Last updated on
Aug 31, 2026
Find out about the latest updates, new features, and bug fixes in the recent Illustrator on desktop releases.
August 2026 (Illustrator 30.8)
Feature updates
- Automatically relink missing files from the same folder when relinking a placed asset. When you relink one missing file, Illustrator finds and relinks other missing files located in the same folder.
- Avoid accidentally selecting objects by clicking on their drop shadow or effect boundary. Illustrator no longer selects objects when you click only on their shadow or the area of an applied effect, reducing accidental selections.
- Generate and review up to 8 preset variations side by side at once, using Concept to Vector to compare stylistic directions without waiting for each result individually (unavailable in mainland China, Russia, and Belarus).
- Invoke Concept to Vector directly on an unexpanded Image Trace object to generate a vector result from the original base image rather than the traced output (unavailable in mainland China, Russia, and Belarus).
- Use GPT Image 2.0 when using Concept to Vector (unavailable in mainland China, Russia, and Belarus).
- Browse the refreshed and modernized content libraries for new ready-to-use swatches, including updated gradients and patterns.
Customer-reported fixes
- Recolor Artwork produces incorrect colors when using Color Book swatches.
- Select Next Object commands in the context menu select objects incorrectly in Isolation mode.
- Color settings become unsynchronized after placing an image in a document.
- Groups with no appearance attributes incorrectly show a custom appearance.
July 2026 (Illustrator 30.7)
Feature updates
- Create and edit blends from a dedicated Blend panel — use Make, Expand, Release, Reverse Spine, and Replace Spine, adjust blend settings, and preview changes live on the canvas.
- Distribute blend steps using the Ease In and Ease Out presets with a strength slider to cluster objects toward the start, middle, or end of a blend.
- Control color acceleration independently from object spacing to create more natural color transitions.
- Generate artwork with Firefly directly from the New Document dialog using the new Generate with Firefly option. Access it from the homescreen or within the Illustrator workspace (unavailable in mainland China).
- Explore Firefly directly from the homescreen — generate vectors, create or edit images, and brainstorm ideas with Firefly Boards. Use the dedicated tabs to access Generate vectors, Prompt to edit, and Ideate with Boards (unavailable in mainland China).
Customer-reported fixes
- Illustrator has a severe input delay when editing text or objects, even in small files.
- Placed TIFF images appear with inverted colors.
- In Illustrator 30.1, the Libraries panel becomes unresponsive after Illustrator has been open for a while, and interacting with it can cause clicks to be misregistered or distort the panel's contents until you restart the application.
- Illustrator takes longer than expected to launch, especially on systems with many installed fonts or third-party plug-ins.
- Turning on Proof Colors with a Color Blindness proof setup and then zooming can disable GPU preview, which stays off until you restart Illustrator.
- The Libraries panel can stop responding and stretch or distort so that items are no longer selectable, and stays that way until you restart Illustrator.
- Illustrator gets progressively slower the longer it stays open.
- Expanding or outlining an Inside/Outside-aligned stroke produces barely-open paths and doubled anchor points, causing problems with corners and effects.
- Objects with a perceptual gradient and Dither turned off are fully rasterized on PDF export instead of being exported as a clipped raster, which produces blurry or jagged edges.
- The Harmony Rules selector in the Color Guide panel doesn't update based on the selected color.
UI dialogs and panels
- A GPU warning appears each time you open or create a file on some Windows systems.
- On Windows with per-monitor UI scaling, the Effects menu’s drop-down renders at a different size from the other menus.
- In the Color panel, holding Shift (or Ctrl) to move the RGB sliders together has no effect when the color is white.
Crash and freeze fixes
Other notable fixes
- In a CMYK document, the default text color of a Swatches Info object is a rich RGB black instead of K100.
- In GPU preview mode, high-resolution bi-level (1-bit) embedded images display incorrectly.
- The Transform panel ignores Constrain Proportions when editing an artwork's width or height.
- Text colors defined in Character or Paragraph styles imported from another document are lost after the file is saved and reopened.
- Real-time drawing and editing render incorrectly for objects that have both a live effect and an opacity mask, and the mask no longer tracks the object as it moves.
- Running an Action from a script (doScript) selects both the original and the duplicated object, instead of just the expected one.
Feature updates
- Relink all instances of a linked image in a single step.
- Assign custom keyboard shortcuts to Align and Distribute commands from Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Record Align and Distribute commands as actions and reuse them across recurring workflows.
- Preview spacing changes when distributing objects, then apply them.
Fixed issues
- Area Type Options incorrectly labels vertical alignment as Center instead of Top.
- Exporting a file does not display an overwrite warning when a file with the same name already exists.
- The Spanish translation of "Flatten Transparency" in the View menu is misspelled.
