Introduced , Gradient Mesh, and the Pencil tool. 2000 9.0
This timeline is current as of 2026. Adobe typically releases a new .x update every 6–8 weeks and a major annual version each October.
The era. This version added transparency effects (drop shadows, opacities) but required a "flattener" for older printers. It also introduced the Art Brushes (painting along a path) and the Symbol Sprayer tool. For web designers, it added SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) export—a format that would become the standard for the modern web two decades later.
Introduced , Gradient Mesh, and the Pencil tool. 2000 9.0
This timeline is current as of 2026. Adobe typically releases a new .x update every 6–8 weeks and a major annual version each October.
The era. This version added transparency effects (drop shadows, opacities) but required a "flattener" for older printers. It also introduced the Art Brushes (painting along a path) and the Symbol Sprayer tool. For web designers, it added SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) export—a format that would become the standard for the modern web two decades later.
