>Recently as I browse around I see interesting little spot illustrations in
magazines, etc., that feature thick and thin lines that are obviously
digitally made in a vector program.  I really want to do this, but I'm using
Illustrator 7, and it seems unnecessarily difficult to do, with doubling the
lines and getting them to join, etc.<

Hi Chris,

Aside from exploring the all-digital solutions offered by others, you might
consider a hybrid solution. I have been quite happy with the combination of
Adobe Streamline 4.0 and Illustrator to achieve vector linework. Streamline
is a program that takes a raster image and "vector-izes" it. The result is
saved in Illustrator 7.0 format. The success depends on the style of
artwork, but I have Streamlined some weighted linework of fossils with good
result.

One choice to make is to avoid Streamlining any straight lines (leaders,
borders)- choosing instead to later draw them in after opening up the
artwork in Illustrator. Another good tip is to scan the artwork large
before introducing into streamline which reduces small variables. Works
surprisingly well. Not sure of the retail $$ for Streamline, but the Ed
discount $ is around $99.

Frank