- The color sampling ring lags when sampling colors for a gradient.
- Color Blindness Proof Preview disables GPU rendering and causes performance issues.
- Spaces in numeric input fields are not ignored when entering values.
- Stacked dimensions respond slowly when working with artwork.
- Illustrator becomes unresponsive when opening files containing linked assets.
- The Open dialog appears blank and opens duplicate windows.
- Illustrator stops sharing its color settings with other Adobe applications when saving files.
- Width and Height values don't remain linked when the link icon is active.
- Deselecting an artboard in the Artboards panel unexpectedly activates that artboard.
Feature updates
- Use Concept to Vector to convert sketches and raster images into stylized, editable vector artwork (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use Rewrite to generate, translate, proofread, and resize text in Illustrator (unavailable in mainland China).
- View available generative credits and credit usage for supported generative AI features from the Application Bar (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use Prompt to Edit to modify generated artwork using prompts in Text to Vector Graphic and Turntable outputs (unavailable in mainland China).
- Align objects horizontally and vertically on your canvas instantly with a single action.
- Upload and download single or multiple project files directly from the Illustrator homescreen.
- Prevent accidental changes to numeric values while scrolling over fields in Illustrator panels.
- Access Adobe profile settings and manage your account directly from the Application Bar.
Fixed issues
- Undo does not work correctly while using bullet points.
- Scaling percentages for linked images are inconsistent across Illustrator versions.
- Dash and gap values appear incorrectly as zeroes.
- Clear Overrides is unavailable when multiple paragraph styles are selected.
- RGB content is preserved unexpectedly when linking or embedding images in CMYK documents.
Fixed issues
- Importing specially crafted TIFF files causes memory corruption during parsing.
- Importing specially crafted SVG files causes memory corruption during parsing.
- Importing specially crafted DOC files causes memory corruption during parsing.
- Importing specially crafted TIFF files causes null pointer dereference during parsing.
Feature updates
- Use Generative Expand for images to generate content that expands images beyond their original bounds (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use Remove Background to get images with a transparent background (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use Text to Vector Graphic to edit generated text as live text, refining text-heavy designs with more control and faster iteration (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use images from your browser as Style Reference in Text to Vector Graphic to create outputs that are more consistent, controlled, and aligned with your intended style (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use new Mojikumi and Kinsoku presets to automatically optimize spacing and line breaks for different layout needs.
Fixed issues
- Flashing highlights appear multiple times when objects are selected with Highlight Objects enabled in Smart Guides.
- Area Type vertical centering does not work as expected with text aligning to the top of the frame.
- Cloud documents fail to save in nested folders with multibyte folder names.
- Illustrator crashes when switching the keyboard layout using Win32 API messages.
- Objects cannot be dragged and dropped between tabs in Illustrator.
- Auto spell-checker incorrectly capitalizes words after forced line breaks.
- SVG export with Convert to Outlines and Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities shows a warning and produces inconsistent text output.
- The Command + Spacebar shortcut to zoom does not work when the Perspective Grid is active.
- Applying overprint black resets overridden CMYK black text to paragraph style color.
- Graphic styles are duplicated unexpectedly when copying objects between artboards.
- Transform Again does not work on live or outlined text when scaling is applied using the bounding box.
- Rich Tooltips appear repeatedly during cursor movement.
- Enter key actions are not recorded in History panel.
- Text cursor appears larger than expected when using the Cambria font.
- Discretionary hyphens are not applied in text.
Feature updates
- Use Turntable to generate multiple rotated views of a raster or vector object and see what it looks like from different angles. Smoothly slide between views, extract them for editing, and export them as GIF files (unavailable in mainland China).
- Generate up to 4 variations from a single prompt with Auto Select (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use Style Reference in Text to Vector Graphic to define output style with a reference image across new partner models (unavailable in mainland China).
- Edit text on generated vectors instantly when using Text to Vector Graphic (unavailable in mainland China).
- Export your Illustrator files directly to Adobe Cloud storage using Export for Screens for easy access and sharing.
- Use GPT Image 1.5 when using Text to Vector Graphic (unavailable in mainland China).
- Live curve fitting in the Pencil tool is active by default.
- Experience improved font handling in Illustrator (macOS) for better consistency and reduced reliance on unsupported system resources.
Fixed issues
- In Illustrator 29.5, an unnecessary circle appears in the top-left corner of the artboard when selecting a calligraphic brush tip shape in the panel.
- In Illustrator 29.7.1, Morisawa variable fonts such as DriveFlux fail to load and cannot be used.
- In Illustrator 30.1, using the Eyedropper tool on a text object in Isolation mode duplicates the object as an outline.
- Clipping masks display incorrectly in GPU preview when using transparency.
- Opening files from Adobe Cloud displays artwork in monochrome instead of the original color.
