Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator ( Ai short ) is a vector-based graphic design and drawing. It is used to produce computer graphics, which can be optionally changed in size without loss of quality - in contrast to pixel-based image editing programs such as Photoshop. The name Illustrator dismissed from the start to the target group through: illustrators, particularly from the advertising industry. The program was developed in 1987 by the California software company Adobe Systems for the Apple Macintosh and is today maintained and marketed by Adobe. It runs on the computer running Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS, and has for years been the default application in the field of vector graphics.
From the classification forth between Illustrator is technically oriented, also vector-based CAD programs such as AutoCAD and artistically oriented, pixel-based painting and image editing programs such as Painter and Photoshop. Alternatives to Adobe Illustrator are, inter alia, Corel Draw, Freehand and Inkscape.
Historically, the first commercial illustrator graphics application software, the Bezier curves used to mathematically exact description of geometric shapes. Illustrator saves files in its own format (. Ai), the incumbent in the mid-1980s protocol language for laser printers, PostScript touched down. The software was still never a real PostScript editor.
The development story
Adobe Illustrator 1.1 - March 19, 1987 (Macintosh )
The first version of Illustrator had only basic drawing tools. For example, there was no way to create objects with holes. There was also a special preview mode in which the drawing could not be processed.
Adobe Illustrator 88-1988 (Macintosh )
Despite a simplified user interface and some new tools ( blending, freehand tool, tape measure, and Auto-trace colors, masks and pattern ), it was still not possible to edit drawings in preview mode or to create objects with holes.
Adobe Illustrator 2.0 - 1989 ( Windows)
The first version of Illustrator for Windows was not a great success. CorelDRAW was then Illustrator far superior of functionality and user-friendliness ago.
Adobe Illustrator 3.0 - 1990 (Macintosh, NeXT, Unix)
Also in this version is not working in preview mode was still possible, but linked / composite paths ( compound paths ) have been introduced and thus the ability to create objects with holes. Other new features have included diagrams, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, magnifier, centering, rounded rectangle, ellipse from the center, Transformierwerkzeuge and improved path processing. In addition, you could print in this version also on non- postscript printers. The versions for NextStep and other Unix platform were not sonderlicher success, as both platforms have not gained acceptance in the user area.
Adobe Illustrator 3.5 - 1991 ( Silicon Graphics )
Adobe Illustrator 4.0 - 1992 ( Windows)
This version also introduced for Adobe not very successful in the Windows world, since Corel Draw had already established and Illustrator 4.0 was no further development of version 3.0 for Macintosh. Nevertheless, there were small improvements like the editing in preview mode.
Adobe Illustrator 4.5 - 1993 ( Sun SPARC)
Adobe Illustrator 5.0 - 1993 ( Macintosh)
Now you could also edit the Macintosh his drawings directly in preview mode. The user interface has been changed and the floating palettes were given catchment. Besides the extended work surface using the undo command has been enhanced. Many still known today tools (knives, Seitenpositionierer, calligraphic brush, paint bucket, gradients, layers ) were added.
Adobe Illustrator 5.5 - 1994 (Macintosh )
This version ran natively on a Power Macintosh and brought with improved Import-/Export-Filter. So you could now open PDF files and export directly. The typographic skills have also been greatly improved. So it was finally columns and a tab palette.
Adobe Illustrator 4.1 - 1995 ( Windows)
In addition to better support Windows 95, there were no significant improvements. All graphics programs for the PC (and Illustrator for the Mac ) had left at that time illustrator for Windows far behind.
Adobe Illustrator 6.0 - 1996 (Macintosh )
This version offered further improved import filters, which made it possible to place TIFF, PDF, EPS, and PSD files. In addition, Photoshop filters have now been directly supported and supplied some of them. New features were convert among others in pixel image, star and polygon tools, spiral mold, twist tool, Align palette, color separation, mathematical operations in the palettes and drag and drop support. The heavily modified user interface in the path processing ( aligned with Photoshop ) held many buyers on an update.
Adobe Illustrator 7.0 - 1997 (Macintosh, Windows)
For the first time there was a Windows version that offered the same functionality as the Macintosh version. The user interface has been improved even further ( nestable pallets), and by the triumph of the WWW was also the first time the ability of the program to work with RGB colors. The Text tool has been extended to vertical offshoots, and the Chart tool received new chart types. Also, the color management was not neglected by Adobe, and Illustrator was created using the multiple- master palette the first program, the use of such writings directly without Adobe Type Manager and modify could.
Adobe Illustrator 8.0 - 1998 (Macintosh, Windows)
With every version of Photoshop skills also came to Illustrator, and Illustrator now thus contained an action palette Navigator palette and the ability to export layered files to Photoshop. A major innovation was the gradient mesh, which allowed thanks PostScript 3 and PDF resolution independent, flexible curves. The Smart Guides and free Distort tool significantly increased productivity, and the image and special brush made additional programs such as Fractal Design Expression partially redundant. In addition, there was finally subsequently customizable transitions, as it offered other programs for some time.
