100% faster zoom and pan (GPU rendering default), SVG color fonts (colorful icon fonts), New Extract Assets panel (export slices for web), and Preview of blending modes . Also added Curvature tool (refined) and Shaper tool (convert rough hand-drawn shapes into perfect vectors via machine learning).
Released exclusively for Windows 3.1 —a controversial move that angered Mac loyalists. The UI was rewritten in C++ to run on Windows, but it lacked Mac’s native features (e.g., no pressure-sensitive drawing). It introduced the Transform Each command and basic Align palette. However, the Windows version was buggy and slow, allowing Macromedia FreeHand 5.0 to gain market share. adobe illustrator-versionshistorie
Under new engineering leadership, 7.0 replaced the entire codebase with a cross-platform framework (shared with Photoshop 4.0). It introduced the modern Toolbar layout, Dockable Palettes , Expanded Pen Tool (rubber-band preview), and Pixel Preview (viewing vectors as rasterized pixels). Most critically, it added Live Brushes and pressure-sensitive support for Wacom tablets. This version restored trust and aligned Illustrator for the incoming Adobe/Macromedia rivalry. Phase 3: The Creative Suite Era – Consolidation & Convergence (1999–2012) 100% faster zoom and pan (GPU rendering default),
