Before CS came version 9. This update brought to vectors. Previously, if you wanted a semi-transparent object, you had to fake it in Photoshop. Now, vector graphics could have true opacity masks and drop shadows that remained editable.
The 1990s were the golden age of desktop publishing. This era saw Adobe locking horns with competitors like Macromedia FreeHand and Aldus (later Adobe) PageMaker. This competition drove rapid innovation. adobe illustrator-versionshistorie
Adobe Illustrator has evolved from a simple vector drawing tool for the Apple Macintosh into the industry-standard graphic design software it is today. Since its debut in 1987, the software has undergone massive shifts in architecture, branding, and feature sets. The Formative Years (1987–1996) In the beginning, Illustrator was defined by its revolutionary use of PostScript. Unlike contemporary "paint" programs, Illustrator allowed for infinitely scalable graphics. Illustrator 1.1 (1987): The "Picasso" version. It introduced the pen tool and Bezier curves to a wide audience, though it lacked a "preview" mode—users had to work in wireframe and switch to a separate window to see colors. Illustrator 88 (1988): Named after the year of release, this version introduced the Before CS came version 9
Renamed after its release year (a pattern later abandoned). Key additions: Auto Trace (converting raster images to paths, albeit crudely), Style Sheets (early paragraph/character styles), and the ability to work in separations for CMYK printing. It also introduced the Pencil Tool for freehand vector drawing. Version 88 cemented Illustrator as a professional prepress tool, directly competing with Aldus FreeHand (launched 1988). Now, vector graphics could have true opacity masks
Integration with Adobe Stock (search/place watermarked images), Team Libraries (collaborative asset sharing), Variable fonts (one font file behaves as multiple styles), and More realistic Bristle Brush using new physics. Trim View (hide artboard bounds).
Named after its release year, this version (1.6) added more advanced tools and helped launch the digital arts movement.