As a graphic designer, you must be searching for a strong vector editor with formidable tools and features. By downloading Adobe Illustrator CC, you will receive dozens of versatile tools for creating and manipulating your vector files.

The CC introduced an array of brand-new features and made existing ones better-rounded. By grabbing Adobe Illustrator CC, you are getting a premium vector-based graphic editor that will allow you to design or draw, blend multiple animations, and create symbols, patterns, icons, posters, and much more.

Adobe Illustrator CC Download for Windows

After six installments in the Creative Suite series, the first version of Illustrator Creative Cloud came out on the 17th of June 2013.

With significantly enhanced versatility and much stronger features, Illustrator CC promises unprecedented performance levels. Download it now to take Illustrator CC’s new features and functionalities for a spin.

Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud was the first version based on a subscription model and support Windows 10 operating system.

Adobe Illustrator CC Features

The core novelty feature of Illustrator CC is the Images in Brushes functionality. After creating any shape with the Brush, users can add raster images. Moreover, the art piece can be reshaped and modified even after adding the image.

The On-art Free-Transform tool has significantly amplified Illustrator’s logo designing capabilities. As of this update, users can scale, rotate, flip, and seamlessly modify the artwork and prepare it for various practical formats (logos, tags, banners, and such).

Automatic Corner Generation functionality has been added to the Pattern Brush settings, enabling you to generate an accurate outline of any artwork.

The new Illustrator CC features the ability to generate & extract CSS code. Designing complex HTML layouts, as well as capturing the positioning, appearance, or styling of your vector objects, was never easier.

Another new feature introduced in CC is the Kuler panel integration. You can capture various themes virtually anywhere via the Kuler app. The application will process your theme and allow you to upload it to your Illustrator via the Kuler panel.

Cloud integrations became more comprehensive, as users received the ability to synchronize workspace settings directly to CC; uploading preferences, templates, libraries, brushes, or presets became faster. 

Adobe Illustrator Versions

Download Illustrator 2022 - The most up-to-date version of Adobe's Illustrator is 26.0.2, launched for Mac and Windows in Oct 2021. With this update, Mac users received the Apple M1 Native support. Rotate View is the program's newest feature, along with the ability to delete hidden layers.

Download Illustrator 2021 - In February 2021, Adobe released the 25.2 update – a major patch that brought a multitude of performance improvements and the much-needed system compatibility report upon application launch. Additionally, Cloud files could be shared and edited online.

Download Illustrator 2020 - Illustrator 24.3 was last updated in August 2020. Snap-to-glyph was introduced for the first time, and objects placed on the canvas could be unlocked. Minor improvements were made to several text alignment features.

Download Illustrator 2019 – 23.0 - On the 15th of October 2019, Adobe launched the Illustrator Creative Cloud 23.0, bringing freeform gradients, trim view, content-aware cropping, global edit, and scalable user interface to the fold. This is the first Illustrator version that supported external graphics cards.

Download Illustrator CC 2018 - CC 2018 came in 2017 and introduced a thousand artboard presets and Properties panels for even more versatility. This was also the first time Illustrator supported MacBook touch bar devices.

Download Illustrator CC 2017 - Although the initial CC 2017 came off of a bumpy ride in 2016, it was patched twice in January 2017, allowing users to locate fonts faster, operate glyphs more intuitively, and access Adobe Stock presets more quickly. Typekit Marketplace was also introduced for the first time.

Download Illustrator CC 2015 - Introduced Adobe Stock preset integration and an array of performance upgrades. File recovery function paired with the new Safe mode helped preserve designer works more reliably while GPU performance boon was more than welcome.

Download Illustrator CC 2014 - In June 2014, Illustrator received the version 18 update, presenting a more comprehensive integration to the acclaimed Creative Cloud platform. Fonts, settings, and onboard color palettes could be synchronized with a click on a button. Brand-new typing functionalities were added, as well as the CSS extraction feature.

