Re: Illustrator turns 25 today. Thoughts on it, Luddites and FCP X

Glad to see the discussion. So my comparing some of us editors to Luddiets is a straw-man? Now that you brought it up I see your point. I did jump quickly to that conclusion without supporting it.

BTW, I didn't mean to imply that FCP X is Illustrator (not at all!), just that it reminded me that we are in the middle of a revolution. When computer graphics were new (25 years ago) it was only utilized by a few graphic professionals (I being one of them). Today computer graphics are as common in our society and utilized by many more people than just graphic professionals. And the tools have been so refined and simplified that practically anyone can use it without having to go through extensive training. The has benefited both the consumer and the professional. Video is now in the process of undergoing a similar revolution. Once the tools were only in the hands of the professionals, now video is "in the hands of the people" so to speak, including my 9 year old cousin.

Regarding the Luddites... The craftsmen were very bothered by the fact that the new textiles being spit out by machines were of inferior quality that those made by the craftsman. They were right to criticize it. But in their attempt to stop the new machines, it consumed their lives and some were even put to death in punishment of their crimes.

Although that is much more extreme than what I have done, it is a good warning to not let my distaste of these things consume me. Instead I should be attentive to my own work, and doing a good job in my craft, and not throw the new technology under the bus because it is "simpler" or that non-professionals are using it.

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T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque