The Story Behind Adobe Illustrator (Part 1 of 3) | Adobe Creative Cloud

Summary

The transcript recounts the revolutionary impact of Adobe Illustrator on graphic design, transforming the computer into a powerful graphics tool. It highlights the transition from manual, time-consuming methods like using French curves and rulers to the magic of digital design where changes are instantaneous. The speaker, a classically trained graphic designer, shares anecdotes about the pre-computer era's challenges and the excitement of witnessing Illustrator's development. The script also touches on the invention of PostScript by John Warnock and Chuck Geschke, which enabled precise control over type and graphics, laying the foundation for desktop publishing. The story culminates with the first Illustrator beta, showcasing its ability to create complex, non-programmed designs, like a rose, that captivated users and marked a new era in design.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Adobe Illustrator revolutionized the graphic design industry by making computers a powerful tool for creating graphics.
• 🎨 The speaker, a classically trained graphic designer, was amazed by Illustrator's ability to make changes instantaneously, which was like magic compared to traditional methods.
• ⏳ Traditional graphic design processes were time-consuming, involving sketching, measuring, and using tools like French curves and rulers.
• 🖨️ Camera-ready art preparation was complex, involving multiple elements and could take days to complete.
• 📄 The process of setting type was laborious, requiring specification of typeface and point size, and was prone to errors.
• 💥 The risks of the rgraph process included potential explosions and stains, which made the work frustrating and time-consuming.
• 👨‍💻 John Warnock had a vision for Adobe Illustrator, but the technology wasn't initially there to support it.
• 💡 The invention of Illustrator was partly inspired by John Warnock's wife, Marva, who faced challenges in graphic design that needed solving.
• 🔠 PostScript was created by John Warnock and Chuck Geschke to fill a gap in the industry for a universal language to drive printers of any make and model.
• 📝 PostScript allowed for vector-based page description, enabling any size type and image manipulation, but required programming knowledge.
• 🚀 The development of Illustrator began in 1985, with Mike Schuster as the first programmer, making PostScript accessible through a user interface.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction to seeing Illustrator for the first time?

The speaker was excited and saw the future of computer graphics, feeling that Illustrator was like magic due to its ability to make changes instantaneously.

How did the process of creating camera-ready art differ before the advent of computers?

Before computers, creating camera-ready art was time-intensive, involving sketching, using French curves and rulers, and manually setting type, which could take a day or two for a single page.

What was the traditional method of typesetting text before digital tools?

Text was set by a typesetter, which involved cutting up and pasting onto boards, and could take one to two days per page of set type.

What challenges did the speaker face with the traditional method of creating graphics?

The speaker faced challenges such as the time-consuming process, the risk of ruining the final touch-ups with rgraph, and the potential for accidents that would require starting over.

Why did John Warnock envision the creation of Adobe Illustrator?

John Warnock envisioned Adobe Illustrator because he recognized a need for graphic design tools that could address the creative needs of designers, which were not being met by the existing computer science tools at the time.

What was the role of Marva Warnock in the development of Adobe Illustrator?

Marva Warnock, with her graphic design background, influenced John Warnock to venture into graphic arts and solve problems for graphic designers, such as the need for customizable radial corners.

Why was PostScript invented by John Warnock and Chuck Geschke?

PostScript was invented to create a universal language that could drive any make or model of printer, addressing the lack of a standard for handling typefaces and images in the industry.

How did PostScript change the landscape for desktop publishing?

PostScript allowed for the creation of layouts and magazines by providing a page description language that could handle any size type and images, enabling the production of high-quality printed materials.

What was the major breakthrough with PostScript that impacted graphic design?

The major breakthrough was the ability to manipulate vector descriptions of objects, allowing for scalability and flexibility in design without losing quality.

When did the development of Adobe Illustrator begin, and who was the first programmer on the product?

The development of Adobe Illustrator began in 1985, with Mike Schuster as the first programmer on the product.

How did the beta version of Illustrator demonstrate its capabilities to the public?

The beta version showcased Illustrator's capabilities by creating a drawing of a rose that was not programmable, demonstrating the software's ability to produce complex, non-geometric artwork.