- Duplicating artboards changes their order unexpectedly.
- 'Copy' is unexpectedly added to preset names when loading Mojikumi settings files.
- Mixed stroke colors turn white when changing fill using CMYK mode in RGB documents.
- Create Gradient and Create Swatch Info actions don't play correctly.
- Ignore White option no longer works in JavaScript for Image Trace.
- Line breaks occur within words even when hyphenation is turned off.
- Embedded images turn white or disappear after reopening Illustrator files.
- Em dashes display incorrectly in vertical layouts.
- Rasterizing objects inside a clipping group causes the artwork to disappear.
- Illustrator shows a 'not enough room for window' error when opening files from the drive.
- Images are downsampled incorrectly when exporting to PDF/X-4.
- File metadata appears incorrectly in the Links panel.
- Toolbar tooltips don't dismiss automatically and interfere with the workflow.
- The Deselect All shortcut does not work correctly in Artboard mode.
- Files saved to legacy versions cannot be opened correctly in Illustrator CS6 or earlier.
- Renaming an artboard repositions it to the top of the Artboards panel.
- Text pasted from the web appears white even when the fill is set to black.
- The Share button appears misaligned under the icon.
- Files saved in Illustrator 30.2 fail to open due to PostScript errors.
- The scale dropdown option in Export for Screens fails to apply selected values.
- The font names remain in the native language even when English display is toggled on.
- The Tab key behaves inconsistently while renaming an artboard from the Artboards panel.
- Illustrator doesn't package files correctly after upgrading to macOS Tahoe.
- Type orientation in the Type menu does not correctly reflect the selected text within grouped objects.
- Temporary files are created every time a document is saved.
- Changes made by plugin tools are not rendered instantly in CPU Outline and Pixel Preview modes.
- Placed images rotate unexpectedly due to embedded metadata.
- PDF preview shows corrupted or unreadable text.
Feature updates
- Get smart model recommendations using Auto Select based on your prompt’s content and context when using Text to Vector Graphic (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use GPT Image 4o and Gemini 2.5 (Nano Banana) when using Generative Shape Fill (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use Gemini 3 (Nano Banana Pro) and Imagen 4 when using Text to Vector Graphic (unavailable in mainland China).
- Export artboards and assets in TIFF format using Export for Screens.
- Export Illustrator files directly to Adobe Cloud storage for easy access and reuse across desktop and web.
- Export assets directly from the Illustrator workspace into Firefly Boards to explore mood boards and create mockups (unavailable in mainland China).
- Apply proportional or exact scaling using Relative and Absolute options.
Fixed issues
- In Illustrator 30.0 and 30.1, gradient previews don’t update while moving objects.
- In Illustrator 29.8.1, symbols get replaced or disappear unexpectedly.
- In Illustrator 29.7.1, pressing Esc fails to exit text editing or isolation modes.
- Rasterizing inside a clipping mask causes objects to disappear.
- Perceptual gradient objects get fully rasterized on PDF export.
- Pasting an object with a perceptual gradient expands it into an image.
- Smart objects fail to update after saving the file.
- Color Mixer sliders vanish when navigating with Tab.
- CMYK document shows embedded RGB images with incorrect color labels.
- In Illustrator 30.0, the Search bar is missing on the Home screen.
- Live text is converted to outlines when pasting across documents.
- Unknown error occurs while saving an existing file.
Fixed issues
- The last character of the file name in the Links panel disappears or changes when a file is reopened.
- Function key conversion for Hiragana, Katakana, half-width Roman characters, and full-width Roman characters does not work as expected .
- In Illustrator 29.8.1, content may shift on artboards when reopening saved Illustrator files.
- Acrobat layers may duplicate unexpectedly when files are opened in Illustrator.
- Color appearance may change for linked images that include embedded profiles.
- In Illustrator 29.8.1, font embedding does not work when the Embed option is selected.
- In Illustrator 29.3, Japanese text displays incorrect characters in the original layout of the Reflow Viewer preview when using the Source Han Serif font.
Feature updates
- Generate scenes, subjects, and icons with partner models, such as GPT Image 4o, Ideogram 3, and Gemini 2.5 (Nano Banana), in Text to Vector Graphic (unavailable in mainland China).
- Convert a solid fill to a gradient to instantly access contextual and color-aware gradient presets in the dropdown, and explore creative options beyond the default black-and-white blend.
Note
Share your feedback on the color, artboard, snapping, and performance enhancements.
Fixed issues
Feature updates
- Use the enhanced font browser to find, apply, and organize fonts.
- Preview and pick colors faster with the enhanced color picker.
- Apply dithering to gradients to reduce banding and create smooth transitions.
- Use perceptual interpolation in gradients for more natural color blends.
