Software:Fine Artist
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| Developer(s) |
|
|---|---|
| Initial release | January 1994 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows System 7 |
| Type | Raster graphics editor |
| License | Proprietary |
Fine Artist is a raster graphics editor published by Microsoft under their Microsoft Kids portfolio. The editor allows the user to create paintings using a variety of brushes and stamps. The interface and environment is especially targeted towards children and is set in Imaginopolis, with a character named McZee acting as a virtual assistant. The editor's interface uses levels of a building as a visual metaphor each of the software's different features (e.g. one for creating new images, one as a gallery of existing images). The design of the program was very similar to that of its sister program Creative Writer, which was a word processor.[1] The program runs exclusively in full screen, creating an all-inclusive environment.
Fine Artist was designed and developed primarily by Turning Point Software in collaboration with Microsoft.[2] It was announced by Microsoft in December 1993 alongside Creative Writer.[3][4] It was released in January 1994 for both the PC and the Mac, requiring at minimum Windows 3.1 (for the PC) and System 7 (for the Mac).[5][6][7] Microsoft discontinued it in 1997.[8]
Fine Artist is considerably more powerful than Microsoft Paint, as it includes over 500 pieces of clip art (refereed to as "stickers" in the game), 50 of which are animated; 72 paintbrush styles; 76 assignable colors and patterns; and 87 predrawn backgrounds. It also has the ability to assign sound effects (from a library of 300) to any point on the painting. The sound effect can be activated by click on said point with the "magic wand" tool.[9][10] The software also generates sounds whenever the user clicks any of the tools.
See also
- Microsoft Home
- Creative Writer
- 3D Movie Maker
References
- ↑ Simone, Lisa (October 11, 1994). "It Ain't Just Paint: Art for Kids". PC Magazine (Ziff-Davis) 13 (17): 469–470. https://books.google.com/books?id=fy_G-xlQbE8C&pg=PA470.
- ↑ Blankenhorn, Dana; Robin Blankenhorn (September 2, 1994). "Review of Fine Artist". Newsbytes (The Washington Post Company). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A16229436/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=cfd21ddb.
- ↑ Hoffmann, Thomas (December 13, 1993). "Microsoft brings it on home". Computerworld (IDG Publications) 27 (50): 139. https://books.google.com/books?id=O3xyvDOfru0C&pg=PA139.
- ↑ Yoder, Stephen Kreider (December 3, 1993). "Microsoft Enters Kids' Software Market with Programs for Home-Computer Use". The Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones & Company): B5. ProQuest 398371652.
- ↑ Parkinson, Kirsten L. (January 24, 1994). "Microsoft sales jump 20%". MacWEEK (IDG Publications) 8 (4): 80. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A15035088/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=83ccee0e.
- ↑ Reeks, Anne (1995). "Fine Artist". in Christine Olson. The Multimedia Home Companion for Parents and Kids. Epicenter Communications. p. 83. ISBN 0446671681. https://archive.org/details/multimediahomeco0000unse_n1l4/page/83/.
- ↑ Ashcroft, Rod (June 27, 1995). "Creative software for small gurus". The Age: p. 41. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-creative-software-for-small-guru/202014978/.
- ↑ Buckleitner, Warren; Ann Orr; Ellen Wolock (2000). The Complete Sourcebook on Children's Software. 8. Active Learning Associates. p. 59. ISBN 9781891983047. https://archive.org/details/completesourcebo0000unse_f4s9/page/n68/.
- ↑ Scisco, Peter (August 1994). "Discovery Choice: Fine Artist". Compute! (ABC Publishing) (167): 82–83. https://archive.org/details/1994-08-compute-magazine/page/82/.
- ↑ Sorrow, Barbara (1996). CD-ROM for Librarians and Educators. McFarland. p. 274. ISBN 9780786401765. https://archive.org/details/cdromforlibraria00sorr/page/274/.
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