Microsoft offers test version of graphics tool

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SVG, SVG, SVG...

For the graphic arts world, SVG is the hot thing starting to hit (its XML-based). That's all you'll be hearing about in the huge graphic arts market from now on--SVG vs. Postscript (and Postscript's little brother, PDF). SVG will eventually win, even though Postscript currently does a lot of stuff that SVG doesn't (but eventually will).

If Microsoft's new app doesn't offer standard SVG output (editable in other products) as either its native format or else a bug-free export, then it's already obsolete. But as a former imagesetter operator, I can tell you that for the high-end work that graphic artists buy pricy apps like Photoshop or InDesign or Illustrator for, many of the service bureaus have a firm "no Publisher" policy, due to Microsoft's inability to figure out Postscript and color model issues (anyone who's ever tried to output CMYK color seps from complex Publisher builds will know what I'm talking about). I'm skeptical that this has changed, even with the new app, and those who buy into this program will be left with something that will only print reliably to your low-end proofing printer, but won't create output suitable for professional print production.

Here's an interesting quote from Adobe's Bruce Chizen:

We have learned, historically, that if we stay close to what we really do well, we win. Microsoft has tried to enter Adobe's markets. It tried in the early days, coming up with a PostScript clone--and it actually shipped one printer with an original-equipment manufacturer. It was a total failure. It tried with Microsoft Draw and Microsoft PhotoDraw, and it gave away the product free with Microsoft Office to kind of "nitch up" Illustrator and Photoshop. Again, it was total failure--these products no longer exist.

For eBook publishing, it tried Microsoft Reader as an end run around PDF. You never hear about Microsoft Reader anymore. Microsoft tried, once again, to go at Photoshop with Microsoft Picture It.

The company has never been able to move Picture It above the consumer level. So I am confident that, as long as we do what we do well, as long as we continue to execute, we'll be very successful, despite Microsoft's monopoly.

(Question from interviewer): "Why have Microsoft's attempts not worked? What's the source of your confidence?"

The reason is that our customers care a lot about the visual integrity and reliability of the information that is being presented. And that's just not a core competency of Microsoft. We've been at this now for 20 years. Everything we do is based on Adobe's imaging model and rendering engine--that layer between the operating system and the application that allows us to express information in a way Microsoft has trouble figuring out.

Posted by: Yen_z   Posted on: 06/10/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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