Adobe Illustrator

Designers, studios and amateurs, illustrate and create artwork through vector based graphics.

Company: Adobe Systems Inc.

Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista (business, ultimate, enterprise & home premium).

Versions: Adobe Illustrator CS5.

Family: Included in Adobe Creative Suite 4, Production Premium. Master Collection, Design Standard and Web Premium.

Try Adobe Illustrator

Product summary of Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is an editing program that is based on vector graphics. It is marketed and developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated. The first version of this program was released in 1987 and was only compatible with the Apple Macintosh. Today, current versions can be used for computers using Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The latest version, which is called the Adobe Illustrator CS4, is the fourteenth version in the product line. Adobe Illustrator is based on the concept of Bezier curves as the main element in documents. In this program, Bezier curves represent lines. These curves are also utilized to emulate arcs and circles. Aside from that, Adobe Illustrator has also incorporated various elements from PostScript and Adobe's font technology. Design and graphics professionals will surely benefit from the powerful features offered by Adobe Illustrator.

Features of Adobe Illustrator

One of the new features of Adobe Illustrator CS4 that previous versions of Adobe Illustrator did not have is multiple artboards. Users can now create files that contain up to a maximum of 100 artboards of different sizes. These artboards can be displayed in any way the user wants, be it stacked, side by side, or overlapping. Designers can also print, save, and export artboards together or independently. These can also be saved as a multi-page PDF file.

Adobe Illustrator CS4 also offers in-panel appearance editing, which means that users can now edit object characteristics in the Appearance panel instead of having to open the stroke, effects, or fill panel. Users can also control display so rendering will be faster. This program even offers refined graphic styles so that users can create unique effects and apply styles without altering the appearance of an already existing object. New thumbnail previews as well as a bigger selection of prebuilt styles are also available in Adobe Illustrator CS4.

Editors review of Adobe Illustrator

The multiple artboards feature is one that many design and graphic professionals are loving about the Adobe Illustrator CS4. Opening and saving large files in this program also seems faster than in earlier versions. There are also on-object controls that let users utilize tools smoothly. Users can also increase their productivity and efficiency through the new time-saving shortcuts. The new features such as the blob brush tool and transparency in gradients also make the software easier to learn and use.

Adobe Illustrator CS4 does offer so much more than its predecessors. But one of the best things about Adobe Illustrator CS4 is that despite the fact that the technology behind the product is sophisticated, the program is relatively easy to learn and use. Graphics and design professionals don't need to be technical wizards to use Adobe Illustrator. Even teachers and students may benefit from the use of this software. Aside from these, Adobe Illustrator CS4 may be used in conjunction with other software in the Adobe Creative Suite 4. Those who wish to know more about this product might want to visit the official Adobe website to get more information.