Illustrator 2019: The Version That Cracked Creative Barriers

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Adobe introduced Illustrator 2019 as part of its Creative Cloud suite, making vector design faster and easier. With smarter automation, improved precision tools, and better performance, the official version of Illustrator 2019 helps you take your creative projects to the next level.

Working as a vector graphic designer at FixThePhoto, I had the opportunity to try Adobe Illustrator 2019 ahead of its release. After using it to develop various branding and illustration projects, I can confidently say it’s a major step forward compared to earlier versions.
opening illustrator 2019

Before upgrading to this version of Illustrator, my go-to tool for crafting logos and illustrations was Illustrator CC 2017. While it worked fine, tools like the Gradient Mesh and Pen Tool were tricky to use for detailed designs. Moreover, working on large files with multiple artboards frequently led to performance issues, which disrupted my workflow and decreased productivity.

Advantages

✔️ Freeform Gradient Tool. A fresh Freeform Gradient tool allows the creation of complex gradients without trouble. This feature makes it easy to add depth and realism to vector art, whether for simple designs or detailed illustrations.

illustrator 2019 typography

✔️ Global editing. This feature lets you edit repeating elements on multiple artboards at once. It's been a game-changer for branding projects where consistency is important.
✔️ Customizable toolbar. Customizing the toolbar lets me work faster by tailoring it to the project. It's especially useful when switching between text-based designs and illustrations.
✔️ Improved performance. Illustrator 2019 is much faster. Zooming in on high-res graphics and exporting files feels smooth, even with complex projects.

Disadvantages

Steep learning curve. Tools like the Pen Tool and Gradient Mesh are powerful but can be tricky to learn without a good understanding of vector design and lots of practice. Many beginners need tutorials or online courses to get the hang of them, which takes time, especially for those who need quick results or are used to simpler design tools.
Dependency on Internet access. Features like cloud syncing and updates need a good internet connection, which can be a problem for users who work offline or have limited access to the web. Also, if the subscription ends, you lose access to the software and can't open or edit your projects until you renew it.
Availability of pirated versions: They are easy to find online, but they can be risky. They might have security problems and won’t get updates. It’s safer and better to use the official tool to avoid these issues and support the developers.

What Could Be Improved in Illustrator 2019

After trying out Illustrator 2019, I’ve found a few areas that could be improved to make it easier and smoother to use. While this version also offers great new features, fixing these issues could make Illustrator even better.

  • Better сollaboration: Even though Illustrator is part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud, sharing files and assets with other Adobe apps like Photoshop or InDesign can be awkward. You often have to export and re-import files, which takes extra time. Making the apps work together more smoothly would make it easier for teams to collaborate, especially on big projects or when using different platforms.
working with illustrator 2019
  • Auto-save refinements: Saving files in the cloud with Illustrator is handy, but the auto-save can be slow at times, which can interrupt your work on big projects. A faster and smoother auto-save would keep your work safe without slowing you down, protecting it from crashes or power outages.
  • Live preview lags: When using complex effects like drop shadows, gradients, or detailed patterns in Illustrator, the live previews can lag, especially with large or detailed files. This slows down your work and makes it harder to adjust things quickly. Making these previews faster would make editing easier and more efficient.
  • Performance with large files: Illustrator 2019 is powerful, but it still struggles with large, complex files, especially when working with high-resolution images or many artboards. While performance has improved, it could be better, especially for smoother zooming, scrolling, and using heavy effects.

Free Alternatives

If Illustrator 2019 is too expensive, check these Illustrator alternatives that offer amazing capabilities for vector design without without the high price tag.

Inkscape is a free, open-source tool for creating vector graphics. It's great for things like logo design, technical drawings, and simple vector art. With features like path editing and node tools, it’s a good choice for both beginners and professionals.

Although Krita is mainly a program for digital painting, it also has vector tools for shapes and text. It’s a good option if you want both freehand drawing and some vector features, though it’s not as precise as Illustrator.

Vectr is a lightweight and free graphic design software. Its simple interface makes it beginner-friendly and ideal for creating social media graphics or simple infographics. However, it’s not built for detailed, precision-heavy vector projects.

For creating diagrams and flowcharts instead of traditional vector art, Draw io is an excellent choice. This free, web-based tool specializes in structured design and offers features like SVG export. With seamless Google Drive integration, it’s ideal for collaboration and teamwork.

Perfect for creating logos, DesignEvo is a free vector graphics software that offers multiple templates and simple editing functions. It is ideal for newcomers or anyone seeking swift results, as it doesn’t have a steep learning curve and is simple to use. That said, its functionality is more focused and doesn’t match the versatility of comprehensive vector design software.

Ann Young

Retouching Guides Writer

Ann Young is an expert photographer, retoucher, and writer with over 9+ years of working at FixThePhoto. Her career in digital community began after earning her degree from New York University. She believes AI can be a real helper if you know how to use it properly. Unlike many photographers, she isn’t afraid that AI tools can replace human experts in different spheres.

Read Ann's full bio

Tetiana Kostylieva

Photo & Video Insights Blogger

Tetiana Kostylieva is the content creator, who takes photos and videos for almost all FixThePhoto blog articles. Her career started in 2013 as a caricature artist at events. Now, she leads our editorial team, testing new ideas and ensuring the content is helpful and engaging. She likes vintage cameras and, in all articles, she always compares them with modern ones showing that it isn’t obligatory to invest in brand-new equipment to produce amazing results.

Read Tetiana's full bio

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