Review: Adobe Illustrator 10

(Mac OS 10 with Classic Mac OS 9.1 & 9.2)

by Paul "Blue Strength" Gerstenbluth (ArieFound@aol.com) RIAG Member

"Dream application for graphic designers and Illustrators"

Where every Illustrator wants her but only Adobe Systems users dared to love her. It's like moving from "Vanilla Sky: Open Your Eyes landscapes" to "Moulin Rouge!"original, daring, shocking music and dance numbers.

Enter the world of possible dreams and creative design work. Adobe rewards graphic artists and Mac OS 10 users by giving them the necessary tools to fashion their original designs. How...by their using the daring features of the Macintosh platforms within native Mac OS 10 and Adobe programs. Designers, Illustrators, graphic artists and PhotoShop users now can work their web design projects in harmony with Macromedia Flash and Adobe System programs.

What does Adobe Illustrator 10 offer graphic designers?

• Web Optimization Expansion. New slicing tools make Illustrator 10 an ideal choice for web development. Automatic object-based slicing combined with support for CSS layers can be used to create layer-based alternatives. Object-based slicing makes web pages loads faster.


• Symbols. In practice it works like a scatter brushes, with dialog box settings determining symbol density, size and area covered. Graphics can be modified using any of the symbolism tools which includes the symbol scruncher, shifter, styler, screener, spinner and sizer.


• Object-based slicing. New slicing tools make Illustrator 10 an ideal choice for web development. Automatic object-based slicing combined with support for CSS layers can be used to create layer-based alternatives.


• Dynamic data-driven graphics. Illustrator 10's Dynamic data-driven graphics lets you automate your artwork by linking graphics to a database.


• Enhanced SWF Flash support. Illustrator 10 has enhanced SWF support as in Macromedia Flash files allow graphic artist to add blurs and drop shadows to their vector artwork.


• Release to Layers command. You can take all the objects in a given layer and assign each object its own layer, which is useful for web animation. The Layers functions are useful to web designers using Adobe Illustrator 10 for improving their drawings. The new release Layers to flash function allows Illustrator 10 to be used to produce morphing object and animation effects.


• Transparency Palette. Adobe Illustrator 10 enhances the Transparency palette. You can now apply varying levels of transparency to any object, bitmap or type character. You can apply transparency to layers, groups of objects, knockout shapes, stroke and fill. Also, you can create special effects, such as confining blending to a group of objects. Now, graphic artist can create graduated transparencies on blends.


• New Styles Palette. Apply drop shadows, glows, scribbled outline effects or dozens of other visual effects to any object or text. The text remains fully editable.


• Pixel Preview Mode. Pixels are now supported as a measurement method. The new Pixel Preview mode allows you to preview your vector objects, as they would appear in a web browser. Objects snap to the nearest pixel edge in the document.


• Preview up to four different optimization settings for output to JPEG, GIF, PNG-8 or PNG-24 formats files. Now, you can adjust the resulting image quality, file size, blur, and number of colors in the image.

Pro Comments

Noted are Adobe Illustrator 10's new Symbols, Object-based slicing, Dynamic data-driven graphics and enhanced SWF support. Adobe Illustrator 10 has better Opacity masks, Layer Clipping masks and Feathering functions, and overprint preview. Adobe Illustrator 10 has Live Enveloping to create quick 3D simulations with more compact graphic files. Excellent hardcopy manual for learning how to use Adobe Illustrator 10 comes with the program. (No Missing Manual.)

Con Comments

Noted was the missing companion CD with Adobe Illustrator graphics that comes standard with Adobe PageMaker Plus application. Cannot generate JavaScript rollovers or GIF animation directly. Also, some of the Selection tools can be confusing. I found that Masking tool some times flattens layers.

Final Notes

No Limits, one rule, fall in love once again with Adobe Illustrator. Where the visual imagery strikes new emotions in you.

The most important changes to Illustrator 10 is its ability to work better, quicker and more effiicent with one's web design projects. Illustrator 10 combines illustration tools with improved typographic control and image support. Adobe Illustrator 10 offers graphic artist and web designers more flexibility, better integration, along with new object effects.

What a journey Adobe Illustrator 10 takes you on. A journey I will be sure to repeat over and over again.

Pricing and Availability

For first time buyers, Adobe Illustrator 10 is available for $389.00. For registered owners of previous versions of Illustrator, the price is $139.00. For more information, please visit the Adobe web site at: http://www.adobe.com/products/Illustrator/main.html.

Adobe Illustrator 10 System Requirements:

Adobe Illustrator 10 works with any PowerPC processor, iMac, G3 and G4 using Mac OS 10 and Mac OS 9 Classic systems with 128 MB of RAM. You need 180 MB of available hard-disk space, CD-ROM drive, 800x600 or greater monitor resolution, and Adobe PostScript Level 2 or later required if using Adobe® PostScript® printers.

Paul Gerstenbluth is President of the ARIE Foundation and is a Macintosh consultant. Visit his website at: www.gerstenbluth.com today.

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