11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the Author, May 2, 2001
I read with interest a review posted here from an individual who looked at this book in his public library. First, he states that he is new to Illustrator. As it says on the book cover and here, this is a reference book for Intermediate to Advanced Illustrator users, not beginners who can't find the Toolbox. Second, it is not a textbook, it is not lesson-based. Our intent was not to teach what to do with a tool (technique), but rather how the tool works (reference). For experienced Illustrator users looking to move to the next level, there is no better reference. If you're preparing for the Adobe Certified Expert exam, this is the best tool (other than experience) available. Now, on with the regularly scheduled review....
Since we no longer have an actual Author's Review section, I thought I'd toss out a few words here. Que's "Special Edition Using" books can be considered the top-of-line computer series for advanced and intermediate practitioners. I am pleased that Illustrator has finally been included in the stable (as has Photoshop 6). Our goal with "Special Edition Using Adobe Illustrator 9" was to prepare the most complete, most comprehensive, easiest-to-use, high-level Illustrator book possible. I think we've succeeded.
In addition to the 28 main chapters, this book includes major appendices that explore the actual workings of Illustrator. Ever wonder what a particular tool does or how to use it? Appendix C explores each tool, alphabetically. Appendix D does the same for every palette. All of Illustrator's menu commands are examined in Appendix E. Combined, these three appendices form the most powerful Illustrator reference ever printed.
If you're an experienced Illustrator user, this book will help you master all of the new features, including the long-awaited transparency capability. You'll learn how to use the new Effects and Filters, and see color images of how the major filters work with photographs, patterns, gradients, and text. Whether your work is print or Web, you'll find what you need to produce perfect output, every time. Integrate Illustrator 9 and Photoshop 6 effortlessly. Get a head start on the Web's next great format: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). Find out how to exploit Illustrator's new Layers palette.
In addition to practical application and execution, you'll also find the theoretical information that allows you to understand why Illustrator works the way it does. Chapter 12, "Understanding and Applying Color," looks at RGB and CMYK, how they work, what that means to you, and when to use each. Section VI, "Between Vector and Raster," explores the difference between the two types of artwork, how each fits in Illustrator, and how you can utilize them both.
Over 1200 images were prepared for "Special Edition Using Adobe Illustrator 9," and you'll find hundreds of tips, notes, cautions, and warnings throughout the book. Most chapters also include a special Troubleshooting section, which looks at common problems and their solutions.
If you're looking for a beginner's book, that first introduction to Illustrator, look elsewhere. (I'll suggest "Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Illustrator 9 in 24 Hours.") However, after you've worked through a basic course, have this one handy on the bookshelf. You'll find yourself reaching for it time and again as you master Illustrator.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not even the manual, May 16, 2003
By A Customer
I was very disappointed with this book. I bought it after reading a few reviews and recommendations from NAPP. It seems to me it isn't any much more than the manual revisited with a few extra details. I was hoping for some innovation and some interesting things that I might have stirred into my pot of knowledge, but I found I was reading a lot on basic tool function. It's a manual at best. It is too text bookie, and too long and drawn out over simple things. I got to about the 18th chapter, and put it down. I don't think there is anything that I'd use. I feel sorry that the message is so down as the things that I've read are accurate in the book. I just don't feel the investment came out to be worth it very well.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
still the most comprehensive guide to AI, May 22, 2003
This review is from: Special Edition Using Adobe(R) Illustrator(R) 10 (Paperback)
I'm a web designer, Illustrator teacher, author of beginner level Illustrator books, and quasi-graphic artist. This is my favorite Illustrator book - except for mine:).
When I reviewed the version 9 edition of this book, I noted that while somtimes Que's Special Edition Using series tends be too encyclopedic, you NEED an encyclopedic reference for Illustrator. Nobody is going to explore every feature, effect, and tool, so professional designers and teachers need an accurate and complete a-z guide handy.
I've got a half dozen books, but after repeated comparisson, I find I pull SE Using AI 10 off my shelf much more than any other guide to Illustrator. The basic value of this book lies in the clear explanations of any feature you need to look up.
The artwork in the book is still utilitarian - clearly demonstrating features, but not providing much in the way of creative spark. And the the 4-color gallery section doesn't add much in my opinion - especially without any annotation. But so what? This is a reference book for experts, not a design book or a hybrid of the two.
My main beef with this edition is the frustratingly bad layout of the index. A book like this needs a comprehensive and comprehensable index. This index is complete, but whoever decided to save a couple bucks by cramming the content into 3 columns, and not putting headings (as opposed to the many subheadings and long lists of sub-sub headings) in boldface made the book nearly unusable. Hopefully we'll see a much better index layout in the next edition.
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