// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the fine artist say? "I'm drawing a salary.
| Fine Artist | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developers |
|
| 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
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Simone, Lisa (October 11, 1994). "It Ain't Just Paint: Art for Kids". PC Magazine. Vol. 13, no. 17. Ziff-Davis. pp. 469–470 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Blankenhorn, Dana; Robin Blankenhorn (September 2, 1994). "Review of Fine Artist". Newsbytes. The Washington Post Company – via Gale.
- ↑ Hoffmann, Thomas (December 13, 1993). "Microsoft brings it on home". Computerworld. Vol. 27, no. 50. IDG Publications. p. 139 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Yoder, Stephen Kreider (December 3, 1993). "Microsoft Enters Kids' Software Market with Programs for Home-Computer Use". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. p. B5. ProQuest 398371652.
- ↑ Parkinson, Kirsten L. (January 24, 1994). "Microsoft sales jump 20%". MacWEEK. Vol. 8, no. 4. IDG Publications. p. 80 – via Gale.
- ↑ Reeks, Anne (1995). "Fine Artist". In Christine Olson (ed.). The Multimedia Home Companion for Parents and Kids. Epicenter Communications. p. 83. ISBN 0446671681 – via the Internet Archive.
- ↑ Ashcroft, Rod (June 27, 1995). "Creative software for small gurus". The Age. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Buckleitner, Warren; Ann Orr; Ellen Wolock (2000). The Complete Sourcebook on Children's Software. Vol. 8. Active Learning Associates. p. 59. ISBN 9781891983047 – via the Internet Archive.
- ↑ Scisco, Peter (August 1994). "Discovery Choice: Fine Artist". Compute!. No. 167. ABC Publishing. pp. 82–83 – via the Internet Archive.
- ↑ Sorrow, Barbara (1996). CD-ROM for Librarians and Educators. McFarland. p. 274. ISBN 9780786401765 – via the Internet Archive.