This step-by-step guide gives readers what they need to get right to work, without having to wander through menus or read a lot of text. Written by two experienced computer instructors and artists, the book uses step-by-step instructions, hundreds of illustrations with detailed captions, and special tips to teach readers how to master this powerful tool. Special tutorial-type exercises help readers practice using various features. A four-page color section shows examples of designs and projects described in the book in their full-color glory. The book covers the basics of getting started with Illustrator, creating objects, selecting and moving objects, and working with color. In addition, the book focuses on more advanced skills, such as using gradients, patterns, and layers, working with type, using transformation tools, creating masks, and more. The book has been thoroughly revised and updated to include features new to version 7.0, including new Web capabilities, such as the ability to attach URLs to shapes to create hotspots and image maps.