How do you define a serious Illustrator user? How about  one who uses Illustrator to produce robust and professional-looking  vector graphics but also needs the program to be flexible and efficient in workflow and production cycles. If this describes you or  the user you strive to be, then you need this book Filled with the industrial-strength techniques and best practices required to get you up to speed fast on Illustrator CS2 without missing a beat in your production workflow, Real World Adobe Illustrator CS2 is the  definitive reference for the serious Illustrator user. Thoroughly updated for this version of the software, Illustrator pro Mordy Golding offers a complete guide to the new features such as Live Trace, Live Paint, the Control Palette, Custom Workspaces, and expanded  support for Mobile devices, to name a few. You'll also find practical insights on creating type, symbols, graphs, color, effects, Web  graphics, and more. Along with tips, sidebars, and expert commentary, there are also numerous illustrations and screen shots included to offer readers the most complete coverage on this extraordinary application. Designers from all fields--illustrators, animators, package designers, graphic designers, web designers, and more--will  find Real World Adobe Illustrator CS2 their one-stop guide to creating powerful designs in Illustrator CS2.

For more information check out Mordy's blog at http://rwillustrator.blogspot.com/.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 13 Ratings

Is this as good as it gets? - 2007-03-30
Reviewer Rating:
Updated review follows:

I initially gave this a 4 out of 5 review, but after also getting the Adobe Illustrator CS2 Wow! book I have to downgrade my rating to 2 out 5. Why?

a. The book is black and white with a small insert of color samples. I don't know about you, but unless you are just drawing a bunch of outlines and b&w sketches, a manual on graphic arts NEEDS to be in color!

b. There was no CD accompanying the book. With all the other Illustrator books out there that include CDs, I really wonder why I bought this one.

End of edits. See original review below.

I got this book because of all the 'raving' reviews on Amazon. However, while I admit the book is useful, I can only give it 4 out of 5. Why?

1. The book is in many ways just a reorganization of the Illustrator help file with short examples. Therefore, if you have a printed version of the Adobe help then you probably don't need this book, unless you need the short examples which the Adobe help is short on.

2. The book is very short on involved or advanced examples. Instead what you get are simple, unconnected demonstrations of Illustrator's more obvious features and as soon as the book gets to something more advanced, e.g. outline strokes, all you get is some brief text. This is all VERY odd in my opinion for a book targeting visual learners.

3. The claim on the cover that the book is 'loaded with expert tips' is simply not true in my opinion. Sure there are a few, here and there scattered about, but the examples are too simple to be of any use in highlighting what I would consider 'best practice insights.'

4. What the book really needs is a methodical tutorial that brings it all together: vectors, text, meshes, 3D, color, etc. Here's a novel idea: a tutorial that walks you through recreating the cover graphic!

OK, that may sound a little harsh even though I am giving it 4 stars. But I think buyers need to know what to expect.

Still Disappointing - 2009-03-13
Reviewer Rating:
I just came across this volume on my bookshelf when searching for an answer to an Illustrator question and find
that the book is still as disappointing as it was when I purchased it. This is definitely for the novice. I'm sure Mr. Golding is quite well versed in the software so the book must be intended for beginners although it says for intermediate/advanced users. This book is extremely frustrating. There are paragraphs that say (I paraphrase here), "You can even do this", and then not tell you how. Mordy, I implore you, if you are going to tell us all the nifty things that make Illustrator wonderful then add some pages to this relatively small volume and show us how.

Excellent intermediate training - 2008-10-04
Reviewer Rating:
Bought the book as an intermediate trainng reference for my apprentices with no backgrounds in Adobe CS2 in my own agency. The practical training one gets is limited to the kind of projects the agency does. So, one will not really learn a lot until the need arises. This book for Illustrator (and I must say the same for Photoshop and InDesign) provided my staff with the whole gamut of skills to learn and practice exercise to be able to perform their work when we finally needed to do certain tasks.

handy book for Illustrator artist - 2008-09-10
Reviewer Rating:
If you want to increase your current Illustrator knowledge this book is a good choice, take you inside to the knowledge of the program.
Good design and great proposed learning structure.
Isn't a book for illustrators as it, is just more a book for people interested in knowing more the tool.

Good Book To Have - 2008-05-18
Reviewer Rating:
I think all people who use any adobe software should have a book relating to the product.

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