Adobe Illustrator 9.0 - 2000 ( Macintosh, Windows)
The longer development time compared to previous versions made itself felt in a huge leap in technology. Illustrator 9 was the first vector program, the transparencies of good quality ( and in some cases further resolution-independent ) could spend. While Corel Draw had been available for quite some time transparency, but these were converted in each case in pixel images, which often led to exposure problems. Macromedia FreeHand also offered prior to Illustrator transparencies and even campaigned with being the first program to print transparencies as vector objects. Unlike Illustrator 9 FreeHand was severely limited in the combinations. Already eight superimposed transparencies were too many for a meaningful work on the document. Although Illustrator 9 had some problems with complicated documents, but this was corrected in the next version 10 for the most part. But there were other new features such as nested layers, effects (Live ) filters, styles and Photoshop-compatible color management. Due to the many complex functions Illustrator 9 but was significantly slower than its predecessor, and many users rose after the update to to version 8.0.
Adobe Illustrator 10-2001 (Macintosh, Mac OS X, Windows)
Adobe Illustrator positioned increasingly as web graphics application, and thus it was obvious that was very much improved in this area. The symbol palette helped keep flash files small, and the slice tool made superfluous many other applications. The SVG export has also been greatly improved, and the Variables palette made Illustrator documents dynamically from XML files. At last distortion Covers held in Illustrator catchment, which Illustrator was probably one of the last graphics programs, which received this function. Even on long-lost tools ( simple lines, arcs, and grids) Adobe had thought. Most of the problems of version 9.0 with the transparencies have been fixed, and also the operating speed increased further.
Adobe Illustrator CS ( version 11) - 2003 (Mac OS X, Windows)
End of December 2003 was published the German version of Illustrator CS. Since this version of Illustrator is an integral part of the Adobe Creative Suite, but will continue to be offered individually. Among other things, there is first true 3D functions, which are not the more advanced Adobe Dimensions quite similar. The frequently asked extrusion function was thus finally realized in Illustrator. Dealing with foreign language texts and writings has been completely revised, and Illustrator now supported for the first time OpenType and Unicode similar to the features of Adobe InDesign. In addition, there is now also the paragraph and character styles. The PDF support has been brought up to date ( PDF 1.5, Acrobat 6 ) and supports PDF layers, crop marks and password protection. On a new design feature Adobe has also thought: The Scribble effect makes it possible to make a drawing look like hand- painted with a few mouse clicks. Some problems of the previous version have been fixed; as EPS and PDF files should not be embedded if they come into contact with transparencies. The print function has been expanded, the scope of print settings now corresponds to about the possibilities offered by Adobe InDesign.
Adobe Illustrator CS2 (Version 12) - 2005 (Mac OS X, Windows)
The functionality was to opportunities for interactive tracing (car trace) expanded, interactive painting (filling of areas that are enclosed by multiple paths and editing contours segments ), advanced stroke options and colorized grayscale raster images. The control range is frequently used functions from different palettes in the current editing context.
Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Version 13) - 6th June 2007 ( Mac OS X 10.4 and above, Windows XP and Vista)
Integration with former Macromedia products, especially Flash.
New tools: Crop Area tool ( Crop Area tool) and vector eraser
New features: The version CS2 (12 ) introduced Isolated treatment mode for groups has been revised and extended to the editing symbols. The Live Color feature allows you to edit multiple colors already used on objects, for example, by assigning different color harmonies or locating on the color wheel. Editing the anchor points on a path has been simplified somewhat by adding buttons for frequently used functions and by better highlighting the position of a point.
New panels (previously pallets ) Color Guide ( Color Guide ), Adobe Labs / Kuler and know -how (only in the U.S. version )
Adobe Illustrator CS4 ( Version 14 ) - 23 September 2008 ( Mac OS X 10.4 and above, Windows XP and Vista)
In Illustrator CS4 multiple artboards ( pages) can be created in various sizes. Was also improves the handling of gradients - these can now contain transparent gradient colors. In the Appearance panel is no longer just the overview, but also the processing of object properties possible. As a new tool of the Blob Brush ( Blob Tool) was introduced, "paint" with the user vector objects. Also has an internal Illustrator now Separations Preview.
Improvements had been made clipping masks, Smart Guides, graphic styles and the isolation mode. Has been revised completely the user interface: there are among open files can be getabbt.
Adobe Illustrator CS5 (Version 15) - April 12, 2010 (Mac OS X 10.5.7 and higher, Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7)
In Illustrator CS5 received new tools. The Width tool is used to adjust the stroke width at any point of the path. With the Shape Builder tool shapes are formed. It works much like Live Paint, which forms arise, however, immediately. The newly introduced perspective grid helps the creation of perspective scenes and objects and also bring their own tools. New is also the bristle brush, a transparent, very natural-looking brush with watercolor appearance.
Improvements have been editing artboards by managing possibility in a separate palette, and icons by introducing, inter alia, 9-slice guides to be used directly in Illustrator. Furthermore, transparency was introduced in gradient meshes, various improvements in arrowheads and dashed contours and the selecting and editing lying behind and provided with clipping masks objects.
Adobe Illustrator CS6 ( version 16) - 23rd April 2012 ( Mac OS X 10.6.8 and higher, Windows XP and 7)
This version supports 64 bit Windows and Mac OS natively, thereby Illustrator can use more than the previously possible 3 GB of RAM and processing complex files better and faster. To speed increase also contributes to a revised Blur module. In addition, Illustrator CS6 provides a feature that greatly simplifies the creation of tileable patterns and profiles can be created to outlines ( over the entire path, across or along the path). The auto trace function has been completely rewritten. The user interface is not only visually, but also revised in the operation, eg layer names can be edited directly in the control panel.