Illustrator 9 Wow! Book [Paperback]

In the Illustrator book genre, you have but two choices: #1 "pulp" encyclopedias on the software. These basically parallel what the manuals and online help facilities contain -- They're good, but they're basically lots of words, and few pictures. #2 Quick, Beginner books... like the "Dummies" and the "Visual Quick Starts" ... yes, they're good too -- but tend to only scratch the surface of the program.

Neither genre approaches the applicability of the software in terms of "why" or "how" the tools fit into the creative process.

Steuer's "WOW" book, on the other hand... printed on heavy enamel stock, process color throughout, is actually a THIRD genre -- providing the creative spark of inspiration which is VITAL in taking dry how-to information and applying it to visually exciting creative finished illustration.

No, this is NOT a "skim the surface" beginners' book. Yet beginners will benefit because they'll be inspired to skip the 1, 2, 3, exercises and move directly into sophisticated techniques that can be learned quickly and easily.

No this is NOT an encyclopedia. Most illustrators don't need an encyclopedia and the sheer bulk of information and tedious trial and error of getting to the answers they need actually retard the creative process rather than support it.

Illustrator WOW is a gallery of highly sought after creative visual techniques, along with enough technical how-to tutorial to accomplish the look. (...)

The ultimate solution for anyone who is actually serious about getting to the top of the heap in Adobe Illustrator is to buy this book... Illustrator WOW, and then buy "Real World Illustrator" -- these two encompass the very best of all Illustrator books, and arms the artist with both encyclopedia and sheer creative inspiration.

Learning without excitement or passion is never effective.
I teach Adobe Illustrator at James Madison University. I know what makes the difference between learning how to use a software tool, and learning how to use the tools to create inspired visual communications.

You want to learn the tools? Use the Illustrator online help facility. It's all there. You want inspired visual creativity skills? Get Illustrator 9 WOW book.

And, that's all I have to say.

In addition to pieces from perennial computer artists like Ron Chan and Bert Monroy, I was delighted to find prominent graphics like the logos for the Matrix movie and Cracker Jack, and familiar Time magazine infographics. Graphics for McDonalds, North Face and Apple are also displayed and discussed. Overall, the range of artwork--from spontaneous sketches to fine-art calligraphy to precise medical illustrations--is inspiring. It has helped me expand my graphic techniques (and my business).

While many computer books spend pages walking you from step A to B, the Wow! Book's step-by-step instruction is terse and precise. I had Illustrator open as I worked each step, something I'd recommend to others.

The highlight of the book is Chapter 8, the chapter on AI9's transparency, styles, appearances, knockouts, and opacity masks. It opens with a thorough intro to transparency, appearances, styles. The art that follows demonstrates both simple and more advanced and specialized techniques. I found the offset linework appearances (done by Illustrator 9's product manager, Ted Alspach) especially mind-opening; it clearly demonstrates how a single path can carry multiple strokes, fills and effects. Other techniques convinced me that my art production could be accomplished in Illustrator, rather than shuffling between it and Photoshop.

In the span between Illustrator 8 and 9, many techniques for brushes have been developed. This book includes plenty of new brushes technques. The brushes supplement by Sandee Cohen, in Chapter 4, was particularly useful to me for creating Flash-exported animations.

If you purchase this book, be prepared to spend plenty of time trying out--and learning--Illustrator 9's fantastic capabilities.