Adobe Illustrator has defined the vector graphics industry for nearly four decades. Since its debut in January 1987, it has evolved from a simple PostScript drawing tool into an AI-powered powerhouse. The Early Years: Foundations of Vector (1987–1996)

The journey of Adobe Illustrator is a mirror of the digital design revolution—from monochrome boxes in 1987 to generative prompts in 2025. Each version built upon the last, ensuring that the humble Bézier curve remains the designer's most powerful tool.

1997: Version 7.0 (Simba) – Achieved interface parity between Mac and Windows; introduced tabbed dockable palettes.

Added layers, the ability to type directly on a path, and chart/graph tools. 1992 4.0 (Windows) First version to support editing in preview mode. 1993 5.0