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Posted on 12/09/07 6:45:56 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply  |
How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I've been talking to my publishers, Focal Press, about writing How to Cheat in Illustrator as part of the How to Cheat series. They're interested in your views on this title, in particular: Do you use Illustrator? Would you be interested in a book on how to use it? What level do you think the book should be pitched at? Thanks for your help on this! Steve |
Posted on 12/09/07 7:26:07 PM |
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vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I Know next to nothing about Illustrator, so I will look forward to your book. What are Illustrators strengths in comparison to Photoshop? Vibeke |
Posted on 12/09/07 7:35:14 PM |
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Deborah Morley
Makeover Magician Posts: 1319 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I don't really use Illustrator, as I don't know how to, so yes I would be interested in a "how to" book, but I don't think it would be as popular as the photoshop book. I could be totally wrong but I think Illustrator is more for graphic designers, where as photoshop, everyone can try it. Is that a two edged knife: introduce people to illustrator/people think it is way out of my depth, not interesting enough? The book should be pitched at the same high level as your others. Now I wait to be shot down in flames for not really using Illustrator! Hope this has been of a little help. |
Posted on 12/09/07 9:02:27 PM |
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Jnette
* Posts: 15 Reply |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I love Illustrator. I would buy a copy of the book. I think it should be at the same level as the other book. |
Posted on 12/09/07 9:43:46 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4033 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
Hi Steve, I would certainly buy a book on Illustrator. It's an excellent programme. I use it, but not as much as I should. My main reference books are the Illustrator Bible and the Illustrator Wow! book. Both are good but the Bible, essentially, is a glorified manual (that's not meant as a criticism as it is much, much better than a manual) and the Wow book, excellent though it is, tends to assume a fair bit of prior knowledge and ability so is really for more advanced users. I think one difficulty is that it is more difficult to compartmentalise Illustrator in the same way as Photoshop. What may be required is a combination of raw beginner stuff, well illustrated with images that anyone can produce, leading on to rather more advanced techniques that would exercise the buyer's mind into getting deeper into the programme - a sort of Wow! book for beginners, if you will. Using an image as a template to create an Illustrator version would be most satisfying for a newcomer once they had learned the basics. And, of course, a website along the lines of this forum would be of immense value. |
Posted on 12/09/07 9:46:51 PM |
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tank172
ThreeDee Thriller Posts: 692 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I use Illustrator everyday. Regretfully, I find myself stumbling around the tools and trudging though options more often than actually working...(when I try to get creative with a layout, but can't figure out how get the effect!)  But I have been getting better with the interface.
Regarding what level the book should portray, IMO I like the current approach in the HTIP books. The beginning is introducing the tools and the rest is diving into the functions; all the while, if I wanted to acheive a particular effect...I could simply flip to the cooresponding page and be able to make it happen. Can't wait for the book, Steve!!! 
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Posted on 13/09/07 03:14:31 AM |
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Neil O
Cartoon Contractor Posts: 389 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I don't use Illustrator as I don't know what it is used for. Could you explain the basic use of it? I'm sure if is written in a similar format like HTCIPS is it would be extreamly benificial to those who do use Illustrator. I was totaly lost and confused with photoshop until I got your book(s). To put it plainly- If I knew you offered an HTCII book I would be more apt to purchase the Illustrator software!!  Not the other way around!
P.S. A forum to go along with it would be awesome! 
Neil _________________ "I haven't failed.... I've found 10,000 ways that don't work!" Thomas Edison |
Posted on 13/09/07 11:16:02 AM |
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katew
Virtual Virtuoso Posts: 681 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I would certainly use this book. I'm trying to use illustrator, and my husband uses it a bit, but a book along the same lines as the HOTCHIPS books would be extremely useful. What I particularly liked about the HOTCHIPS book was that it provided some interesting and fun examples, unlike a lot of the books which are a bit 'dry'. |
Posted on 13/09/07 11:47:42 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2904 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I've never used Illustrator but would like to learn. So yes, I would be interested in a book written in the same format as HTCIPS |
Posted on 13/09/07 1:17:40 PM |
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steve hill
Brain Basher Posts: 228 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I am trying to get my company to bring more of this work in house, so I would be interested, and might be able to get the boss to pay for it to |
Posted on 13/09/07 5:34:51 PM |
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Pierre
Constructional Confabulator Posts: 637 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I personally use Illustrator as much as Photoshop at work. Been hitting it from version 4 I think. But I actually don't no that much details about it. I use it for schematics (à la Flash type illustrations). I really think that the approach of HTCIPS is the one to go with; basic tools and ideas at beginning (picking colors, lines and fills, layers, gradient meshes, etc) and then illustrate (!) their use through specific small projects. When I got my first edition of HTCIPS (the 3rd one) I learned so much out of it and I had been using Photoshop for nearly 10 years. I am sure Illustrator would benefit from your approach. I could sell a lot of that book at work for you...   _________________ |
Posted on 13/09/07 9:51:59 PM |
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Meltonian
Highlight Hermit Posts: 90 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
After ignoring Illustrator for a long time I finally forced myself to learn it about two years ago. Once I'd got the hang of it, it blew me away. Photoshop gets most of the attention, but its little brother is equally impressive. I'd like to think I'm reasonably proficient at using it, but I'd still buy a 'How to Cheat' book on it if one were published. I thought I was quite handy with Photoshop until I read your book! The ability level to pitch at is hard to call - it's a tricky program to learn but as long as the user had a basic working knowledge of the program, your usual walkthroughs would be fine. I really hope your publishers give you the green light. Viva vectors! |
Posted on 14/09/07 04:30:37 AM |
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Abby-Helen Artfield
** Posts: 70 Reply |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I love Illustrator almost as much as I love Photoshop. I use both, they play well together, and this is the best part on how one can move a project from one program to another. I am most interested in your book on HTCI ai. Looking forward to it. Abby-Helen |
Posted on 14/09/07 5:56:15 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1871 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
What is Illustrator? Elucidation please. A book! That depends on the first point. "What level should it be pitched at?" Hmmmm, s-t-e-p by s-t-e-p Steve! S-t-e-p by s-t-e-p Steve! 
