REDMOND, Wash., September 14, 1998 — Microsoft this week announced PhotoDraw 2000, a new Windows graphics software program that combines photo-editing and drawing tools in a single application.
The software, which Microsoft says is as intuitive to use as Office 2000, is intended to make it easy for business users to create professional-looking graphics for use in Web pages and printed materials. ( More information , including a discussion with Dr. Alvy Ray Smith about Photo Draw 2000 and the future of computer graphics.)
“Professional business communication is becoming more graphical every day as organizations embrace the World Wide Web and intranets as important communication media,” said Jon DeVaan, vice president of the desktop applications division at Microsoft. “PhotoDraw fills the needs of business users of all kinds, providing the ability to create stunning professional graphics without expensive training or graphic design expertise. PhotoDraw’s revolutionary features and easy-to-use interface are designed to enable all PC users to create compelling visual content with a few clicks of the mouse.”
PhotoDraw allows business users to combine, edit and apply special effects to photos, illustrations, clipart, shapes, existing artwork and text with a few clicks of the mouse. Users are no longer required to switch between different software programs for photo-editing and illustration to create custom graphics. Rather, all types of graphic data are handled the same way using PhotoDraw, eliminating the need for file conversions. PhotoDraw includes more than 20,000 graphics and 300 design templates that users can manipulate to create customized Web buttons, business logos and other business graphics. Users can re-purpose their graphics for multiple uses such as on Web pages, in presentations and in printed materials.
PhotoDraw enables users to incorporate the graphics they create into a variety of programs including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, FrontPage and Publisher. The product also includes a visual menu to help users discover features without having to learn or remember graphics terminology.
PhotoDraw 2000 will be available in retail stores this fall for a suggested retail price of $149. The product is the latest edition to the Microsoft Graphics Studio line, which also includes Greetings 99, Publishing 99, Home Publishing Suite 99, Picture It! 99, Publisher 98 and Publisher 98 Deluxe.
