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Rating: 
Summary: Clear, comprehensive in scope, and complete in details
Review: As a professional web and print designer who uses Illustrator, and the author of beginning level Illustrator books and videos, I'm intimately familiar with advanced level Illustrator books. To date, SE Using Illustrator 9 is the most complete, thorough, and clear advanced level AI 9 book available.I'll back up the author's response to the critical reviewer who really wanted a beginner level book. Look elsewhere for an intro level book or a set of tutorials. There are good ones available :) For a detailed, accurate, nuanced explanation of an esoteric transparency mask effect or to trouble-shoot Illustrator's weirdly concocted graph generator, I've learned to grab this book off my shelf first, and leave the others alone. I often find SE Using books too encyclopedic, and - at their worst - boring detailed and embellished rehashes of program documentation. In the case of Illustrator, with it's multiple paths (sorry - a new age Illustrator pun) to accomplishing many effects, I kind of appreciate an encyclopedic approach. And the documentation and online help features *need* elaboration! I was also grateful, as a vector-centric designer, that I didn't have to sift through gratuitous PhotoShop references, or "start from scratch" explanations of the logic of vector curves. If the book has a shortcoming, it is the lack of complex project models and a CD or Web site with projects to deconstruct. The few mini-tutorials I encountered were functional demonstrations of features, but not quite "real world" examples of Illustrator projects. The (seemingly undercredited) contributing author has a background that compliments the lead author's, but it might have been helpful to bring in an professional illustrator as well. Still, the book doesn't claim to be "Illustrator Magic" or "New Masters of Illustrator". The illustrations are not going to stretch your designer right-brain envelope, but they are clear, useful, and reasonably aesthetic. Finally, I appreciate the no frills writing style of this book. Beth Millett and Heather Banner Kane are giants in the world of graphic design book acquisitions and editing, and their influence is apparent in the approach. I bought this book as a technical reference, not for chatty stories about the author's connections at Adobe, or for late night entertainment. As the cop on Dragnet used to say, "just the facts."
Rating: 
Summary: Encyclopedia approach
Review: Based on two reviews this book looked really good, so I rushed to buy it, but fortunately I have found it in a public library, so I read it and... It's complete disappointment. This brick covers lots of stuff, but despite author's promises isn't that useful. First of all, as a new to Illustrator (but not to computer graphics and vector editing software) I expected to find all the tools explained. And maybe they are, the problem is, author mentions their names without letting me know how to find them. What a bummer. Every new tool and searching through the menus and toolbox icons is unavoidable. Furthermore, tools are first described in main part of the books, but then different info is presented in separate section on the end, where they are groupped by menu or toolbox location. What looks like a great idea doesn't work in practice. So which explanation is better? And why am I forced to go the the end to find the tool being described? Besides those descriptions sometimes fail to deliver the essence: how to use them effectively and create sophisticated effects. I want to know how to use it and not only what it does. Also, it looks promising having well over 800 pages. But then you'll find there such contemplations as why it's inappropriate to call tilde key a tilde key and why author does call it tilde key. Very interesting and valuable observation.
This book could be fine to check an Illustrator detail that sliped away your memory, but not as a textbook.
Rating:
Summary: From the Author
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: From the Author
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Provides complete coverage of Adobe Illustrator
Review: Special Edition Using Adobe Illustrator 9 is the complete tutorial/reference for those new to Illustrator as well as those seeking tips and tricks for using Illustrator more productively, from keyboard shortcuts to advanced features. Today's multi-purpose design work often requires the use of multiple applications for print and Web output, and Illustrator integrates seamlessly with other Adobe products to enable designers to create once but publish many times, in many places. Special Edition Using Adobe Illustrator 9 provides complete coverage of Adobe Illustrator, including version 9's new features and tools. Intermediate - Advanced, 800pp.
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