Adobe Illustrator CC

Softonic review

Create stunning vector graphics on your Windows PC

Adobe Illustrator is one of the most popular, reliable, and feature-packed design software for creating vector graphics, sketches, drawings, and artwork. The program gives access to multiple tools for high-quality design projects. With brushes, special effects, layers, filters, color processing, gradient effects, and drawing tools, you can create stunning designs from your imagination. The application lets you add final touches to creations instantly and integrates well with other Adobe products. It’s also available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud.

Multiple effects, layers, features, and templates

Adobe Illustrator is a solid, reliable, and trustworthy design software. The program has been designed to create illustrations, web designs, typography, mobile content, logos, videos, digital graphics, and many more. Integrated with the company’s Mercury Performance System, this application helps improve workflows, manage large-size files, and work with improved speed. 

Just the same with Adobe Illustrator CC, even the standalone app comes with preset templates to choose from or to serve as references. This gives the software more flexibility when it comes to working on creative projects and marketing campaigns.

What about the interface?

Compared to PaintTool SAI, AutoCAD, and other similar programs, Adobe Illustrator comes with an intuitive interface. The easy-to-navigate tool ensures maximum productivity and lets you move the cursor fluidly in multiple workspaces. Additionally, it lets you easily manage layout changes or reset crucial parameters.

Whether you download Adobe Illustrator as a standalone app or install it as part of Creative Cloud, you’ll get access to various tools and functionalities. Combined, all these work to ensure precise sketches and drawings with vector graphics. 

Adobe Illustrator works with a powerful image-tracing engine. It keeps your creations clean and accurate, giving you more time to polish your design skills. For instance, while working with gradients on objects or strokes, you get more control over opacity and placement. 

What are the features?

For years, Adobe Illustrator has been the leading choice for working with vector graphics. The program comes with multiple drawing tools, which can be used to create scalable drawings. The artwork you create on Illustrator is ‘resolution independent’, making sure different elements can be resized without compromising quality.

While working with Illustrator, this feature is also available for the ‘effects’ section. Though the creation may have modified textures, resolutions, blurs, and shadows, you won’t notice much difference in quality. 

Moreover, the app supports cross-media design, allowing the entire layout to adapt to different customizations. With this design tool, you can draw or edit something on a smartphone, digital printing sources, and online publishing platforms without worrying about the shift in quality or aesthetics.

The program comes with a diverse brush palette. Additionally, you can create new styles within seconds. The most commonly used brushes include ‘Blob’ and ‘Bristle’. While the first one generates a single vector, the second gives your designs a natural look with in-depth, realistic strokes.

Apart from this, Adobe Illustrator has various advanced features, including live distortion, 3D effects, multiple symbols, the ability to bend shapes, Gaussian blur, shape builder, and more. Overall, the program is packed with exclusive as well as commonly used features to boost your creativity.

Is Adobe Illustrator easy to use?

Compared to Corel Painter and other programs in this category, Adobe Illustrator is easier to navigate. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be overwhelming for beginners. Having said that, there’s a dedicated ‘Help’ section, which answers common doubts and queries. Once you start using this design software, you’ll be able to get the hang of the different features and functionalities rather quickly.

The program focuses on step-by-step tutorials, which let you cover basic and advanced techniques to work with vector graphics. Like most Creative Cloud apps, even this one has large-sized icons, organized properly in top and side window panes. Right from the beginning, you can use the program’s intuitive and straightforward interface.

Illustrator has been developed by Adobe, which has years of experience in innovation and technology. As such, the program receives updates and bug fixes on a regular basis. In the latest version, you can leverage global editing, customizable toolbars, presentation previews, trimming features, and freeform gradients.

With support for Cloud storage, Adobe Illustrator lets you easily collaborate with colleagues and clients. The program gives you more freedom to foster creativity and imagination. In the last few years, the developers have made several improvements in critical areas, including workspaces, painting tools, drawing features, color correction, among others.

Once you’ve worked on a specific design, you can choose from various exporting options. You can either save the creations on Cloud or upload files to third-party services. Since Illustrator integrates well with other Cloud apps, you can open vector images in other Adobe products, such as Lightroom and Photoshop.

Without a doubt, Adobe Illustrator has been a great choice for artists, designers, and content creators looking for accuracy, precision, and high-end quality in vector graphics. Every tool in the program encourages creativity, speed, and imagination. The end result leads to stunning visuals right on your Windows computer. Most importantly, installing Illustrator doesn’t affect system resources.

The benchmark tool for amazing design work

Adobe Illustrator CC is one of the leading platforms for vector graphics. With an intuitive interface, customization options, multiple features, and Adobe’s high-end technologies, the program has a definitive edge over competitors. The latest version not only supports Cloud apps but comes with important bug fixes and improvements to speed, accuracy, and privacy.

Adobe has also focused on building a solid community, which includes artists, designers, and content creators from around the world. With multiple forums, FAQs, dedicated help sections, and excellent customer support, the company continues to build a solid design software for Microsoft Windows (10 and 11)PCs. 

Just download and install the program, and you won’t be disappointed with the usage. Adobe Illustrator has different subscription plans, suiting every budget and requirement. You can also test the features in the free trial period.