Adobe Illustrator Now Available for Apple Silicon in Beta

Photoshop for M1 is so wickedly responsive that it makes my 16-inch MBP feel slow in comparison. Illustrator is my third most used Creative Cloud app (behind Lightroom and Photoshop), so I look forward to the release version.

My only major wish (beyond M1 migration) is for Adobe to embrace Mac App Store and offer App Store versions, just like Lightroom. Creative Cloud app has many background processes that sucks up resources even when the app is not running.

Great. Now if they can just ditch the ripoff subscription model and get millions of users back.

Great. Now if they can just ditch the ripoff subscription model and get millions of users back.

They’ve had unprecedented growth since switching to that model, so I’m pretty sure they’re not missing anyone. Expenses like this are nothing for companies, and many can negotiate lower bulk rates. And for freelance workers, this is nothing compared to the revenue it helps generate. They’ve also added a lot of value with things like TypeKit which simplifies and streamlines licensing fonts. And they’re investing a lot in AI now to compete better with the latest apps. https://www.statista.com/statistics/266399/revenue-of-adobe-systems-worldwide-since-2004/

That being said, I really like the Affinity suite of software, which is great for most users who are creating on Mac or iPad who don’t want a subscription. It’s great for individuals who do this as a hobby and it’s my recommendation over Adobe for people who can’t afford a monthly subscription to an entire professional suite of 30 or so apps. That being said, I think they should offer a build your own subscription for less. They have some bundles for photography, but it would be nice to bundle a few apps and save some money. Like PS, LR, and Illustrator are my bread and butter for my personal work so like $30-35/mo would be good. It needs more flexibility.

I loathe Illustrator — it feels like a very old application indeed. It just never feels fast. I'm really glad there are alternatives now! :)

I agree. While not perfect, Affinity Designer is a pleasure to use. It’s just so much smoother than Illustrator.

Photoshop for M1 is so wickedly responsive that it makes my 16-inch MBP feel slow in comparison. Illustrator is my third most used Creative Cloud app (behind Lightroom and Photoshop), so I look forward to the release version.

My only major wish (beyond M1 migration) is for Adobe to embrace Mac App Store and offer App Store versions, just like Lightroom. Creative Cloud app has many background processes that sucks up resources even when the app is not running.

Is zooming in and out not weird for you in the M1 version of Photoshop for you? I use the Magic Trackpad and zooming is almost useless in this version. I don’t get why Adobe can’t seem to succeed in making moving and zooming gestures as smooth as in all Affinity apps.

I agree. While not perfect, Affinity Designer is a pleasure to use. It’s just so much smoother than Illustrator.

Right now, I'll accept anything that isn't Illustrator :D
I wish they'd kept Freehand tbh. Yes, Affinity is good news here too.