Adobe has announced a series of enhancements to its Illustrator software aimed at improving workflow speed and functionality for users.
Nataraj Shanmugh revealed that the latest Illustrator release includes significant advances in performance and Japanese typography capabilities. These updates have been motivated by direct feedback from the user community via platforms such as UserVoice and social media channels.
Adobe has introduced performance improvements in Illustrator, with advancements in multithreading capabilities.
This includes performance that is up to ten times faster when converting linked images to embedded images, and up to five times faster image processing for files like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and Photoshop.
Additionally, the application will see up to five times faster performance when working with popular effects such as Drop Shadow, Blur, and Inner Glow.
A new feature called Retype has been highlighted for its ability to assist users in quickly identifying and matching fonts. Retype accesses a library of over 30,000 Adobe Fonts and local fonts within Illustrator, minimising the effort required to sift through numerous typefaces. Graphic designer and instructor Monika Gause commented, "Retype has surprised me multiple times, naming fonts quickly. Other times it couldn't tell on first try but then nailed it after thinking about it and learning. So, you can really watch it learn and then it helps save you time." Retype now additionally supports Japanese, French, and German languages.
Adobe has also made advancements in Japanese typography.
The new developments are designed to accommodate the unique standards of Japanese design by minimising time-consuming manual adjustments. The introduction of the Momochidori Japanese variable font, which features em-box variations and coloured glyphs, represents a step forward in enhancing design flexibility. Naoko Naku, a book designer, remarked, "Momochidori is a unique typeface with a flexible appearance and a unique atmosphere. It fits seamlessly into any project, including picture books like the award-winning Melting into the Sunset. I'm looking forward to seeing more creations with Momochidori!"
Alongside enhancements in Japanese typography, Adobe has also bolstered Korean typography options, aligning with regional standards to facilitate improved design efficiency.
The recent updates to Illustrator also address three frequently requested user features.
Designers can now save patterns and gradients directly to their Creative Cloud Library for easy sharing, calculate the area of a shape or path, and embed fonts into Illustrator files to maintain consistent design across different machines.
Adobe encourages users to test these new features by updating to the latest Illustrator version, noting that these changes are just the start, with more updates planned throughout 2025.
