There are three choices for anyone wanting to create vector illustration on a PC or Mac--CorelDRAW 9, Macromedia FreeHand 9, and Adobe Illustrator 9. This latest release of Illustrator puts it on equal terms as far as version numbers are concerned; in every other respect, it far surpasses the competition. The big issue for existing users has always been transparency. Because vector packages are not supported by PostScript, this lack of transparency has always been a problem. Illustrator 9 allows you to apply transparency to layers, groups, and individual objects, including bit maps and type. Individual letters, words, or entire paragraphs can be made transparent; the text is not converted to paths and so remains fully editable. Live feathering, one of a number of new features known collectively as layer or live effects, allows you to create soft edges of the kind that were previously only possible in bit-map editors like Photoshop. Live effects change the appearance of objects, groups, or layers without affecting the underlying artwork, so you can edit or remove the effect at any time and edit the underlying object. Illustrator 9 introduces new tools for Web authoring. Flash export options closely match those available in FreeHand 9, allowing you to easily create layer-based animations. Similar support is provided for the new SVG standard for Web vector images. There's also a Photoshop-style Web-optimization module for bit map export.