For almost two decades, the best-selling Visual QuickStart Guides by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas have been the textbooks of choice in classrooms and the go-to tutorial and reference for art and design professionals. This edition includes their trademark features: clear, concise, step-by-step instructions; hundreds of full-color illustrations; screen captures of program features; and supplemental tips and sidebars in every chapter. This fully updated edition for Illustrator CS6 covers the new enhancements and features, including significant upgrades to the interface (including to the Control panel), gradients in strokes, Image Trace, and pattern creation and editing. The new and updated Illustrator CS6 features are clearly marked with bright red stars in both the table of contents and main text. Readers can follow the steps in a tutorial fashion, or use the book as a reference guide to individual program features. Many of the key illustrations used in the book are available via Web download for practice by readers.