About
Overview
Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics editor. Unlike Photoshop (which uses pixels), Illustrator uses mathematical paths, meaning designs can be scaled infinitely without losing quality. It is essential for logos, icons, typography, and complex illustrations.
Pricing & Free Tier
Free Tier: No. (7-day free trial available).
Single App Plan: $22.99/month (billed annually). Includes Illustrator and 100GB cloud storage.
Creative Cloud All Apps: $59.99/month for access to the entire Adobe suite.
How to Use
- Create a new document and set the color mode (RGB for web, CMYK for print).
- Use the Pen Tool (P) to draw precise paths and vector shapes.
- Use the Pathfinder panel to merge, divide, or subtract overlapping shapes.
- Use the Type Tool (T) to add text; text can be converted to outlines to create custom vector shapes.
Important Notes
- Not for Photo Editing: Do not use Illustrator for high-res photo manipulation. Stick to Photoshop or Lightroom for raster images.
- Performance: Complex vector files with thousands of anchor points can cause severe lag. Use the GPU performance settings to optimize.