The Adobe Illustrator CS3 Wow! Book (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The definitive full-color book on mastering Adobe Illustrator — now fully updated for Illustrator CS3

For years, Sharon Steuer and her international Wow! team have been reaching out to the world of professional illustrators to showcase the range and quality of work these artists are doing in Illustrator. In this revised edition of the best-selling and award-winning Illustrator WOW! Book, youll find tips, tricks, and techniques derived from actual projects from more than 100 of these top Illustrator artists. Using Adobe Illustrator CS3, Sharon shows you how to perform magical color changes using Live Color, and prepare animations for Flash. You'll not only learn how to“think in Illustrator”with the Zen of Illustrator lessons, you'll also master the newest, hottest, and most challenging techniques.

This edition is loaded with new lessons on these subjects, and many more:

Using the new Live Color features
Creating animations and integrating Illustrator with Flash
Working with Live Trace and Live Paint
The basics of using layers, templates, the Free Distort tool, and more
"Opacity Mask 101” based on the cover image
Applying blending modes and transparency to raster images
Masking with live type
Simulating ink and watercolor paintings
Working with live fills, multiple strokes, and Live 3D
Basic to advanced blends, gradients, and mesh
Colorizing photos
Demystifying photorealistic mesh

NOTE:
User Level: This book is for Intermediate through Professional-level Illustrator artists and designers.

About the Author

Award-winning artist, author, teacher and digital art guru, Sharon Steuer has been a major force in the digital art world for more than two decades. Her traditional and digital artwork has been exhibited widely, with awards for painting including the national Faber Birren Color Award and Windsor Newton Painting Award. Sharon is a regular columnist for creativepro.com, and is author of Creative Thinking in Photoshop: A New Approach to Digital Art as well as all editions of the best-selling Illustrator WOW! Book, which has twice received the Ben Franklin Award for best computer book. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 9th edition (September 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 032151842X
• ISBN-13: 978-0321518422
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,585 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is the new CS3 WOW version worth it? , October 17, 2007

By	D. Klecan "kleeks" (NM, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The main reason I updated to Adobe Illustrator CS3 was for the new Color features. I've always had a hard time with color and I love the new color wheel with all the coordinating color options. I've purchased every past edition of the WOW series, for both Photoshop and Illustrator and I am happy to report that this new CS3 edition features an extensie overview of Live Color, Live Paint etc., and for me that was worth the price of the book.

The book is approximately 30% new material. There appears to be more samples on the DVD which I appreciate, because although authors suggest using your own work, it is always nice to have an actual file to work with.

That's it in a nutshell. If you have the CS2 version and don't plan to upgrade to CS3 don't bother getting this book, keep your old version with the tiger on the cover. If you got CS3 this book will help you learn the new features. All those who have the WOW books, it continues to be a great learning tool. It is geared toward the more advanced Illustrator user. If you are just learning I suggest getting the beginner books and dip into this one as you get more skilled. The section on the Zen of the Pen hasn't changed and remains, to me, the best way to learn the pen tool. If you are willing to patiently go through the Pen excercies both in the book and on the DVD you will be a Master of the Pen and the rest of Illustrator is a piece of cake.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book!, November 6, 2007

By	Lindsey Miller "Illustrator Junkie" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

I liked how this book was in full color and was easy enough that anyone can pick it up and learn. I also liked that it appealed for the more advanced users at the end with tutorials on integrating Illustrator with Flash, After Effects, etc. It pretty much covers everything and the CD is loaded with goodies and plug-ins that are really awesome as well. I like the WOW! series and would definatley buy another again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Illustrator WOW, December 1, 2007

By	Ann F. Bennett (Orlando FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is excellent for those who already have a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator. It is not a beginner book but has fun lessons that are easy to follow and well documented with pictures and graphics.