I’ve been using Illustrator since it first came out, back in the infancy of desktop publishing. With each subsequent version, my involvement with the product has dramatically increased to the point where it’s become an absolutely huge part of my life. The following is a brief rundown of the Illustrator versions and my involvement with them:
Illustrator 1.1/88: Illustrator was the first PostScript drawing program, and the EPS file format became a desktop publishing standard. I had an internship with the first service bureau in Central PA; I printed hundreds of Illustrator files to a Linotronic 100.
Illustrator 3.2/4.1: The Illustrator type capabilities and graphing functionality were dramatically enhanced. At this time I was working at a printing company, prepress shop, and a Macintosh VAR as well as training folks at ad agencies on how to use Illustrator (as well as QuarkXPress and Photoshop). I met my wife (an avid Illustrator artist and author herself) by training her on the 3.2 version of Illustrator.
Illustrator 5.0/5.5: Illustrator came with palettes and Photoshop filter support. I wrote the first edition of the Macworld Illustrator Bible, the first fully comprehensive book on Illustrator. I also started beta-testing Illustrator software (a process that has continued in various capacities ever since).
Illustrator 6.0: The Illustrator first-of-its-kind plug-in API allowed the Illustrator development team and third party plug-in developers to easily add palettes, tools, and menu items. During this time I worked as a writer for Adobe on various materials. I consulted with HSC Software (the makers of Kai’s Power Tools) on KPT Vector Effects, an astonishing and powerful set of Illustrator plug-ins. I also wrote the 2nd edition of the Macworld Illustrator Bible and Illustrator Filter Finesse, a book all about Illustrator plug-ins.
Illustrator 7.0: The first truly cross-platform version of the product was the beginning of the end for previous PC market-leader CorelDRAW. I alpha-tested Illustrator for the first time, and consulted with Extensis for Vector Tools, a fantastic set of productivity plug-ins for Illustrator. The Illustrator 7 Bible (now cross-platform, like the product) was written for this version.
Illustrator 8:0: This version added a huge set of minor enhancements, answered long-time customer requests, and broke new ground with brushes and gradient mesh features. I wrote Illustrator Studio Secrets, as well as the fourth installment of the Illustrator Bible. During this time, I began working for Extensis as a product manager for Photoshop and Illustrator plug-ins, including Mask Pro and Intellihance Pro.
Illustrator 9.0: I began working at Adobe as Illustrator Product Manager. Some of the features I worked on included the Transparency effect, the new Layers palette, and the Styles/Appearance/Effects features. The other big news for Illustrator was a set of comprehensive tools for creating Web graphics. I wrote the first version of the Illustrator For Dummies book, as well as the Illustrator 9 Bible.
Illustrator 10: Even more Web functionality was added as well as OS X native capabilities, along with several new production and creativity tools. I began overseeing the Illustrator business as Group Product Manager, working specifically on the new Envelopes/Distortion set of features. Illustrator 10 For Dummies and the Illustrator 10 Bible were written during this time.
Illustrator CS: The new features of Illustrator CS include 3D effects, type enhancements, and the Scribble effect, which make this the best version of Illustrator ever. Yet another edition of both the Illustrator Bible and Illustrator For Dummies were written, and my internal involvement with Illustrator has increased further still.
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