Adobe Illustrator is the best program for any kind of graphic design work, whether you’re designing a tiny icon or a huge poster. But creating these things from scratch takes both time and talent.
This is where templates come in. Illustrator templates take the hard work out of your design projects. Just download one, edit it as much or as little as you need, and you’re done. You’ve got a professional looking product in a fraction of the time!
So how do you get started? In this article we’ll take a look at the best places to download free Adobe Illustrator templates.
1. Vecteezy
Vecteezy is the best place to start whenever you need an Adobe Illustrator template. It houses over 300 pages of free downloads, available under a Standard license that requires attribution, or the Creative Commons license that doesn’t. There are countless more premium choices if you still can’t find the right one.
That’s unlikely, though. Vecteezy’s templates cover everything from banners to business cards, and T-shirts to flyers. You can even get your own customizable “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster.
Vecteezy also offers a built-in online vector graphics editor, so you can tweak your chosen files directly in your browser.
2. Template.net
The free templates at Template.net are mostly focused on posters and flyers. If you’ve got an event you’re looking to advertise, or if you need to produce some literature for your business, this is where to look.
It’s worth browsing the site further, though, to uncover some of the other categories that are covered, including business cards, book covers, and brochures. They’re all themed, so you should be able to find the right one whether it’s for your coffee shop opening or for a bridal shower.
Some come in multiple versions, so you can work with the templates in Photoshop, InDesign, or even Word.
3. BrandPacks
Alongside the usual selection of posters and the rest, BrandPacks has a number of templates that are different to what you’ll find elsewhere.
Instagram templates, for example, that influencers and fashion brands can use to advertise new ranges. Or gift vouchers. Or calendars, wedding stationery, and even beer coasters. For anything different—especially if it’s business focused—BrandPacks is a safe bet.
4. FreePik
FreePik is huge. It has more than a quarter of a million free Adobe Illustrator templates to download. Of these, approaching a half are part of the FreePik Selection range of exclusive designs that you won’t find on any other template site.
So what can you find here? The simple answer is pretty much anything. There is the usual, like posters, flyers, and banners. But there’s also certificates, wedding invitations, and marketing materials. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.
5. DryIcons
As its name suggests, DryIcons is a site for downloading free icons in every theme and style. But that isn’t all. It also offers a wide range of high quality vector templates, and is particularly good for flyers, posters, and infographics.
Designed by the DryIcons team itself, you can use the templates in commercial projects with the correct attribution.
6. Free-Logo-Design.net
Creating logos is one of the main uses of Illustrator. But mastering the principles of logo design can take some time. You can get a head start with a template. Free-Logo-Design.net has hundreds of free logo templates to choose from, all available in the AI format.
The templates cover every category you can think of, from entertainment to real estate. Some of the older designs are quite detailed, but you can flatten and simplify them easily enough to meet modern tastes.
7. SitBack
SitBack only offers a single product, but it’s an interesting one. It’s an Illustrator template for AdWords ads. You get a single file containing blank grids for all supported ad sizes, and it’s updated with new ones as and when they’re added. Just paste in your text and images, and you’re good to go.
8. BluGraphic
BluGraphic is a curated collection of design resources, including some excellent Illustrator templates. The goodies you’ll find here include resumes, brochures, infographics, and even restaurant menus. While the choice is smaller than you’ll find on other sites, the quality is very high.
You need to sign up for free to download some of the content, while the rest can be found through third party sites.
Of course, Illustrator isn’t the best choice for page layout, like you need for a resume or menu. Adobe InDesign is a much better option. If you’ve got access to that program, check out our guide to the best free InDesign templates to get started.
9. All-Free-Download.com
All-Free-Download.com is quite overwhelming with its choice and layout, and the quality varies, too. Yet there’s a lot of good stuff in there if you can find it. The site’s especially strong on cards of all kinds—business cards, invitation cards, and greeting cards.
You don’t need to sign up to download anything. Just make sure you check the license before you use the template, as it varies from item to item.
10. StockLayouts
The free templates at StockLayouts mostly serve as a taster for their premium products. But they are still good, with simple and understated designs.
You can grab a menu, gift certificate, letterhead and business card, newsletter, and more. They’re designed for Illustrator, but many will also have files that you can use programs including Microsoft Word.
They’re also easy to edit to your taste. Each download comes with instructions, including the perfect font that will match the design. They’re also correctly sized and ready to print.
11. AmberDesign
If you’re self-employed or do any kind of freelance work, you’ll need to spend time each month sending out invoices to your clients. There are many ways to do this. You can just knock something together in Word, or you can download an invoicing app.
Alternatively, head over to AmberDesign to grab yourself a free invoice template for Illustrator. There are four designs, and they’re all classy and professional looking. They need little editing—just drop in your logo, add your details, then export your Illustrator file as a PDF. Simple!
12. VectorTemplates
As a website, VectorTemplates.com isn’t much to look at, but it’s crammed with quality and unusual Illustrator templates. There are T-shirts and website mock-ups, and plenty of fun stuff, too. If you’ve ever wanted editable Illustrator versions of the Superman and Batman logos, you’ll find them here.
Or Start Making Your Own Templates
Of course, even editing templates in Adobe Illustrator requires a little bit of design nous. But it’s not all bad news even if you have no skills at all.
The browser-based design app Canva takes the idea of Illustrator templates and makes them accessible to everyone, regardless of their knowledge or experience. Check out our article detailing things you can create with Canva with zero effort to see just how powerful it is.
Read the full article: 12 Places to Find Free Adobe Illustrator Templates