Illustrator 8 Bible [With Includes Templates, Clip Art, Plug-Ins, Utilities]

by Ted Alspach

Keeping up with your favorite computer program is no easy task. Just as you're getting to know your way around the application, an updated version hits store shelves. Illustrator 8 is a perfect example. The latest incarnation of this premiere graphics program is chock full of new features and enhancements. Familiarizing yourself with all these changes while trying to master the older ones can be pretty overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be. Opening...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764532693
• ISBN13: 9780764532696
• Release Date: December 1998
• Publisher: Wiley Publishing
• Length: 775 Pages
• Weight: 3.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The best book for learning Illustrator

My dog-eared copy of this book has seen me through dozens of clients and tons of issues I would never have known how to deal with otherwise. The perfect reference guide for Illustrator.

Gentlemen, Start Your Mice

This is such a great way to learn Illustrator basics! Don't be intimidated by the size! It is written in plain English and uses humor to help you become familiar with many non-familiar and intimidating terms. There are illustrations (!) for almost every step in the process, which are very helpful. It is not organized as lessons but instead, begins with the description of each tool and its use and then tells you how to implement the tool and shows you illustrations of what the result should look like. It then tells you, in successive chapters, the various ways to combine the basics and enhance them with devices like color, gradients and type to make an illustration. It demystifies such esoterica as "masking", "paths", "layers" and "Bezier curves"and explains what they do. Then it explains why you should master them and how to implement them. I haven't even gotten to the included CD yet, I'm saving it for when I finish the book! It contains a sampling of effects and fonts and some utilities that you can use with Illustrator. An excellent beginner's book and an encouraging way to get started in Illustrator.

Great for learning Illustrator

This is a great book for learning the basics of Adobe Illustrator 8 in a very short time. The examples it provides really help you along, and you are doing cool looking logos in no time. Yes, there are better books out there, but this one is great for people who are just starting out. Worth the read.

Basics & features explained, great tips

This book is an essential for getting the most out of this powerful program. The basics are explained simply and thoroughly and the most valuable tips as well as features new to Illustrator 8 are highlighted.Menus & dialog boxes are illustrated throughout, helping the user find the right buttons & settings. Well designed output samples show what is going on with each step, making the transition to the advanced features a smooth one. Some of the things I found most useful were detailed information on the use of Photoshop filters in Illustrator and extensive coverage of third party plug-ins. The chapter on type showed me some great new ideas.There is a color gallery in the middle of the book that shows off the fabulous potential of Illustrator 8. Most of this art is on the CD-ROM included with the book, as are a number of demos & plug-ins, some are only for the MAC.

Great for beginners

Before I bought this book, I had never really put much effort into Illustrator cause i found it very frustrating to do anything. But after reading this book all my questions were answered. If you are looking for tutorials this book kind of lacks in that area. Although after reading various chapters I found myself trying out the concepts they talked about, so I guess you could call those self made tutorials :) Overall I would definetly recommend this book for people wanting to learn Illustrator, especially if you have some experience with other Adobe products.