Real World Illustrator 8 (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Deke McClelland (Author)

Book Description

Series: Real World | Publication Date: November 25, 1998

Graphics and multimedia professionals everywhere know that Adobe Illustrator is one of the most powerful tools available for illustrating and designing publications for print or the Web. They rely on its layered work environment and vector-drawing tools to achieve superior results with logos, advertisements, technical and fine arts illustrations, and more. Real World Illustrator 8 is the no-nonsense, rolled-up-sleeves approach to Illustrator. The revised edition of our best-selling book teaches essential techniques, from basic to amazing, telling you not only how, but also why and when to use them. Written by an award-winning author, presented clearly and loaded with helpful graphics, it will have you creating professional-quality illustrations in no time.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Hands-on instruction makes this a highly valuable and practical guide to Illustrator 8. Users of all levels of expertise, whether working on the Windows or Macintosh platform, can put Illustrator to work right away.

There's a substantial introduction to the program at the beginning. Author Deke McClelland helps you create simple drawings using points, precision curves, normal text, customized type treatment, and graphs. Next, you learn how to make advanced, customized images by modifying and combining paths; using schematic tools such as rulers, guides, and grids; applying transformations and special effects; and creating and modifying raster graphics. Finally, you learn all about color in Illustrator, from working with color models to creating gradations and other fills; using Strokes, Brushes, Blends, Masks, and Special Inks; and creating the best printed output possible. An appendix provides keyboard shortcuts for the current version and past two versions of Illustrator, as well as an overview of Illustrator's Actions feature. --Kathleen Caster

From the Back Cover

Graphics and multimedia professionals everywhere know that Adobe Illustrator is one of the most powerful tools available for illustrating and designing publications for print or the Web. They rely on its layered work environment and vector-drawing tools to achieve superior results with logos, advertisements, technical and fine arts illustrations, and more.

Real World Illustrator 8 is the no-nonsense, rolled-up-sleeves approach to Illustrator. The revised edition of our best-selling book teaches essential techniques, from basic to amazing, telling you not only how, but also why and when to use them. Written by an award-winning author, presented clearly and loaded with helpful graphics, it will have you creating professional-quality illustrations in no time.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 2nd edition (November 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201353873
• ISBN-13: 978-0201353877
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,908,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Deke McClelland is a popular lecturer on Adobe Photoshop and the larger realm of computer graphics and design. He has hosted the interactive "Video Workshop" CD that shipped with Photoshop Versions 7, CS, and CS2, as well as hundreds of hours of tutorial-style video training for industry leaders lynda.com and Total Training. In addition to his video work, Deke has written 84 books translated into 24 languages, with more than 4 million copies in print. One of the most award-winning writers in the technology market, Deke received the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Computer Book in 1989. Since then, he has garnered more than 20 honors, including seven independent citations from the Computer Press Association. In 2002, he was inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent teaching book, June 24, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles (but always on the way to San Francisco)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real World Illustrator 8 (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I didn't know squat about Adobe Illustrator. I sat at my computer staring at the white screen perplexed and confused. So, I bought this book and I was enlightened. The author is coherent, extremely detailed, has a great sense of humor and most importantly it teaches you how to do the things you want to do. The book is well organized and works great as a quick reference or for detailed and comprehensive reading on different techniques.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like having a personal instructor, March 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Real World Illustrator 8 (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I have been struggling trying to understand Illustrator and the whole vector thing. Finally, this book explained it in a way I could understand.

Most books just tell you which tool does what. This book tells you which tool does what, and why, and how to tell if you're doing it right, and even more importantly, how to avoid problems.

For instance, I never knew you could drag in between anchor points. But chapter 5 explained the difference between dragging a point or a segment.

Not only that, but I really enjoyed the writing style. Not at all stuffy, but very folksy and fun to read.

I need to use Illustrator to make fancy headlines for my company's newsletter and web site. Finally I can do it without struggling.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best introduction to Illustrator available!, August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Real World Illustrator 8 (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

If you want to be among the select group of multimedia professionals who truly have mastered the unique applications of Adobe Illustrator, then you won't want to miss this opportunity to buy Real World Illustrator 8. This powerful text has a wealth of descriptive chapters which bridge the gap between novice methods and advanced techniques used by Illustrator Masters. What's more, the book features Web image modifications that place this book far above the competition but at a competitive price. You cannot find this kind of value in a single volume anywhere, and that's why illustration professionals in the real world rely on Deke McClelland's entire series of Adobe Product description books to achieve superior results. Whether you need to complete that special project using just one Illustrator function, or if you want to master your entire project using the application suite, Deke's masterful tutelage will guide you step-by-step without confusion or fuss. Real World Illustrator is the no nonsense, rolled up sleeves approach to Illustrator 8.0. And this revised edition of our bestselling book teaches essential techniques from basic to amazing! Don't you want the hottest tips and techniques available? Then you'll want to buy Real World Illustrator 8.0! I recommend it!