One of the new features in this test version is the capability of pasting images from Acrylic into PowerPoint, Microsoft's presentation software and part of the company's Office bundle, while retaining their transparency.Īnother new feature in the updated test version is the ability to take designs created in Acrylic and export them in Extensible Application Markup Language, or XAML, a new file format Microsoft has created as a means of tapping into the next-generation graphics engine, which will debut with Vista.
"That's all upside for us today, because we don't really play there," Rudder said.Īlthough images created in Acrylic can be output to all kinds of media, the focus with the tool is to help design images that can be used in Web site creation and for PowerPoint presentations. Rudder noted in his talk to Wall Street analysts that any revenue Microsoft generates from its graphics business will represent new growth for the company.
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That graphics system-developed under the code name Avalon-will also be made available separately as an add-on for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.Īcrylic and Microsoft Expressions Studio are aimed at making it easier to build Web applications on top of Windows Presentation Foundation, which Microsoft hopes will in turn lead to greater sales of Vista.Īvalon will "better equip Microsoft to compete for developer hearts and minds in the battle to maintain desktop dominance," according to a recent report from Forrester Research. However, with Windows Vista-the next release of Windows that was formerly code-named Longhorn-Microsoft has taken a greater interest in the graphics tools market.Īs part of Vista, Microsoft has developed a more advanced graphical presentation system, called Windows Presentation Foundation.
Key said that Acrylic is largely complementary to the graphics tools already on the market.Īdobe has largely avoided competition with Microsoft over the years by concentrating on areas that the software giant tended to neglect. Microsoft executives have sought to downplay the competitive threat to Adobe. The new graphics products, along with Microsoft's Metro printing engine-which has been described by some analysts as a "PDF killer"-add up to what could be seen as a direct assault on rival Adobe Systems, which sells the popular Illustrator and Photoshop tools.Īn Adobe representative was not immediately available for comment. Adding to the confusion, Acrylic is based on a program called Expression that Microsoft obtained as part of its 2003 acquisition of Creature House. He would not offer any further details on the Expressions Studio product, or how it differs from Acrylic. "We'll have some very cool tools that combine the best of vector, some very cool tools for animation."Īlthough some observers had assumed he was referring to Acrylic, Key said Rudder was referring to a new, second product. "We mentioned before that we're doing a new suite for designers we're going to call that Microsoft Expressions Studio," Rudder said at the event in Redmond, Wash. A Microsoft executive confirms that the software giant is in fact readying a second new graphics product-Expressions Studio.Īlong with the product code-named Acrylic and the new Metro printing engine, Redmond's moves could be seen as a direct assault on Adobe Systems, though Microsoft execs have sought to downplay the competitive threat to Adobe.