Adobe Illustrator — Versions By Year [upd]

– Refined the 5.0 feature set, including improved text handling.

Built to run natively on Apple’s new Mac OS X. It brought tools geared toward web and interactive design, including symbols , slicing tools for web layouts, and object warping . The Creative Suite (CS) Era (2003–2012) 2003: Adobe Illustrator CS (Version 11)

Deepened cloud ecosystem fluidity with instant web browser editing and advanced contextual AI assistants. adobe illustrator versions by year

If you are looking to update or find the best version for your workflow, check Adobe's official "What's New" page.

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. – Refined the 5

Enhanced sharing capabilities between different applications.

This era integrated complex 3D graphic effects directly into the flat UI, including materials and ray-traced lighting. Collaboration tools like Share for Review allowed clients to leave feedback inside the app. Intertwine was introduced to easily weave overlapping text and shapes together. 2025–2026: Adobe Illustrator (Versions 29 & 30) Key Milestone: Generative AI Integration. The Creative Suite (CS) Era (2003–2012) 2003: Adobe

: Made switching between Photoshop and Illustrator frictionless for designers. 1998: Adobe Illustrator 8.0 Key Focus : Artistic control and advanced path manipulation.

The Creative Suite Era (1997–2012): Web Integration and Power Tools 1997: Adobe Illustrator 7.0