Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics drawing program, which is developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/features/ Vector images are resolution independent and can be scaled without becoming deformed. The program is used by professional graphic designers, multimedia artists, Web designers and illustrators. Adobe Illustrator CS5 features perspective drawing, Adobe PDF export and interactive gradients.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/features/

The program can be purchased alone or as part of a creative suite. It is included in the Creative Suite: Design Premium suite with the following programs: Photoshop CS5, Dreamweaver CS5, Flash Professional CS5, InDesign CS5, Flash Catalyst CS5 and Acrobat 9 Pro.http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/design/ Illustrator is also a part of Creative Suite 5: Production, Creative Suite 5: Web Premium and Creative Suite 5: Master Collection.http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/design/

Adobe Illustrator works with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.5.7 and Mac OS X 10.6.10.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/systemreqs/ If the application is purchased alone, it costs $599.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/systemreqs/ However, the Creative Suite: Design Premium software set costs $1,899.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/systemreqs/ The standalone product can be upgraded for $199.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/systemreqs/ Both products can be purchased from Adobe's official website.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/systemreqs/

This version of the program has the ability to assist a designer in making one, two and three-point linear perspective.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/whatsnew/ Adobe has added HTML5 creation, pixel-aligned raster graphics and other resolution independent raster effects, such as blurred edges and drop shadows.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/whatsnew/ It allows the user to mimic the natural effect of bristle paint brushes while keeping the drawing in a vector format.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/whatsnew/ The drawing tools have been improved. A user can draw freely inside or behind a shape with automatic clipping.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/whatsnew/ Vector shape building tools have also been included in the program.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/whatsnew/

Some other vector graphic applications are Microsoft Expression Design 4, Xara Photo and Graphic Designer and Inkscape. Microsoft Expression Design can be purchased with the Microsoft Expression Studio 4: Web Professional suite for $149.http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Purchase.aspx Xara Photo and Graphic Designer can be purchased for $89.http://www.xara.com/us/ A free, open source option for creating vector graphics is Inkscape.http://inkscape.org/