- Start with ready-to-use gradient presets to speed up projects or spark inspiration.
- Snap lines tangentially to arcs or circles.
- Snap paths perpendicular to lines or curves.
- Access artboard actions like Duplicate, Rename, Lock, Export and more directly with a right-click.
- Export selected artboards directly from the canvas.
- Lock all objects on an artboard instantly to prevent accidental edits.
- Apply background colors to artboards for better visual clarity and easier workspace management.
- View artboard labels directly on the canvas and rename them in place for faster organization.
- Easily spot the active or selected artboard with a clearer black border.
- Save complex edits in your artwork faster with the enhanced Save in Background setting.
- Recover your work quickly and reliably after an unexpected crash with the enhanced Save in Background setting.
- Experience real-time on-canvas editing with move, scale, rotate, and duplicate operations without lag or interruptions.
- Create shared spaces in Projects to organize and collaborate on your files.
- Access Generation history from the Illustrator homescreen or workspace to work with the raster images generated on the Firefly website.
- Find the template you need directly from the Illustrator homescreen and refine it in Express.
- Choose between Firefly Vector 4 and Firefly Vector 3 models to generate scenes, subjects, and icons (unavailable in mainland China).
- Use the Generative AI button in the toolbar or the Object > Generative menu to access all generative AI features in one place (unavailable in mainland China).
- Hide the perspective grid easily with the new, distinct Hide Grid widget.
System updates
- With version 30.0, Illustrator has dropped support for macOS Monterey (version 12), Windows 11 v22H2, and v21H2 devices.
Fixed issues
- While dragging an artboard's anchor point to align with an object, the alignment snaps to the cursor rather than the actual anchor.
- All text objects in a document disappear unexpectedly upon opening the file.
- Image map URL links disappear in exported PDFs.
- Exporting files with large amounts of outlined text using the High Quality Print preset produces corrupted PDFs on macOS.
- Illustrator freezes or slows down during file save.
- Pattern fills don't scale with objects when transforming objects.
- Placed PNG image cannot be selected or moved after scaling.
- The Save dialog defaults to a PDF file instead of an .ai file for new documents.
- Function keys (F6 to F9) don't work for Japanese input conversion (e.g., Hiragana, Katakana, etc).
- Pressing the Esc key fails to exit text editing mode.
- Drop shadows render inconsistently.
This release includes fixes for font-related issues.
Fixed Issues
- In Illustrator 29.5.1, fonts get randomly substituted in existing files despite correct fonts being installed.
- In Illustrator 29.8.1, fonts may not render or may display incorrectly when using Japanese typefaces such as Kozuka, Shin Go, or Ryumin.
Feature updates
- Copy color values directly from the Color panel, Color Picker, New Swatches, or Swatch Options dialog box.
- Snap precisely to the endpoint, midpoint, and center of any object with Smart Guides.
- Use Snap to Grid to position objects freely inside grid cells while still snapping to lines or intersections when needed.
- Use Snap to Pixel to keep your artwork aligned to the pixel grid by eliminating half-pixel shifts and misleading alignment cues.
- Toggle between Snap to Grid, Snap to Pixel, Snap to Point, and Smart Guides from the Snapping Quick Access panel in the Control bar. Use the panel to change snapping preferences, like Alignment Guides and Snap to Glyph.
- Use Smart Guides to detect rotation angles for consistent alignment.
- Limit snapping to objects only within the active artboard, and snap to isolated objects from the Preferences panel.
- Use advanced settings in Smart Guides to customize how objects align and snap on the canvas.
- Experience a faster app launch.
Fixed issues
- Duplicating an artboard may unlock and display previously locked or hidden artwork.
- Fonts applied to portions of text may shift when navigating through slides, causing applied fonts to change unexpectedly.
- Copying objects can sometimes cause Illustrator to crash.
- Symbols may not move along with the artwork when an artboard is repositioned.
- In Illustrator 29.7.1, units may reset from pixels to points when opening documents.
- Changing documents can cause swatches to vanish from the Swatches panel.
- Recent color swatches may disappear and show as None when global or spot colors are used.
- Recent colors sometimes save an invalid swatch, showing None as K=0.
- Decimal values can’t be set in the keyboard increment field under Preferences.
- The font menu may not include specific font styles, such as Montserrat Bold, Arial Bold, or Myriad Condensed, and more.
- Opacity mask mode may only work when the Clip option is selected.
- Variable font content may not display correctly in edit mode.
- Images inside clipping masks may shift position when reopening a file.
- In Illustrator 29.5.1, fonts get randomly substituted in existing files despite correct fonts being installed.
- In Illustrator 29.8.1 and 29.9, fonts may not render or may display incorrectly when using Japanese typefaces such as Kozuka, Shin Go, or Ryumin.
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