- Quick specs
- Price: Free to try (30-day trial); $499.00 to buy
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: April 23, 2004
- Total Downloads: 1,891,809
- Downloads last week: 8,171
- See full specifications
A newer version of Adobe Illustrator is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 72 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
True to its name, Adobe Illustrator began life as a standard-bearer for vector-based illustration and design, but fell behind the times because it lacked the Web output of competitors. Eager to shed Illustrator's stodgy image as a print-only application, Adobe has since taught this old dog many new tricks.
One instantly noticeable change is the panel-based interface, a change from the familiar palettes of old. The panels can be minimized to simple icon docks. Clicking on an icon opens up the palette it refers to, while hitting the arrow at the top opens all the palettes. No more worries about palettes blocking your workspace.
Colors get a lot of attention in CS3. They can now be grouped as you want them, and you can have CS3 suggest similar or related colors to you. The new Live Color function lets you easily change existing colors in your image. The app also includes integration with Adobe Flash, minimizing the hoop-jumping required for creating symbols in Illustrator and seamlessly importing them into Flash. Both programs now share the same hot key for defining symbols, and Illustrator now has Flash's graphics engine, further simplifying the crossover and importing process.
Other new features include a vector erasing tool, an improved cropping mechanism, tweaks in Live Trace, overhauled New Document Profiles, and more, but Illustrator is not for everyone. As is typical for Adobe products, the price, system requirements, and learning curve can be daunting. That said, this program offers features and functionality that can't be matched, and is a must-have for anyone who is serious about professional-quality digital illustration.
Publisher's description
From Adobe Systems :Adobe Illustrator is a drawing package that allows users to create sophisticated artwork, technical illustrations, graphics, and page designs for print, multimedia, and the Web. Illustrator offers a full range of drawing and painting tools, as well as typographic control. Similar to Photoshop, Illustrator offers nondestructive drop shadows, feathering, and inner and outer glows for easier button creation. With the Release To Layers command in the Layers palette, you can automatically generate a separate layer for each object.
This new version provides faster performance, advanced typography, and enhanced Adobe PDF-file creation are just a few of the new features in this breakthrough release.
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User reviews of Adobe Illustrator CS
- Average user rating: 3.6 stars out of 72 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 8 user reviewsSee all 8 user reviews
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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Adobe Illustrator CS
"AMAZING program!! What CAN'T it do???"
Pros: This is the most diversified graphics program I have ever used. I haven't found anything yet that it can't do. If you are looking for a top of the line vector program this is it. You can tweak every little detail to make your work perfect. You don't have to settle for "good enough" - you can get EXACTLY the effect you want.
Cons: Yes, it takes time and patience to learn how to use everything, but that's the whole point! You want a program to be able to do SOOO MUCH. It is time consuming to experiment with all of the hundreds of options, but once you get familiar with them there is nothing better. Other reviewers are right - for the price they should give better teaching support. Luckily my local college has an Adobe course that was very helpful.
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Version: Adobe Illustrator CS
"Posters, Ads, Art, and everything!"
Summary: Illustrator just plain kicks butt. It takes a bit of getting used to, as does Photoshop, but you can pretty much figure it all out on your own without a whole hell of a lot of effort. I'd recommend buying / borrowing / downloading a guide though f... read more >>
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Version: Adobe Illustrator CS
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Version: Adobe Illustrator CS
"not enough features in the demo to really 'try'"
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Version: Adobe Illustrator CS
"GOOD FEATURES BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH."
Summary: Kinda buggy.
- See all 8 user reviews Write review
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