Interesting Microsoft announcement... - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

brcrn · #1 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005

Saw this recently on dpreview.com. Does anyone know if this will effect the future of DIP? Shelleyrae - Have you heard anything?

Announcement:
Microsoft has issued a beta version of a new illustration, painting and graphics application program code named Acrylic. The news was first announced by CNET, which says the software is based on graphics application Expression, which Microsoft acquired with its purchase of Hong Kong-based company Creature House. Acrylic will only be available for Windows XP, despite Expression being available for Apple Macs before the purchase. (12:00 GMT)

kimlizzy · #2 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005

I don't think so - at least not yet. The new version of DIP is due out anytime from August onward. We are waiting with anticipation!

kimlizzy · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005

I just found more info at cnet.........

Microsoft has released a test version of a new professional graphics tool code-named Acrylic.

The software is based on Expression, the graphics application Microsoft acquired with its 2003 purchase of Hong Kong company Creature House, the software giant said on its Web site.

Microsoft describes the software--currently available as a 77MB free download--as bringing together pixel-based painting and vector graphics features. These capabilities will put the product squarely in the market currently dominated by software maker Adobe Systems with its pixel-focused Photoshop and vector-driven Illustrator products.

Acrylic appears to support opening and exporting to Photoshop and Illustrator file formats, as well as other standard graphics formats. In addition, the application appears to be able to export to Adobe's Portable Document Format, or PDF.

However, Microsoft noted Acrylic would not currently save pixel-type data to formats other than its native XPR file type.

Although a Macintosh version of Expression was available before the Microsoft purchase, the software giant said the test version of Acryclic cannot be used with the Apple Computer platform.

The test software, or beta, also has a limited life; it will expire Oct. 1.

Microsoft has recommended relatively high system specifications for Acrylic, saying consumers should preferably run the software on an Intel Pentium 4 machine, with Windows XP Service Pack 2, 512MB of memory, 500MB of disk space and a pressure-sensitive graphics tablet supporting the WinTab interface.

The company listed some known issues with the beta software, saying performance was slow. "Optimization work is currently in progress, and drastically improved performance will be delivered in the final release," according to Microsoft.

Although the software has only been available for a short time, some testers have already complained via Acrylic's public forums about what they see as the poor quality of the release.

brcrn · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005

Very interesting Kim. I hope that they will keep supporting the DIP. What I disliked that most about the "other" programs is the concept of raster and vectors. DIP just make more sense to my brain as how things can be done...

Jess4fun · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by brcrn

What I disliked that most about the "other" programs is the concept of raster and vectors. DIP just make more sense to my brain as how things can be done...

I am thinking about getting DIP can you explain what you mean by this... Please

Scrappinmamacit · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005

Get DIP it rocks. I love this program

I think Acrylic will be a pro version and DIP will remain the same much like ps7 to pse?

shelleyrae · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-2005

I hav eteh beta version of Expression which is what they are basing Acrylic on by the sounds of it. It would be unlikely to be competing with DIP as Acrylic will not be made for photo editing etc. In Expression its basically only vector drawing / illustration - much mor elike Adobe Illustartor rather than Photo Shop
I'm pretty sure DIP is safe as they are completely different markets and tools.

Twinmom628 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-16-2005

Quote:

I'm pretty sure DIP is safe as they are completely different markets and tools.

Good! I love my DIP!!