The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book

The author, an award-winning artist herself, starts off with an introduction to the essential Illustrator features--from working with objects and palettes to working with transformations, views, color, image formats, Postscript, and output. The book goes on to offer more in-depth discussions of shapes, lines, fills, colors, templates, layers, blends, gradients, paths, type, layout, masks, special effects, external apps, not to mention Web, multimedia, and animation projects. As you work through many exercises and browse image galleries from the contributing artists, you learn expert-level tips and techniques. The book includes technical notes, company and artist information, publications, a glossary, and a list of keyboard shortcuts. The companion CD-ROM has Brushes, Actions, clip art, fonts, tutorials, and demo versions of Illustrator and other software programs. --Kathleen Caster

Product Description
The Illustrator 8 Wow! Book is a beautiful, inspiring showcase of the best techniques using Illustrator 8's latest features including details on working with brushes and gradient mesh. Updated from the previous, best-selling edition, it's packed with lush, full-color images and tips on how the artists used Illustrator to create them. Clear, helpful instructions and numerous sidebars guide the reader through Illustrator 8's highlights from the basics to sophisticated professional techniques.

Adobe Illustrator, the most popular illustration software on the market, is a powerful tool for creating not only commercial logos and advertisements, but also fine art and technical illustrations. With its layered work environment and the ability to import bitmapped images from other programs, it takes computer illustration to another plane. Update of the book that has sold more than 50,000 copies worldwide. Covers all the new features of Illustrator 8, plus new tips and techniques. Includes Macintosh/Windows CD-ROM packed with additional special effects, printable charts, free clip art and fonts, an Adobe Illustrator 8 Tryout and a unique collection of custom Wow! Actions and Wow! Brushes.

Great information, excellent layout, clear writing, brilliant examples -- this one is truly worth the price.


Good Reference   January 16, 2002
This is a great reference tool to be used in conjunction with other Illustrator References.


Great Map examples   May 5, 2000
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Ilustrator Wow goes into great detail explaining Illustrator tools that an experienced Illustrator user can easily over look. The examples in the book encourage the reader to use these tools.

Many Illustrator users are quoted and have artwork featured in the book. As a cartographer, I was particularily glad to see how other cartographers do things - how David Nelson strokes lines on a map or how Steve Gordon has created a scenic background for one of his maps.

The accompanying CD has lesson plans, so that the book can be used as part of a class. The book really works for me as I try to improve my ability to draw 3D buildings. I can pick a section out of the book and try to recreate the examples or follow some of the extra lessons on the disk. When you have instructions provided in an Illustrator file (such as the ISO Actions sheet), you can recreate the drawing right next to the original step by step example. The book has many examples perspective drawings used for different purposes.

Like another reviewer mentioned, the book has fantastic illustrations, and I think these illustrations inspire the reader to try new techniques. While I ocassionally use a scanner when starting a project, this book motivated me to do more scanning.


Wow ! I wish I could do that with Adobe Illustrator   March 2, 2000
 26 out of 27 found this review helpful

Let me start by saying that this is a beautiful book. I drool every time I flip through its pages. Imagine being able to do artwork of this caliber with a software program.

Unfortunately imagining is still all I can do after reading this book. The steps or processes given to accomplish what is shown just didn't help me get there. Some of the steps were outright ridiculous. It reminded me of a joke that went... "3 easy steps to make 5 million dollars: step one - Get yourself a million dollars" I won't tell the rest of the joke; you get the idea.

The odd thing about the book is that every time you pick it up and peruse it, you wish it would help you emulate the artwork shown. Too bad. Mind you, I wouldn't give the book up for anything. I love looking through it.

I guess the bottom line is buy this book if you want to see what can be done with Adobe Illustrator 8. If your already semi-pro at using Illustrator you most likely will gain more "Tips and Tricks" as the cover touts. For the rest of us it's 'too bad, so sad'.


Long on "Wow!", short on HOW! .   February 24, 2000
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

I can't figure out what all the fuss about concerning this book - I'm afraid I didn't find it particularly helpful. Yes, it does contain a large number of excellent illustrations from artists who obviously know how to get the best out of illustrator, but there is very little information on the techniques used to produce such illustrations for the novice user. As someone trying to get to grips with Illustrator, I would recommend Deke McClellands "Real World Illustrator 8" as a far better (and wiser) way to spend your money. It has an excellent hands-on approach to getting to grips with the complexity of Illustrator. Steuer's book will probably end up on my coffee table until I can get up to her level.