In what is clearly a shot across Adobe’s bow, Microsoft yesterday unveiled new design software known as Microsoft Expression. This software family is set to include a painting, illustration and effects tool, a user interface design tool and a Web layout and design tool. These specific tools, Microsoft said, currently go under different code names. Acrylic Graphic Designer will focus on creating dynamic visual effects such as blurs and drop shadows, a flexible graphics environment with options like vector-based and pixel-based elements and a easy hand off from design to develop ala incorporating graphics into a variety of other software tools and industry formats. The Sparkle Interactive Designer, meanwhile, will allow for the combination of multiple media elements such as pixel images, video and animation. An adaptive layout will be included for various screen resolutions and form factors as well so that visual styles can be combined into new interface elements. The Quartz Web Designer tool is focused on the side of Web site development. It will enable the manipulation of positioning, sizing and padding with CSS page layouts. Accessible, standards based Web sites can be created by default and flexible schema settings will support combinations of various standards. “Our goal is to redefine what is considered a ‘good enough’ user experience today through integrated development and design capability,” said Eric Rudder, senior vice president, Servers and Tools at Microsoft Corp. “Ultimately this is about enabling mainstream adoption of user experience within both business and end-user applications, resulting in richer differentiated experiences on the Web and the smart client that promote business opportunity and productivity.”
