Illustrator CS4 For Dummies

Adobe Illustrator is the program many designers turn to when they need vivid, colorful artwork intended for printed pages, websites, or mobile screens. This guide suits people who are moving up to Illustrator CS4 as well as those opening the software for the first time.

The book is printed in full color and covers the latest features, along with methods for managing color and editing paths. It explains how to keep graphics organized and how to prepare finished work for print or for the web. Readers learn to handle the program's large set of tools, commands, and panels, and to choose between RGB and CMYK color and get accurate color output. It also covers the difference between path and pixel documents, adjusting points on a path, and using the Pen and Pencil tools. Typography topics include the Character and Paragraph panels and setting type along a path. Further chapters address pixel preview mode, creating vector graphics for the web, using Flash alongside Illustrator, and preparing pages for printing, including separations and web-friendly file formats. Readers also learn to draw basic shapes, straight lines, and precise curves, and to manage work with the Layers panel and apply styles and effects. The final section shows how Illustrator works with the other applications in Adobe Creative Suite.

The instructions are written in everyday language and illustrated with colorful examples of finished work, so the book is aimed at adult learners with varying levels of experience.