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Adobe Illustrator System Requirements

A guide to what is required to run Adobe Illustrator, why it’s a useful tool and the best operating system to use.

Reviewed By: Kevin Pocock

Last Updated on December 9, 2022
Adobe Illustrator System Requirements
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A computer running Windows 7 needs 1GB RAM and 500MB of free space to run Adobe Illustrator. Graphic designing software requires more memory than text editing tools.

Illustrator is the industry standard when it comes to vector designs. Vector graphics are made of coordinate points that dictate the properties of a graphic. They are scalable and do not lose quality as they get bigger or smaller. They also make for crisper lines and sharper edges, so they are ideal to create logos, app icons, UI, avatars, cartoons, and more.

While you may not need the most powerful machine to run this program, you should definitely get something better than a basic PC model.

Adobe Illustrator requires a lot of horsepower to run efficiently. When you’re making money off of your work, performance matters so you need to make sure you have enough power to get the job done.

You should consider upgrading your computer if you’re using Adobe Illustrator CS5. We recommend doing some research to help you decide what kind of machine you need, how much RAM you’ll need, and whether you should buy an SSD drive or an HDD.

Let’s look at the program in a bit more detail.

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful design program used by graphic designers to create images for print, web, videos, and other media. It is also used as a drawing tool for illustrators and cartoonists.

The program allows users to draw complex shapes and edit existing artwork, including many useful features such as text, line art, shapes, and paths. We could say that Adobe is a visualization engine that makes sure everything is accurate.

You can add different effects, manage styles, and edit individual characters to create great typographic designs. There is also an advanced editor that helps the designer while creating.

It allows bundling and grouping up different large drawings to make them into a single Illustrator file, and it provides a number of components that change the work into beautiful artwork.

Adobe Illustrator makes a graphic designer’s job more interesting and versatile. With powerful new features, streamlined workflows, and a brand-new interface, Illustrator CC 2018 delivers everything you need to create beautiful designs.

And now you can use your favorite pen tablet or stylus to draw, paint, and doodle right inside the app. You can even import SVG files directly into Illustrator CC 2018 and easily convert them into professional vector artwork. Plus, the new Live Paint feature lets you capture ideas as you think about them—all without leaving the app.

The Technical Bit

Intel processors are the most popular processor especially if you want to run a program such as Adobe Illustrator. Windows 10 is the latest version and you have at least 8GB of RAM.

You should also install SSD storage. A minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 is required as well as an OpenGL 4.0 or higher graphics card.

Adobe wants to make sure that as many people as possible purchase and use their software, therefore they state the lowest requirements possible.

Adobe doesn’t want to scare people off by showing what a computer needs to run Illustrator well.

So, bear in mind that when working on more complex projects, programs like Illustrator may require more resources from your computer.

Your computer should be powerful enough to handle Illustrator so make sure your processor is running smoothly.

You should always use as much RAM as possible. Dedicated GPUs perform much better than integrated graphics cards.

Mac

To run Adobe on a Mac the computer requires a multicore Intel® processor with 64-bit support. It must be running Mac OS X v10. 6.8 or v10. 7.1.

It must have 1 GB of RAM. Additionally, you will need 2 GB of available hard-disk drive space for installation; it also needs additional space that’s required during installation (not more than 5 GB total); 512 MB of video memory (VRAM); 1024 × 768 resolution display with 16- bit color and 256 MB of graphics memory (GPU).

You must also have a DVD-ROM drive.

Windows

As mentioned earlier, Intel multi-core processors are the most powerful type of processor.

Windows Server 2016 is also a version of Windows that is designed specifically for servers. 8GB of RAM is enough memory for most programs, including Adobe Illustrator.

Windows operating systems are very popular among computer users. People use them because they offer many features including security, compatibility, speed, and reliability.

Windows 10 was released in 2015 and offers even better performance than Windows 8.1 and is a good option for running Adobe Illustrator.

A touchscreen-enabled tablet or monitor is required to use the new Touch workspace.

You should also have a graphics card capable of OpenGL 4.0+ to take advantage of the new GPU Performance feature.

There are many different types of graphics cards available today. Some of them are made by NVIDIA, while others are made by AMD or Intel.

The version number you need to use depends on your computer model. Ensure that your video adapter drivers are up-to-date so Adobe runs smoothly.

In Summary

Adobe Illustrator is a fantastic tool for creating amazing graphics. We have also shown you that it’s simple to find a computer that fits all your needs.

Kevin is the Editor of PC Guide. He has a broad interest and enthusiasm for consumer electronics, PCs and all things consumer tech - and more than 15 years experience in tech journalism.