Illustrator for the mac

Now Using Adobe® Illustrator® on Your Mac® is Easy, Fast, and Fun

Relax. Learning how to use Illustrator on your Mac is now a breeze. The step-by-step instructions in this book will have you creating dynamic images in no time. From the basics of using drawing tools to mastering filters, effects, and layers, Adobe® Illustrator® for the Mac® fast & easy® contains all the information you need to turn out exciting, professional™looking designs.

• Need to know the basics of getting started with Illustrator? Go to Chapter 2
• Want to start manipulating objects in your Illustrator file? Learn how in Chapter 4
• Ready to liven things up with custom colors and gradients? Turn to Chapter 8
• Want to learn how to apply effects and filters? Go to Chapter 10
• Have some questions about working with layers? Get the Answers in Chapter 15
• Ready to start designing for the Web? Turn to Chapter 17

Includes a comprehensive glossary.

"Prima Publishing's fast & easy series is just what consumers need!"—CyberBold, Inc.
"Fast & Easy means just that. No theory; all hands-on. These books carry you through their topics at a rapid pace with an avalanche of screens to make learning easy."—Joseph T. Sinclair, Author
"One of the most helpful and jargon-free books around."—The Toronto Globe and Mail
"Beginners will love the tone and format . . . the author's expertise is evident throughout the book."—Publishers Weekly

Introduction
Who Should Read This Book?
Added Advice to Make You a Pro

Part I: Getting Acquainted with Illustrator

Chapter 1: Exploring the Work Area
Waking Up Illustrator
Exploring the Illustrator Environment

Chapter 2: Starting Up
Creating a New File
Opening a Saved Image File
Saving a File in Illustrator
Saving Your File in a Different Format
Switching between Open Documents
Closing a File
Part I Review Questions

Part II: Making Some Art

Chapter 3: Drawing Tools Using the Preset Shape Tools

Chapter 4: Selecting and Manipulating Objects
Using the Selection Tools

Chapter 5: Transforming Objects
Using the Rotate Tools

Chapter 6: Working with Precision
Illustrator Rules!
Using Guides
Displaying the Grid
Using the Measure Tool
Moving and Sizing Objects Using the Transform Palette
Aligning and Distributing Objects
Moving Objects from Front to Back

Chapter 7: Working with Paths and Pathfinders
Using the Smooth Tool
Using the Eraser Tool
Using the Reshape Tool
Using the Scissors and Knife Tools

Part III: Working with Objects and Text

Chapter 8: Using Color, Strokes and Fills
Stroking Those Paths
Dashing Off a Few Lines
The Swatches Palette

Chapter 9: Using the Paintbrush
Introducing the Paintbrush Tool

Chapter 10: Filters, Effects, Appearances, and Styles
Filters
Applying a Filter
Effects
Applying an Effect
The Inner Glow Effect
Working with Appearances
Changing an Appearance Attribute
Appearance Palette Icons
Saving an Appearance as a Style
Applying a Style to an Object

Chapter 11: Working with Compound Paths
Creating a Compound Path
Releasing the Compound Path
Reversing the Direction of a Path

Chapter 12: Working with Masks
Making a Clipping Mask
Releasing the Mask
Making an Opacity Mask
Editing an Opacity Mask

Chapter 13: Digging through the Layers
Creating a New Layer
Controlling Layer Options
Restacking the Layers
Hiding and Showing the Layers
Locking a Layer
Selecting a Layer
Moving Art between Layers
Working with Sublayers
Moving a Sublayer into Another Layer
Creating a New Sublayer
Deleting a Layer or Sublayer
Merging Layers
Undoing the Merge
Flattening the Artwork

Chapter 14: Getting a Word In
Putting the Text on the Page with the Type Tools

Part IV: Digging Deeper

Chapter 15: Making Graphs
Creating a Bar Graph
Turning the Columns into Art
Customizing the Graph
Changing Graph Data
Adding New Data

Chapter 16: Working with Raster Images
Placing an Imported Raster Image
Working with Linked and Embedded Images

Chapter 17: Designing for the Web
Using Web-Safe Colors
Using Web-Friendly File Formats

Chapter 18: Actions in Action
Understanding Action Set
Creating an Action Set
Creating a New Action
Recording the Action
Playing the Action
Editing an Action
Testing the Edited Action

Chapter 19: Preparing to Print
Selecting a Printer
Down and Dirty Quick Print
Page Setup
Part IV Review Questions

Part V: Appendices

Appendix A: Installing Adobe Illustrator 9
System Requirements
Installing Adobe Illustrator 9

Appendix B: Keyboard Shortcuts
File Commands
Toolbox Selections
Edit Menu Commands
Object Menu Commands
Type Menu Commands
View Menu Commands
Help Menu Command

Appendix C: Additional Resources
Hardware and Software
Online Font Suppliers
Desktop Publishing and Design Web Sites
Magazines and Periodicals
Books

Appendix D: Setting Preferences
Accessing the Preferences Dialog Box
Exploring the Available Options

Glossary

Index