Download Illustrator CS6 - Popularly known as Illustrator Ellora was the first Adobe Illustrator to support 64-bit memory systems. User Interface was revamped, bringing a cleaner outlook, and Image Trace replaced the Live Trace feature. Ellora was the last 'named' Illustrator.

Download Illustrator CS5 - Ajanta was launched in May 2010, introducing strokes with variable width, the bristle brush, Perspective tools, and various minor tweaks to performance. Shape-builder tools were a massive hit and had almost completely replaced Pathfinder tools.

Download Illustrator CS4 - Sonnet was launched in October 2008 and introduced multi-artboards, transparent gradients, blob brush, and live gradient editing. Version 14 also came with support for separation previews and advanced in-palette appearance editing.

Download Illustrator CS3 - The CS3, or Illustrator 'Jason' version brought Flash integration, early versions of the Isolation mode, multiple document profiles, the crop area functionality, and the Live color feature.

Downlaod Illustrator CS2 - The heavily acclaimed Zodiac was one of the most groundbreaking improvements to Illustrator. Version 12 and 12.0.1 came with support for Photoshop layers, Adobe Bridge, and Wacom tablet. Live trace and colorized grayscale effects were also introduced.

Download Illustrator CS - The first Illustrator CS is actually the 11th iteration of the program. This version introduced compatibility of saves with Microsoft Office, support for OpenType functionality, columns, rows, and a variety of unique effects. 

The first version of Creative Studio - Released nearly two decades ago, the original Creative Studio brought an eclectic suite of software designed for professional editing of digital media. After Effects, Bridge, and Photoshop were its main highlights. 

Download Illustrator 10 - After Pavel, Simba, Elvis, Matisse, and Paloma versions, the Pangea Illustrator came and took the market by storm, offering 3D and scribble effects, Microsoft Office sync, optical kerning and margins, configurable columns and rows, dozens of character and paragraph styles, and OpenType support.

Adobe Illustrator Alternatives?

Some graphic designers find Illustrator to be too challenging to use while many beginners who are yet to learn how vector designing tools work typically look for free programs to learn the basics. While the best Adobe Illustrator alternatives may not be as versatile, their features are usually much simpler to use.

Illustrator vs Photoshop

Illustrator can do nearly everything Photoshop is capable of, but not the other way around. Although many enthusiasts may argue that Photoshop feels a bit easier to use, Adobe’s team worked diligently to simplify Illustrator without sacrificing its versatility. As a better-rounded program with drastically more robust features, Illustrator would clearly win.

Check out our in-depth Illustrator vs Photoshop comparison of the two leading graphics and design editing software packages on the market. Or consider downloading Adobe Photoshop CC for Windows and compare for yourself side by side.

Illustrator vs CorelDRAW

When it comes to two of the most renowned vector graphics editing programs on the market, picking the right one can be difficult.

For more information, check out this fantastic Adobe Illustrator vs. CorelDRAW 2022 break down. While both are amazing vector graphics editors, they offer vastly different and unique advantages.

Should I Upgrade to Adobe Illustrator 2022?

There are thousands of reasons for upgrading to the latest version of Adobe Illustrator and barely a handful against it. First and foremost, Illustrator has been the leading graphic design software for decades, and Adobe has consistently delivered upon the promise of quality with each new version, patch, and update.

Check out my in-depth article on Adobe Illustrator pricing or download the free Adobe Illustrator trial for 7-days and see what you think for yourself.

Download Illustrator CC

The auto-corner generation and on-art free-transform tools introduced with the CC version have significantly increased the Illustrator’s vector designing accuracy and versatility. With dozens of stability fixes and performance upgrades, this version is more stable and reliabe than its predecessors. 

We recommend downloading Illustrator CC to Adobe veterans, professional graphic designers, animation artists, and cartoonists looking for a strong, consistent vector design software.

Software Summary:

You can run Adobe Illustrator on Windows operating systems. Adobe Illustrator is a software product developed by Adobe and it is listed in the category. Adobe Illustrator is licensed as Adobe Illustrator.