Customer Reviews

Adobe Illustrator CS3 [Mac] [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm upgrading from Illustrator 9, so I don't know how this version compares to CS2 - but it is an order of magnitude better than AI 9. The interface is easy to customize for various types of jobs. The Live Trace function is exceptionally well done. There is also a nice video training disc included.

My only complaint is in the area of font handling. There should be the option, when opening EPS files, of converting text to outlines. This would be extremely useful when the file contains one or more fonts that aren't on my system. (I currently have to use Corel Draw 11 to do this.) Secondly, when attempting to open an Illustrator file that contains fonts I don't have, it should give me the option of choosing the replacement fonts (instead of replacing them all automatically with fonts that are nothing like the originals.)

Has the right tools (especially specific brushes)... Adobe Illustrator is excellent for drawing people (much easier than using Maya). You can do things with Adobe I bet you nobody has heard of before.

It is hard to believe very few people have bought this program, but it's probably because most can't easily afford it. Before you buy, beware the bugs.

Put a gradient mesh on an object and use Free Transform to rotate. It messes it up! It turns a circle into a hexagon, freeforms into jagged mountains. (I know what caused this, but would be too technical to explain in a review. Furthermore, don't try replacing plug-ins from CS2 to CS3 - it won't work, and will cause some tools not to function properly or disappear altogether.) To rotate (an) object(s) with the gradient mesh, use the Rotate tool and rotate as if you would Free Transform, or enter a value. No problem! (To remove a gradient mesh and restore the object to its solid, flat state, single-click on the object and click delete once. Be careful not to click the edge of the object, or 'half' of the object will disappear.)

Another bug is snapping to point. If you want to move a bezier curve's point elsewhere and the white square dot appears, it selects an adjacent point before you click, and when you click and drag, it moves the wrong object because the neighboring point was selected. Zoom in for more 'screen space' to select that point.

None of the above were a problem in Adobe Illustrator CS2. Buyer beware.

Hope this helps. (Sorry, I won't give away secrets. Just know what your imagination can do!)