Review: Microsoft's graphics application creates authentic looking painted strokes and supports bitmapped graphics.On June 9, Microsoft released a beta version of a new graphics application for public download. Rumors immediately began flying that the software (code-named Acrylic) was a "Photoshop killer"—one more step in Microsoft's supposed quest for total domination in all corners of the computer realm.
As it turns out, Acrylic isn't likely to endanger Adobe Photoshop (or more to the point, Adobe Illustrator) any time soon—nor does that seem to be its aim. But the program does have some unique and appealing strengths that make it worth a look.
Acrylic is actually an updated version of Expression, the vector drawing program that Microsoft acquired when it bought the Hong Kong-based company Creature House in 2003. Expression's core strength lies in its "skeletal strokes" technology, which applies the look and texture of real-world painted strokes to editable vector paths.
Sketching with the Freehand Pen tool feels a lot like using Corel's Painter application, except that the underlying vectors make it possible to adjust your strokes after you place them on the canvas.
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With Acrylic, Microsoft is clearly broadening the program's scope to embrace bitmapped graphics as well. Pixel layers can exist in the same document as vector layers; a handful of image-editing filters are included; and there's even a new and capable image-stitching command for combining individual photos into one panoramic shot.
But much of this beta's bugginess is located within the new features: Filters crash with clockwork regularity, and when you're painting on pixel layers, there is an unacceptable lag time before the painted strokes actually appear on-screen. Microsoft is reportedly working to eliminate these problems for the program's release.
Read the full story on PCMag.com: Microsoft's 'Acrylic' Beta
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