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Displaying 1 - 5 of 25 reviews
November 16, 2012
(More pictures on my blog)
It's worth repeating the book description first. The book does not cover all the tools and features of Adobe Illustrator, the vector drawing software.
This a basic introductory guide to creating vector work, as suggested by the cover. More specifically, it focuses on using the Pen tool (understanding how Bezier curves work) and the philosophy of creating vector work. The author's philosophy is that you should be able to draw well enough and conceptualize ideas on paper before turning them to vector using software. It always helps to draft things out on paper first.
The examples shown in the book are from Adobe Illustrator software but the knowledge should be applicable to other vector software since it's mostly about using the Pen tool.
The 2 hours plus video tutorials on the DVD teach by showing so they are pretty helpful. Sometimes concepts are quicker to grasp just by watching. Exercise files are in Adobe Illustrator CS2 and CS4 file formats.
I will not recommend this as the first book to get if you are just starting to learn vector drawing. Begin with a software dedicated book first, such as the Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book series, which will give a good overview and working knowledge of the drawing tools and features available. Only when you feel that you need additional Pen tool training would I then suggest you get Vector Basic Training.
September 6, 2023
Kind of boring. There are better and more simple resources available that I would choose over this book
June 28, 2022
6/27/22 Update: I've just finished watching all the videos that come with this book. Wow! This is an incredible resource as you get to watch how he works in addition to having access to the files. So, the book all by itself would probably be just 3 stars, but the whole thing is a 5 and is designed to work as a set.
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Original review (before I watched all the videos and dipped into the source files):
Seems like a solid book all around. Concepts presented well and the approach looks like a productive and practical one. I think I was expecting to be a bit more inspired from this book, but I certainly took a way a lot of useful tips and learned some new stuff. I might bump it up a star after I finish watching all of the video that came as part of a package with the book. It's only in the last couple years that I've started to dip my toes into the illustration waters. Check back with me in a few years to see if I've learned to swim or not...
Von Glitschka has a very fun and playful illustration style (see below). You can see more of his work on Instagram and Behance (amongst others), and he teaches online at https://www.lynda.com/Von-Glitschka/189112-1.html.
In addition to video, he also includes the Adobe Illustrator source files for a lot of the examples in the book, so you can see exactly how they were constructed. It is a wealth of resources.
-----------------------------
Original review (before I watched all the videos and dipped into the source files):
Seems like a solid book all around. Concepts presented well and the approach looks like a productive and practical one. I think I was expecting to be a bit more inspired from this book, but I certainly took a way a lot of useful tips and learned some new stuff. I might bump it up a star after I finish watching all of the video that came as part of a package with the book. It's only in the last couple years that I've started to dip my toes into the illustration waters. Check back with me in a few years to see if I've learned to swim or not...
Von Glitschka has a very fun and playful illustration style (see below). You can see more of his work on Instagram and Behance (amongst others), and he teaches online at https://www.lynda.com/Von-Glitschka/189112-1.html.
In addition to video, he also includes the Adobe Illustrator source files for a lot of the examples in the book, so you can see exactly how they were constructed. It is a wealth of resources.
May 21, 2017
One guys method with Vector art.
I liked the book. Though I find some of his methods intriguing (like moving back and forth between digital and physical drawings), I'd like to start and stay in the digital world.
I liked the book. Though I find some of his methods intriguing (like moving back and forth between digital and physical drawings), I'd like to start and stay in the digital world.
February 16, 2012
Mr. Von Glitschka is amazing.
End. Of. Story.
End. Of. Story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 25 reviews