Adobe Illustrator Versions By Year [new]
– The first version for Windows. It was not well-received compared to the Mac version, lacking many features. 1990: Illustrator 3.0 – A significant update that introduced and the ability to edit text directly on the canvas. 1992: Illustrator 4.0
– Added 3D effects with ray tracing and collaboration features. 2022: Illustrator 2023 (v27) – Introduced Intertwine and improved "Share for Review." 2023: Illustrator 2024 (v28) adobe illustrator versions by year
This period established Illustrator as the premier vector software, focused on perfecting the Pen tool, paths, and Bezier curves. The transition from OS-specific tools to a unified interface (v7.0) was critical. 2. The Creative Suite Era (2003–2012) – The first version for Windows
The first version for Microsoft Windows was version 2.0, released in early 1989—but it was a commercial disappointment. Version 4.0 (May 1992) became the first version to support editing in preview mode on Windows, though Macintosh users had to wait until version 5.0 in 1993 for this feature. During the early 1990s, Adobe also released versions of Illustrator for NeXT, Silicon Graphics IRIX, and Sun Solaris platforms, but all were discontinued due to poor market acceptance. 1992: Illustrator 4
– Revamped the interface to match Adobe Photoshop, streamlining cross-app workflows.
The final version released as a standalone product before the transition to the Creative Suite (CS) naming convention. 2003: Adobe Illustrator CS (Version 11) Key Launch: 2003.