What is Adobe Illustrator?
Adobe Illustrator is a popular vector graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. as part of its Creative Cloud suite of design and media applications. Illustrator allows users to create vector-based illustrations, logos, packaging designs, icons, posters, banners and more.
As a vector graphics program, Illustrator works differently than raster graphic editors like Photoshop. Instead of editing images pixel by pixel, Illustrator uses mathematical formulas and vectors to represent images, allowing for increased scalability and precision when resized. Vectors can also be manipulated and modified more easily compared to raster images.
Key features include:
- Tools for drawing shapes, curves, fonts and gradients
- Typography tools for working with fonts and text
- Advanced brushes for detailed illustrations and designs
- Graph and chart creation tools
- A robust selections system
- Transformation tools like rotation, scale, shear and perspective
- Layers for managing complex designs
- Color palette management and color libraries
- Powerful path editing capabilities
- File exporting to various formats like SVG, PDF, JPEG and PNG
As part of Adobe's ecosystem, Illustrator works seamlessly with other Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop, InDesign, XD and more. It also supports importing CAD files, working with data-driven graphics for dynamic illustrations, and single page web export to convert designs into web pages.