Microsoft posted for download Thursday the first public beta of a new application for professional graphic designers.

The public beta of this product, code-named "Acrylic," is available on the Microsoft download site.

Acrylic, a professional illustration, painting, and graphic design product, is targeted at designers working in print, Web, video, and interactive media. Up until now, Microsoft has not fielded a product in this space, which is dominated by Adobe Systems.

According to information on the Microsoft Web site, Acrylic combines both pixel-based painting with raster- and vector-graphic editing features. It also includes advanced features such as panoramic photo-stitching.

Acrylic is an updated version of Create House Expression 3, with added capabilities. Microsoft acquired the developer of Expression, a Hong-Kong-based company, Creature House, in 2003.

Acrylic requires Windows XP Service Pack 2. A Passport account is required to download the product and sign up for the announcement list. The Acrylic beta is not available for the Macintosh platform.

The Acrylic Beta will expire on October 1, 2005, according to the Acrylic site. Microsoft has not yet announced a release date for the final Acrylic product.