new tool free!! Blip etc

[lemorris]

Microsoft has the upgrade to expression and they call it Acrylic.

The beta is free and fully functional.

Blip this is right up your alley. I know what you are working with noiw and can offer some help if you need it.

I downloaded it and it's great.

If you don't have or can't afford Illustrator or Photoshop here's a free alternative.

Fill out the crap. it's worth it. It will only be free till October.

You non didgital guys can get a chance to get your feet wet for nothin.

Link

http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/

It's not as good as Illy in my opinion, but free is a great price.

-Lemorris

[g00eY]

i would download it except i like to draw with a pencil and paper. and i have spent way too much time staring at my computer screen so this wont help my eyes. hahaha.

[Blip]

Lemorris, thanks.

I knew this was coming, but haven't tried downloading it yet as I've heard that in some cases it can corrupt your existing E-3 appl.
I'm following the beta forum posts and will probably try it in a few weeks after M/S finds and fixes more bugs.

Have you done any drawings with it? Anything to post yet?

[lemorris]

just got it today and fiddled around at work.

I do hand drawing and digital art and a capable free tool is good.

Many of the artist here don't have, can't afford, or have no exposure to any digital tools. This is just an opportunity to get your pallet wet so to speak.

In a sense all art on this board is in a digital format. I just thought it was cool that for once there was a drawing package that was available for nothing. Not an opportunity that comes by that often.

I may do something this weekend in it and see. I have a VW Squarback I've been wantin to draw.

-Lemorris

[Blip]

Looking forward to seeing the squareback.
(I'm thinking about trying a Karmann Ghia--luv that shape.)

I've been doing digital work since 97, started with M/S photodraw, (now a dead program) bitmap paint application.
A few years back, I got Illy 10.0 & Photoshop 7.0 ,but never really got a good understanding of how to use them.

About a year ago, I was pointed to Expression 3, (a free beta download from M/S), and switched to this vector drawing and have never looked back.

I still create the images in pencil, than scan and redraw it as a vector image. After getting Jeri's tutorials (and buying a Wacom tablet), I'm making another attempt at learning Illy.

[knightvision]

I first didn't want it because it's from Micro$oft, but it looks quite good.
Seems to be a "small photoshop". Will they sell it?

They should add it to this new Longhorn OS, in order to replace paint.

Paint is a dinosaur.