Tavaris
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Computer Games
    • Company size: Self Employed
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Customer Support
    • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

    What to look for in graphic design software

    Reviewed on 27/06/2024

    Since I'm programmer and a graphic designer my work flow improve a lot using the software

    Since I'm programmer and a graphic designer my work flow improve a lot using the software

    Pros

    I love that the learning curve is not to hard to pick up. The community is friendly and always helpful

    Cons

    Maybe another tier plan for those that are on a tight budget.

    Alternatives Considered

    GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

    Reasons for Switching to Adobe Illustrator

    Certain features Gimp do not have but Illustrator does
    JACOB
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Design
    • Company size: 2–10 Employees
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Customer Support
    • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

    My Favorite Gem of Adobe

    Reviewed on 27/03/2024

    It's been great. Been using for several years as the primary vector design tool.

    Back bone of our...

    It's been great. Been using for several years as the primary vector design tool.

    Back bone of our creative process that helps us make marketing materials and quickly organize information visually.

    Pros

    Illustrator is a power house that gives designers a robust reliable tool for making scalable professional designs for print, digital, packaging, and more.

    Illustrator feels very scientific and logical its tools and layout. In the last year and a half the tool has gotten noticably boosted with features ranging from nice to haves to game changers. Which is rare for a tool that's been around for decades.

    Illustrator gives designers, marketers, and makers a system that let's them outlet their work so well into production use tmand that's incredible.

    Cons

    It can take a long time to get used to this tool. It's expensive. And there's still lots of features that feel like they're missing.

    Showing 5 reviews of 8,627 Read all reviews

    Adobe Illustrator FAQs

    Below are some frequently asked questions for Adobe Illustrator.

    Adobe Illustrator offers the following pricing plans:

    • Starting from: £31.49/month
    • Pricing model: Subscription
    • Free Trial: Not Available

    Individuals US$19.99/month Latest version of selected app ProSite portfolio website Typekit desktop and web fonts 20GB of cloud storage Business US$29.99/month (per license) Choice of one creative desktop app or the entire collection of 20+ apps Team website, premium fonts, and up to 100GB of storage for collaboration 24/7 technical support Additional pricing options for students & teachers, schools & universities.

    Adobe Illustrator has the following typical customers:

    Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000

    Adobe Illustrator supports the following languages:

    Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian

    Adobe Illustrator supports the following devices:

    Android (Mobile), iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile)

    We do not have any information about what integrations Adobe Illustrator has

    Adobe Illustrator offers the following support options:

    Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support

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