Customer Reviews

The Illustrator 9 WOW! Book (With CD-ROM)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

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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.

Despite the book's compact form factor, the AI9 Wow Book is bursting with art, inspiration, instruction, and tips.

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.

Within twenty minutes of receiving the Illustrator 9 WOW! Book the editors at Design-Bookshelf.com registered full approval for an Editors' Choice! ... The Peachpit WOW books are always a joy to see, but this time Sharon Steuer has taken WOW to new heights. We find 9 WOW to fill the gaps from basic transparency lessons to negotiating the new layers palette to be superb... even where Classroom and other heavily marketed Illustrator books fall short. However, besides the excellent instruction and well planned tutorials, Sharon always presents the information with a kind, human touch. You find yourself savoring each page again and again. The information is presented beautifully too. No pulp paper here -- WOW is lavishly printed in full color on heavy, opaque, coated stock and you get the full visual impact of what Illustrator is really capable of. On a final note, the first thing I did was shave the spine off, and drill for 3-ring binder use at my desk... a second copy is on the way for the coffee table at home! BRAVO Peachpit... another blockbuster WOW book!

The Illustrator WOW! Book, is amazing and wonderful because it *works* on so many different levels: as a basic teaching tool, as a source of inspiration, as a reference... almost as a friend.

For example, Illustrator is so complex and powerful that at first it's impossible to wrap your mind around it. "The Zen of Illustrator" chapter shows you how to "think Illustrator" -- when you understand this chapter, you'll understand Illustrator.

Sometimes you just want to learn how to create one particular effect -- each chapter (type, layers, brushes, blends, etc.) includes Gallery examples that were created by top designers (you'll probably recognize the examples), with a description of the techniques used to create each one.

Maybe you need to do some really intense work using one of the techniques -- each topic includes Advanced Technique tutorials.

If you use Illustrator for hours on end, you'll become more efficient by learning key commands -- enjoy learning them in the "Finger Dance" chapter.

Experienced users will appreciate that this book covers Illustrator 9's new features more extensively than any other book.

The book also covers Web techniques and using Illustrator with other applications, and includes a CD containing many examples from the book, additional lessons, and more. In all, a remarkable achievement.

I was very disappointed in this book, which covers Illustrator 9 in a very broad sense. It seems to be saying "look what people are doing with Illustrator" instead of "look what YOU can do with Illustrator." An excellent marketing tool for Illustrator, but a feeble attempt at actually helping you to understand techniques or other capabilities.

A coffee Table book that is small and hard to understand.

This is one of those books that looks great on the shelf, and seems like a can't-miss. But when you get it home and crack it open, it really doesn't help you to learn.

Much of the problem is the book's approach. Much of the book is essentially a good-looking elaboration upon the manual. I find that you really don't learn anything by reading lists of commands and features. You learn by following tutorials and doing.

This book has comparatively few tutorials, and those that it has are fairly sketchy.

Many of the illustrations are nice. I would have traded everything else away for, say, 5 extremely in-depth tutorials on how to recreate 5 of the most complex, attractive pictures in the book.

The title of the Illustrator 9.0 WOW! Book is not an understatement. This beautiful production is unique among software-related titles; the balance of clear step-by-step instructions, color illustrations, and side bar tips will deliver value to both seasoned AI 9 users and novices. Perhaps best of all are the many gallery entries by an international cast of Illustrator experts--a diverse array of graphic designers, artists, and, even cartographers--that are liberally interjected throughout the text. It is enjoyable to see what the pros can accomplish with Illustrator 9.0, which when coupled with the targeted analysis of techniques, makes learning a pleasure and inspires readers to push their abilities further. This is a book that promotes learning through quiet reflection and experimentation rather than the frenetic pace so typical of computer training classes. I'll be keeping my copy of WOW close at hand for frequent reference.

I'm a relatively new user, and I'm compelled to say that the Illustrator 9 WOW! book is by far the easiest to use and most inspiring book about Illustrator. It goes way beyond the usual stuff, and it's really my "go to" reference. I've tried them all, and this is the one to own.

I loved the format of the book and full color drawings. Even the paper quality is excellent! You might think since the book looks so good that everything that is in the book is clear and precise and right.......BUT!!

The surprise comes with the written material. Out of 40+ Illustrations and text, I can honestly say that for 10 of them I had NO Idea what they were talking about and 15 were created primarily with other software like Photoshop or plug ins (Both of which are barely covered in the book). The examples and "techniques" are NOT anywhere near what you will have to face in the real world if you plan to use Illustrator.