- Paperback: 265 pages
- Publisher: Peachpit Press; 4 edition (23 Dec 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0201353997
- ISBN-13: 978-0201353990
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 18.8 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
1,487,491 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #84 in Books > Computers & Internet > Software & Graphics > Applications > Adobe Illustrator
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book showcases the work of more than 100 topIllustrator artists, walking you through their creative techniques from start to finish. Clear, step-by-step instructions, helpful sidebars, and savvy tips guide you through Illustrator 8's highlights, from the basics to sophisticated professional effects. For inspiration, you'll find lush, full-color galleries of the contributing artists' work. And as a bonus, The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book includes a CD-ROM with custom Wow! brushes and Actions, tutorials, samples of Gradient Mesh art, and more.
Teachers: Sharon has created a suggested course guide to help you use The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book and the accompanying CD-ROM as a text for intermediate to advanced classes in Adobe Illustrator. You can find it in Peachpit's Academic Resource Area.
From the Author
How The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book is unique...
The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book is unlike any other book on Illustrator in a number of ways. First, I'm not an author who merely tests the program, I'm actually an illustrator who has professionally used (and tested) Adobe Illustrator since it's first release in 1987. Second, this book includes good, practical information on how to integrate, and master, Illustrator 8's powerful new features: Brushes and Gradient Mesh. Third, as an artist, I "curate" the Wow! book by carefully selecting artwork from professional artists and designers so that all techniques are visually strong as well as impressive technically. Which brings us to the way in which The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book is truly unique: all techniques included in the book have been created in close collaboration with the artists, and then have been thoroughly tested. Unlike other books that include work from a collection artists, I don't just invite artists to submit work with a paragraph of description how they produced it. Instead, artists contributing to the Wow! book work closely with me until the step-by-steps are clear and accurate. When the artist and I both feel that the technique is clear, I then send the lesson to testers (3-5 dedicated souls) who make sure that they understand and can replicate all of the steps! One note about the level of the book if you are a "beginner." This book is is rated for "beginning through professional Illustrator users"-- and that's correct. As soon as you have a basic working knowlege of your computer and beginning knowledge of Illustrator, you'll find plenty of hand-holding in the book, and on the CD (the entire Chapter 2, "The Zen of Illustrator" walks you through basic object creation and learning to "think in Illustrator"). If you haven't even taken Illustrator out of the box yet, you'll probably want to start by going through the tutorials that Adobe provides (and even take a class!). As soon as you can comfortably call yourself a "beginning Illustrator user" you should find that the short lessons in The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book will allow you to gradually accumulate the skills at your own pace (the chapters are organized in progressive order of complexity, so beginning users will probably want to go through the book sequentially). If however you are a more advanced user of Illustrator-- just look for something cool and go for it!
The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book is unlike any other book on Illustrator in a number of ways. First, I'm not an author who merely tests the program, I'm actually an illustrator who has professionally used (and tested) Adobe Illustrator since it's first release in 1987. Second, this book includes good, practical information on how to integrate, and master, Illustrator 8's powerful new features: Brushes and Gradient Mesh. Third, as an artist, I "curate" the Wow! book by carefully selecting artwork from professional artists and designers so that all techniques are visually strong as well as impressive technically. Which brings us to the way in which The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book is truly unique: all techniques included in the book have been created in close collaboration with the artists, and then have been thoroughly tested. Unlike other books that include work from a collection artists, I don't just invite artists to submit work with a paragraph of description how they produced it. Instead, artists contributing to the Wow! book work closely with me until the step-by-steps are clear and accurate. When the artist and I both feel that the technique is clear, I then send the lesson to testers (3-5 dedicated souls) who make sure that they understand and can replicate all of the steps! One note about the level of the book if you are a "beginner." This book is is rated for "beginning through professional Illustrator users"-- and that's correct. As soon as you have a basic working knowlege of your computer and beginning knowledge of Illustrator, you'll find plenty of hand-holding in the book, and on the CD (the entire Chapter 2, "The Zen of Illustrator" walks you through basic object creation and learning to "think in Illustrator"). If you haven't even taken Illustrator out of the box yet, you'll probably want to start by going through the tutorials that Adobe provides (and even take a class!). As soon as you can comfortably call yourself a "beginning Illustrator user" you should find that the short lessons in The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book will allow you to gradually accumulate the skills at your own pace (the chapters are organized in progressive order of complexity, so beginning users will probably want to go through the book sequentially). If however you are a more advanced user of Illustrator-- just look for something cool and go for it!
Sincerely, Sharon Steuer
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have been a freelance illustrator for many years using conventional methods. I began using a computer last year (self taught from the programme user guides.) I found illustrator difficult though not impossible to use. In only a matter of weeks after buying this book I have had the confidence to produce work solely on Illustrator for inclusion in a major TV campaign. The layout and style of writing is very user friendly and I particularly like the way real-life examples of commercial work are used to explain from basic to advanced techniques. It has something for everyone, whether beginner or expert.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Computer books are as much an investment as your other equipment so its important to buy wisely, this book is very well written, crammed with information whereas some books have more blank space on the pages than text, you won't find this here, the real world examples of illustrator work are helpfull explaining what the package is used for aswell as how. The cd is also full of useful demos etc, excellant price to!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Really shows off what I8.0 can do, but glosses over details
17 Oct 1999
Format:Paperback
I am a proffessional graphic artist, and I thought I knew Illustrator inside-out- WRONG! This book showed me just how powerful a tool Illustrator can be, from being able to do simple graphics to photo-realistic art. My only problem with the book and CD Rom (and it's a big problem) is that there is not enough explainations given on how to create some of this fantastic art. For instance, one tutorial advises you to create a scatter brush pattern using art that has a blend in it- but I couldn't figure out how that can work. I just kept getting an error that said it could not be done. I looked on the CD, and there was no example of the art I was trying to re-create- fustrating! I can't imagine that this book would be good for anyone new to Illustrator, as some of the techniques are very advanced. But if you have already mastered the basics, this is a great book.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Wow ! I wish I could do that with Adobe Illustrator
2 Mar 2000
Format:Paperback
Let me start by saying that this is a beautiful book. I drool every time I flip through its pages. Imagine being able to do artwork of this caliber with a software program.
Unfortunately imagining is still all I can do after reading this book. The steps or processes given to accomplish what is shown just didn't help me get there. Some of the steps were outright ridiculous. It reminded me of a joke that went... "3 easy steps to make 5 million dollars: step one - Get yourself a million dollars" I won't tell the rest of the joke; you get the idea.
The odd thing about the book is that every time you pick it up and peruse it, you wish it would help you emulate the artwork shown. Too bad. Mind you, I wouldn't give the book up for anything. I love looking through it.
I guess the bottom line is buy this book if you want to see what can be done with Adobe Illustrator 8. If your already semi-pro at using Illustrator you most likely will gain more "Tips and Tricks" as the cover touts. For the rest of us it's 'too bad, so sad'.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
The book you need to get more out of Illustrator 8
21 May 1999
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants get more pizzazz out of Illustrator. From just starting out, to obtaining advanced effects, it guides you step-by-step with both text and color examples. Though this book does a nice job of covering the basics, where it really excels is in its coverage of advanced techniques. I learned to create painterly effects with gradient lighting and how to make a complex pattern. It also showed me how to create a truly realistic reflection, & produce shadows. The tips and techniques really helped me to learn to use Illustrator more productively. The resource and artist directories were a nice plus as well. The CD included is also quite spectacular. It includes some awesome brushes, Wow! actions and clip art. It also contains images to pick apart and trial programs. There are even some great tutorials on the basics of Illustrator.
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