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Posted on 15/09/07 6:52:43 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
If you can take the intimidation out of learning Illustrator like you do with PS I would start using it. At what level? Same approach as HTCIPS but maybe touching on the basics to get a grip on the tools and workflow. If this is a series, I would love to see one for Indesign as well. _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 16/09/07 11:46:15 AM |
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Wayne
Printer’s Devil Posts: 312 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I use Illustrator at work every day. I learned the basics many years ago from "Teach Yourself Illustrator 7 In 24 Hours" by Mordy Golding. Very easy to follow lessons and did exactly what it said on the tin! When the firm upgraded to CS I bought the "Illustrator CS Bible". (steve hill, I hope you have more luck getting your boss to pay than I did with mine!) I agree with Gordon about this book. A total novice would have a hard time learning the basics of Illustrator from it. So I suppose in my opinion the How to Cheat in Illustrator book should be pitched at a level somewhere in between the two, but closer to the "24 Hours" level. Good luck with the project, Steve. |
Posted on 16/09/07 2:19:39 PM |
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dave.cox
Marquee Master Posts: 518 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I have been studying recently to get my skills in Illustrator up. There is a very good course for it, and others on Lynda.com. Michael, Illustrator is a graphics program like photoshop is, but where Photoshop's focus is on raster graphics, Illustrator's focus in on vector graphics. If you do not know what vector graphics are, a good example of vector graphics are the text tools in photoshop. Text in photoshop is vector graphics until it is rasterized, which means that it is defined by paths. Illustrator also has tools that make it easier to get it ready for printing, when you have to be careful to use the standard colors that printers have readily available, and you are limited to 2, 3, or 4 colors. You can do that in photoshop, but the spot colors in Illustrator make it a little easier. |
Posted on 20/09/07 04:40:02 AM |
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srowden
Detail Devil Posts: 114 Reply  |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I registered on this website just so i can say my wife picked me up the book and i must say I love it. The reason i'm posting is to really just say How To Cheat In Illustrator would be ace!! and I'd be sure to pick it up and dig my nose right into it. since the fourth edition i've learned so much just from how far iv'e gotten and i can't thank you enough even things they didn't teach you in school thank you!! |
Posted on 20/09/07 11:39:07 AM |
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Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
I had to learn Illustrator very quickly for work a month or so back. I had used Corel Draw years ago so vector graphics wasn't new to me but illustrator CS3 was a different beast in practice. My company bought the Lynda.com DVDs for me and they were a great help. Video tutorials are much easier to follow that a book, but not as convenient when you are on the move or just have 5 minutes spare time to read a page or two. I would love to buy an illustrator book for personal use. Your HTCIP previous edition taught me so much, if an illustrator one was half as good then I'd have one like a shot. As for where to pitch it - if it tries to encompass too much then it is only half the value as the first part would be no use to those who know a little more. Maybe you should assume the reader already has a good working knowledge of illustrator. After all why would someone buy illustrator if they knew nothing at all. (Unless it came in the suite) |
Posted on 20/09/07 1:07:42 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply |
Re: How to Cheat in Illustrator?
These are all really helpful comments, everyone. I think it does have to begin as an 'absolute beginners' book, especially as it no longer ships with a printed manual; one of the biggest challenges facing the Illustrator novice is getting started with the program. That said, there should be room to get onto some more interesting stuff as well. Are there any techniques in particular you'd like to see explored? |
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