Are Illustrator CS5 and CS6 very different?

[giyoo97]

Hi!

Are Illustrator CS5 and CS6 very different in terms of features and how the tools are used? Would I be able to use the CS6 version the same way I would use the CS5 version for most tasks?

It would be very helpful to know because I might have to potentially use the CS6 version but I would be practicing with the CS5 version since that is the version that I have in my computer.

Thanks!

[Jacob Bugge]

giyoo,

Unless you rely on the the higher pre Image Trace (Live Trace) quality, you should be fine.

Unless you are in fact unable to use either in connexion with a new compouter/OS: the latest OSes fail to support the older versions.

This is presuming that you have a CS6 licence available, since versions below CC can no longer be bought.

[Monika Gause]

Some features have been added, but apart from that when you can use CS5, you can use CS6.

In case your new job will be about fashion or maps, you should read about the pattern editor, which is new in CS6, but after reading about it, you will be able to use it right away. It's simple to use.

Find the new features summary and links to the documentation here: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/whats-new-cs6.html