Adobe Firefly's generative AI models can now create vector graphics in Illustrator.

Illustrator Adobe's vector graphics tool for graphic artists is poised to enter the era of generative AI with the launch of the Firefly Vector Model at Adobe's MAX conference. Adobe describes the new model as "the world's first generative AI model focused on producing vector graphics." Just like Firefly for creating images and photos, Firefly for Illustrator will be able to create entire vector graphics from scratch. And like other Firefly models, the vector model was also trained using data from Adobe Stock.

In its beta version, Illustrator will now allow you to create entire scenes via a text prompt. The interesting thing here is that these scenes can consist of multiple objects. Therefore, it's not just a jumble of vectors that make up the overall graphic, but Illustrator will automatically generate these different objects, and you can manipulate them individually as you wish, just like any other group or layer in Illustrator.

Alexandru Costin, Vice President of Generative AI and Sensei at Adobe, told me that the company used tens of millions of vector images from Adobe Stock to train Firefly to enable this new feature. Costin described the process as “a journey,” and since there wasn’t as much work involved in using generative AI to create vector drawings compared to creating other images, it certainly required a bit more work from the team. He noted that the team focused on creating a model that could also generate these images with the fewest possible points.

Another new feature coming to Illustrator is called Mockup, which allows Illustrator users to take any 3D scene and then take any vector art and apply it to that 3D scene. This could be the design of a beverage can, for example, or a mockup of a new logo on a t-shirt. “The mockup is really interesting for showing the art in context to your clients, so they understand what they’re buying when they hire you as a freelancer,” explained Costin.

Another new feature is Retype, which converts static text in images into editable text – and also finds matching fonts – and Illustrator is now also available on the web!