Microsoft Image Composer - How to replace it?

[deist]

I'm not ashamed to admit it. I LOVE MIC (the graphics program that came bundled with FrontPage). It's so fast and easy to work with, and you can do almost anything with it...

I've used it for 3 years. And now it's been discontinued.
It's nothing like traditional graphics programs - In MIC, you have this wonderful expansive workspace that's like a real desk, move stuff here and there, rearrange, scissor this and meld that.... all so quickly and easily..
I know next to nothing about Photoshop, and what I've read about dealing with all the layers and stuff just sounds stupid compared to the ease of MIC.

So here's my question - now that MIC is no longer being supported, one day (maybe even soon) I'm going to have to move to a new graphics program. Is there anything like MIC out there? Should I just suck it up and learn Photoshop?

if you have any suggestions please let me know ... thank you so much!

[edited by: heini at 8:38 am (utc) on Aug. 31, 2002]
[edit reason] urls / sig edited [/edit]

[bobriggs]

I wish I had MIC. I used the beta trial version for a while when MS was developing it. But I wouldn't pay for it. You'll be surprised to learn that I still use Altamira Composer. (the win3.1 version, and I still use it a lot on my Win2K box) Do you know the history? MS bought it out, then developed MIC from the same code. Same old story.

Even though it's yanked, I'd really hang on to it. Make backup CDs to the max. To me, this was MUCH, MUCH easier to learn than Photoshop or anything with layers. It just seems more intuitive. I'd like to see anything like AC or MIC myself.

[Woz]

I am the same, I started with and still use MIC because it came with FP. Every time I have tried to get my head around anything else it just looks foriegn. But then that is OK because as a graphic artist I would make a good post-hole digger.

One way to spruce it up a little is with plug ins. MIC does read and accept most PS plugins such as Eye Candy and the likes. I have not had any trouble with any of the commercial one, although sometimes a free one will send it for a wobbly. Just a thought.

Onya
Woz

[deist]

Maybe we can start an email campaign to microsoft requesting they continue it?
It just blows my mind that such an interface hasn't caught on, how can anyone deny how pleasant it is to work with? surely some small company out there is making/can make a program like it.

[idiotgirl]

I LOVED that program! It had all those cool effects filters, the color palette was wonderful, it anti-aliased text like a dream, it supported transparency... I think if Miscrosoft had gone on with it, Image Composer could have been more like Macromedia's Fireworks (and maybe better). It was so easy to use compared to some of the other programs out there.

It's a shame that products like that don't get the acceptance or development or recognition users think they deserve. I never believed MS was going to do much with Image Composer once they came out with that other (whatsitsname) program of theirs (I never used) that was supposed to be (maybe it was) so good.

I used to alternate between Photoshop and Image Composer all the time a few hard drives ago. Haven't even fired it up in a year or so, but I sure did like it. It was a real "gem".

[deist]

so idiotgirl, would you recommend then that I get fireworks mx rather than photoshop? you think I'll like that better? can I do everthing I could do in MIC (graphics editingwise) with fireworks mx?

[bill]

I still keep my copy of MIC handy. It's a real life saver. I could never use Microsoft's 'replacement' for MIC, Photo Draw...what a disappointment that was!

If you're looking for something to replace MIC I really haven't found anything. Without going for the full blown PhotoShop I have had some luck with PhotoShop Elements, which is a pared down version of PhotoShop that focuses on editing web images. It's still not as easy to use as MIC, but can be a step toward PhotoShop.

[idiotgirl]

I sticky'd you about some alternatives. Let me know how they work out.