Hi folks -- I just wanted to quickly jump online and give you all an update -- I know it has been a while since I've posted something. I also have tons of great email questions that I've received which I haven't had a chance to respond to yet (sorry! -- I'll get to them soon, I promise!). Things have been a bit crazy and I haven't had the time to sit down and share with you all. I recently got back from Photoshop World in Orlando (fun!) and I'm currently in the recording studio doing a title on using Illustrator specifically for Web design. And between the upcoming conferences in Boston, Toronto, Nashville -- the traveling doesn't let up much.
I have some great stuff in the works, which I hope to get up here soon, but I do have a request for you -- my faithful readers. I've gotten the OK from my publisher to update the Real World Illustrator book for the next version of Illustrator. First, I've been approved to print the entire book in color! Hooray! I'm excited about how cool the entire book will look in color, and also how I can rewrite some of the areas to really take advantage of that. What would be really helpful from you folks is, what do you want to see in the next version of the book? Is there a specific topic that you'd like to see more content on? Is the book too basic? Should I focus on more advanced stuff? Let me know your thoughts and I'll do my best to make the book fit more closely with that you -- the readers -- actually want.
A blog about Adobe Illustrator and design in general
11 comments:
What to ask for seems kind of difficult. As someone who has been using Illustrator for quite some time (and read your previous books) I would say that I personally would like to see some more advanced stuff. There seems to be kind of a void in the market between. “And this is how this tool works” and the Illustrator Wow series which takes a lot for granted by showing us amazing artwork and then in many cases, only going over how to create part of an effect – more geared towards inspiration.
At the same time, focusing on things that are more complex takes space away from the basics which less experienced users would still need.
I’m not a fan of trying to please everyone because we almost always end up with something that doesn’t really satisfy anyone going that route but if you were either to tack on some more advanced concepts or usage in a later chapter (you know, JET kind of stuff that from seeing you in person, I know you’ve got, yourself) I personally, would be an incredibly happy camper. ?
I'd also like to see a bit more advanced stuff - possibly some more tutorial-type info also. I recently had to add some realistic-looking input wires to a photo of a piece of equipment and sure could have used some help in that area.
You have quite a challenge writing about Illustrator. It is used in a wide variety of industries: graphic design, prepress, signage, web design, illustration, etc. I've always liked and highly recommended the Real World series. Too many software books are just a rehash of the help files - "here are the tools, here are the menus, this what they do."
I don't have the current RW Illy book, so I don't know if it is covered or not. I would like to see more in-depth coverage of variables.
Also, do you ever play with Scriptographer?
The book should keep the majority of it's foundations add more advanced stuff overall to all the chapters. It would be nice to add a lot more stuff covering the Pen Tool, Gradient Mesh and 3D. There should be some new section or chapter at the end of the book that focuses on creating special effects or Down & Dirty Tricks type of projects.
re: those Video lessons you're recording: for what website or publisher??
I'd like to see more advanced stuff. But I wouldn't want to see less basic stuff. I mean, I have been using Illustrator for a long while, but usually I stay with the same tools every time. So sometimes I need to use a different tool, and, even though I'm very good with some of the tools, with others I'm a novice. So I'd have mixed feelings about more advanced stuff it it involves removing some of the basic stuff.
One of the strengths of the previous two editions is that the book explains not only how Illustrator works but why it works the way it does. Once you understand the logic of how Illustrator operates, it's much easier to work with the program instead of railing against imagined as opposed to real bugs. I'd certainly like to see that emphasis remain.
The box-outs were very effective in the past two editions. Colour printing might give scope to develop those further. For example, it might allow freedom to do spreads highlighting key concepts for beginners, or advanced topics for the more experienced user, without interrupting the flow of the main text.
Tips 'n' tricks? Definitely!
All of these suggestions are wonderful! Please keep them coming :)
Ask Peachpit to spring for better paper than they typically use for Real World series' color plates. Steuer gets all the love.
I would really value a basics and most importantly a beyond the basics of the Gradient Mesh.
I teach AI as a central tool and we use it to print, web and motion graphics outcomes so something dealing with typical problems in those areas would be good - especially the problems of going to Flash and After Effects.
A really big investigation and an in depth look through all the options and implications of Colour and the new interfaces that came in CS3 would be good - I suppose that there will be more in CS4.
More advanced stuff!
Been working 3 years with Illustrator/photoshop and find it frustrating that most (basically all) Illustrator books/tutorials are so basic.
Would really like to see some more indepth on gradient mesh and creating photorealism that goes beyond just copying a photo in one (1) mesh. Creating metal- /plastic- / acrylic- and glass- materials that are more realistic than the library gradients (which are crap) would be nice since this isn't easy.
No more "This is the pentool and this is how it works" there are tons of those already!
Workflow and timesaving tricks like good actionscripts for example and how to make'em work for you.
Been trying to figure out if it's possible to make an action/script where you type in a measurement number and it generates a measurementhook (dunno the correct english word, looks like this -|-----|- with the measurementlength below) with that length and maybe that measuremment written and centered under aswell...if thats even possible? would save a lot of time when making blueprints! I use customsymbol for that but always have to resize, would be nice to get a script to do that!
In Cinema 4D you can choose save incremental, you can't in Illustrator, that I know of atleast...or is there a hidden trick for that? hidden tricks are always good to know. Hidden keyboardshortcuts isn't a hidden trick...that's basic.
Getting a PMS color from a CMYK/RGB color trough the color guide is a handy feature. Not being able to get it to search all PMS librarys in one go (or scroll through them like in photoshop) but being forced to go back and pick the next PMS library is really crappy. If theres a hidden trick for that, that would be really useful!
Looking forward to an advanced book ;)
Post a Comment