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In addition to pieces from perennial computer artists like Ron Chan and Bert Monroy, I was delighted to find prominent graphics like the logos for the Matrix movie and Cracker Jack, and familiar Time magazine infographics. Graphics for McDonalds, North Face and Apple are also displayed and discussed. Overall, the range of artwork--from spontaneous sketches to fine-art calligraphy to precise medical illustrations--is inspiring. It has helped me expand my graphic techniques (and my business).
While many computer books spend pages walking you from step A to B, the Wow! Book's step-by-step instruction is terse and precise. I had Illustrator open as I worked each step, something I'd recommend to others.
The highlight of the book is Chapter 8, the chapter on AI9's transparency, styles, appearances, knockouts, and opacity masks. It opens with a thorough intro to transparency, appearances, styles. The art that follows demonstrates both simple and more advanced and specialized techniques. I found the offset linework appearances (done by Illustrator 9's product manager, Ted Alspach) especially mind-opening; it clearly demonstrates how a single path can carry multiple strokes, fills and effects. Other techniques convinced me that my art production could be accomplished in Illustrator, rather than shuffling between it and Photoshop.
In the span between Illustrator 8 and 9, many techniques for brushes have been developed. This book includes plenty of new brushes technques. The brushes supplement by Sandee Cohen, in Chapter 4, was particularly useful to me for creating Flash-exported animations.
If you purchase this book, be prepared to spend plenty of time trying out--and learning--Illustrator 9's fantastic capabilities.
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