Customer Reviews

The Illustrator 10 Wow! Book

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Drawing is challenging enough for me in the real world but it is a snap compared to doing it in a vector based computer art program. Illustrator 10 is one such program and the one I am trying to learn. This book is the best one to use after the very easy "Teach Yourself Visually: Illustrator 10 (Visual Read Less, Learn More" by Mike Wooldridge and Michael Toot book (which I've previously reviewed). Steuer's Wow text is very visual with lots of graphics and color yet goes much deeper into the program than the Woolridge and Toot book. Ironically, it is very difficult to find computer arts books which are visual, well laid out and with a colorful, graphical interface. The Wow books are filling that void very nicely. This, like the "Photoshop Wow" book, is easy to read and well laid out. This text also has a very good CD-ROM with it that is loaded with extra features and extra excercises. The CD-ROMs that accompany these texts are the frosting on the cake. More and more art work by artists in the field using the program appear on the CD-ROM while the text visuals remain heavily "how-to." Frankly, I find this book even more helpful than the actual tutorials I've watched in the college classroom in person and live. I highly recommend buying this book if you want to learn Illustrator 10. Author Sharon Steuer is a terrific teacher and her book makes it possible for all of us to take her "class".

The initial glance at the seeming lackluster rating of this book does not do it justice. It seems to be influenced by the people who know nothing about illustrator, and bought this book hoping to learn how to use it. This is NOT what this book is about. First buy a book on basics, then get this book after you have a working knowledge of the program. You'll then first appreciate the thorough overview, poignant tips, and very impressive and helpful exercises.

I've been teaching Illustrator classes since 1989. I only wish I'd had the Wow book when I first started.

The Illustrator Wow book is one of the best resources EVER for any artist or designer who wants to create illustrations, designs, or graphics.

First of all, the artwork is exceptional. Just leafing through the pages becomes an inspriational lesson as to what sort of great graphics are being creating using computers and vector programs. I was totally blown away by some of the artists (yes, REAL artists) who are featured. Ms. Steuer shows examples from artists I have seen mentioned in award show books. Just to see this artwork up close is a benefit, but to then follow the step by step tutorials on how to make the techniques is worth ten times what the book costs.

One thing you have to watch out for. If you are a beginner, don't just plop yourself into the middle of the book and expect to follow the sophisticated lessons. You need to work through the introductory chapters to get a handle on what the program does and how the book works. I promise you, just a few minutes with the beginning chapters will change your whole perception of how the book works.

This is probably the best version of the Illustrator Wow book yet. Just like Illustrator 10 has blown away all the competition, so the Illustrator 10 Wow book stands apart from all the other books out there.

Finally a book that SHOWS me what I can do with Illustrator rather than just TELL me what I "could" do... This book has real examples of how real professionals use Illustrator. It's not only great for learning about some really cool stuff, but also great for inspiration. I consider myself a professional and yet I have learned so much from this book.

I looked at all the books out there for Illustrator 10 and this one is by far the best instruction guide. First of all, the book is in color so you can understand visually! It guides you through lessons explaining every detail and various ways of accomplishing a task depending on your preference. There is skill building lessons in the book and on the CD with tons of example artwork. The book is layed out in such a way as build your skills as you go or jump in where you need specific expertise. The artwork examples are inspiring. This book definitely has something for everyone, whether you are new to Illustrator or not. For me no other book on Illustrator comes close in value or content, you get what you pay for and this one is well worth the money. If you learn by doing or through visual cues this book will do it for you. If you want a reference manual, buy something else.

I've been working with Illustrator since it came out and I've been teaching it for almost as long. I use this book as a teaching guide and as inspiration to create better work. I show it to my students and "Wow" them to go beyond what they think they are capable of doing.

While other books focus on technical aspects of the program, this book focus on the creative input of working artist. If you want technical aspects to learn the program read the manual. If you want to challenge your creative input to rocket you into better art, read this book.

My hat is off to Sharon Steuer for bringing it all together in such a presentable, encouraging, energetic way. Wow!

This book, at first glance, seems to be an excellent reference for Illustrator 10. With all the full color example illustrations and sidebar info, one would think this is the bible for Illustrator. However, when I started to dig in to this book with my eyeballs, it quickly became a hard-read. More labeled illustrations showing the steps in the text please! The portions for beginners cover the basics very well. But some of Illustator's tools are completely ignored (the align pallette is one). I think this book would be much better if it had a more "step by step" format tied in with illustrations showing the steps, as many graphic design app books are. As most designers are very visually oriented, the book would be enormously improved by adopting this format. Some of the examples that are shown in the book, are incomplete, and leave me asking: "Why did they leave that part out?" I really enjoyed the ideas and examples that were included from other artists and designers. This is great fuel for creativity. I only wish the methods were more specific and complete. Other than dogging the book for it's weak orginization, It's fine. I grant it three stars.

From the ground up, this book presents real-world design projects which emphasize the use of each tool in this complex program. The layout of the book is especially nice; simple typesetting and clear beginning-to-end screenshots demonstrate each follow-along project. The chapters, projects, and galleries progress at the right rate, so that even total new-comers like me don't get lost along the way to the advanced techniques. The result is an effective, logically based, and almost intuitive skill in all areas of illustration.

I found the book was lacking in precise step-by-step instructions. It didn't include graphics on the CD to work with. It used a narrative style to discuss what should be happening in each exercise. For example, rather than saying "Effect/Path/Outline Object" it would describe the outcome but not the exact method of getting there. It also liked to spend a lot of commercial air time time blah blahing people who contributed posters and graphic design elements (who cares who did them?) but not explaining how you too can reproduce the effect. Or they only explained a PART of what they did in the poster so that the rest of it remained carefully unattainable.

It did have very good drawing exercises. It also had good ideas. Too bad I couldn't figure out QUICKLY how to use them. (Painfully - yes)

In terms of background I have worked through "Illustrator 10 -Classroom in a book" (vastly superior) and have taken 2 entry level Illustrator 10 classes.

Definately glad that I checked this book out of the library before wasting cash on it.

I don't buy many books on teaching me how to use a software. In fact this book is my first. But I am very satisfied with my purchase. I would recommend this book to those who already know how to use Illustrator, cause if you don't then this book is not for you. This book is great for those who have learned the program on their own or by following tutorials, but have missed out on all those little tips and tricks that make our lives easy when it comes to using the software.