What are the New Features In Adobe Illustrator CS5?

Copyright (c) 2011 Mandi Pralle

Illustrator is one of the most popular software tools for graphic designers, web designers and commercial artists of all stripes. It's one of the leading programs of its type, much like the other programs which make up the Adobe Creative suite; and with the latest version, CS5, this popular graphic design tool has become even more powerful, providing users with an ever larger number of ways to accomplish their tasks.

While of course the basic functionality of the program remains the same, the new version includes a number of upgrades and improvements along with some new features; keep reading to learn a little more about some of the new features in Adobe Illustrator CS5.

Perspective Grid:

This tool is new to the latest version of Illustrator and offers an easy way for artists and designers to draw directly on a grid which provides true perspective. Whether the aim is to draw in one, two or three point perspective, this tool makes it easy. There's also a perspective selection tool which allows dynamic movement, scaling, duplication and transformation of objects; and you can also use the tool to move objects perpendicularly. It's ideal for drawing and is an especially time saving feature for animators.

Variable Width Strokes:

The new width tool in Illustrator CS5 allows users to draw strokes in variable widths which can be easily adjusted as needed. Users can also create and save their own custom width profiles which can then be applied to any stroke later on.

Improved Stretch Control:

One problem users have had with previous versions of Illustrator is the lack of fine control over stretch operations. This has been addressed in Illustrator CS5, which now allows users to stretch just part of an image (for instance, the middle of a banner) while leaving the edges as is.

Improved Graphics for the Web and Mobile Devices:

Rasterized graphics now look much sharper even on the relatively low resolution offered by mobile devices; a must in a market where an increasing number of consumers are experiencing the web in smart phones and other mobile devices. This feature allows designers and artists to stay ahead of the curve in terms of web technology while giving their work the visual impact they intend, regardless of the platform their audience uses.

Shape Builder:

The new Shape Builder tool allows designers to easily create complex shapes by combining and erasing parts of simple shapes. This feature can save an incredible amount of time, especially for designers who frequently need to draw complex shapes for commercial art or fine art projects, not to mention animated media.

These are just a few of the many new features which Adobe Illustrator CS5 has to offer; there are many other improvements and new features to explore, all of which are designed to make life easier for graphic designers, commercial artists and web designers who need high performance, user friendly design tools.

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