DAN.TINIANOW  Although Microsoft has hidden it well, you can still download Expression for Mac for free!

http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/en/products/previous/creature-house-downloads.mspx  
(Version 3.3)

MACLOVER1.1  WOW, sure Microsoft killed this one for the Mac but this version, which is a baragin at $0.- sits here for free on Macupdate (noit even sure you can find it at Microsoft, at least the "More info" link is dead. Well this lets you do whole bunch of things already !!! If this were a shareware everyone woulg be going WOW.. and IT IS FREE !!!!!!!!!!! As far as "ArtRage"... well NO ArtRage does not let you paint with vectors or export Flash animated buttons with ready set interactivity... sorry !!! Let us not confuse everything here people if you do not know what you are talking about then do not... talk LOL  
(Version 3.3)

JAGERMEISTER66  Microsoft released a new CTP (Community Technology Previw) just in January. Being quite definitive about no future Mac releases. Looks like many Mac users are upset. If you want to watch the evolution of the technology visit http://www.expressionstation.com  
(Version 3.3)

STEVE  I have downloaded the 55 mb file to my desktop-it is a .sit file? I cant get it to do anything apart from attempt to open microsoft word? I have dumped it in apps but its not having it!

Help me-Im run a Mac Mini with OSX10.4 is this the problem? The package sounds great.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  Brilliant app. Too bad it's been discontinued by Microsmurf.  
(Version 3.3)

EMANON  ArtRage

Nuffsaid.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  I like to draw and design in Expression. But MS says there will be no Expression Graphic Designer for Mac, only for Windows. Expression started on the Mac platform and should remain available on the Mac.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  Would be very pleased if Microsoft would consider releasing a new Mac version. This is a very unique vector drawing/paint app. How many former Mac Expression users are out there? Anyway, because there are almost no vector-based drawing/paint apps out there, MS can really sell this app to many Mac users who are usually the creative type. I can think of only one contender: Adobe Illustrator. And there's also Corel Painter, but thats pixel based. Under the Microsoft name, Expression or Acrylic could really flourish as an outstanding app for creating art. And I really like the concept of 'painting' in vector strokes.  
(Version 3.3)

T  Now it's called Microsoft Acrylic (Beta Code Name) and it's only available for Windows. I still hope they release a Mac version, but I highly doubt it. One of my favourite apps on the Mac is dead - unless someone at Microsoft can state otherwise.  
(Version 3.3)

TROMBA  It won't work for me, either -- when I start the program, I get an error message that the program must be run from inside the application folder. Since I have not removed it from the folder it came in, this doesn't make much sense. Oh well, you get what you paid for! :)

I hope someone will figure this one out and post a fix.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  Wow! I can't believe this is free.

Great illustration program. Simple, though slightly dated, interface. You can create Flash buttons with animations. It handles imports and exports all kinds of files. Create custom strokes and use color management features.

It's not going to replace Freehand or Illustrator, but I wouldn't discount it as a professional quality piece of software either. It's worth having for any Mac user serious about doing vector art or wants some Flash on the cheap.

The two apps I've gotten the most value from lately are this and Remote Desktop Connection. Kudos to Microsoft for both.  
(Version 3.3)

TUFTY THE MAGIC NERBLE  I too have been unable to get past the StuffIt steps. I'm using StuffIt Expander 8.02 under 10.2.8 on my 600MHz 14" iBook. The expanding stops with a monolog box about a format error. This is a very discouraging rejection after 2+ hours of dial-up downloading. If someone can suggest a remedy (short of repeating the d/l), I'll be delighted to post a review of the package's performance.  
(Version 3.3)

T  Good app. In fact, this is a very good app, except for the interface and the application icon. DOWNLOAD WHILE YOU CAN!

Microsoft bought up Creature House, a little Hong Kong company that developed this app. Many years ago, Expression was first brought on the market by Fractal Design - although it was developed by Creature House. For those of you who know history, Fractal Design was the company that originally developed Painter, which is now owned by Corel. Years later, the people from Creature House bought back the rights from Fractal Design, and developed it until they, again, sold it to Microsoft. Why? Why did they do it? (For the money, of course.)

With a little experimenting, Expression is quite a good app for drawing and illustration. This app offers real natural media vector drawing and offers Wacom tablet support. Just look at these galleries to see what you can do with it:

http://northlite.50megs.com/expr/gallery.html

http://www.studioe3.com/Showcase/2002.asp

I was a paid customer, before Microsoft snatched up the company. Hopefully, they bring out a new version for the Mac, but I doubt it. I think Microsoft bought this app for its underlying code to use in a Flash animation killer.

This version, 3.3 (X370) is totally free, and I believe has no time restrictions. (It says beta, but it is not restricted in any way.) It is a maintenance release for the Creature House customers. (Okay, Microsoft plays nice, this time.)

Just try it, and because it's free, nothing will stop you from loving it. Hey, this is the best drawing app you can get for the Mac platform for the money! Download it (57 MB) and use it, until a system update breaks it.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  I am unable to install the latest release of Expression 3.3 on my G5 - I get an error message upon clicking on both the OS X program icon and OS9 - saying that need to open it from the application folder (which it already is in) also get an error message from Stuff-it Expander that the file is corrupted. Have tried downloading several times to no avail. Anyone get the most recent version to work? Know where to go to get help?

I would really like to get this for my mac as I paid for it on my PC - but have since switched platforms, would love to use expression again.   
(Version 3.3)

GORDON  A very good alternative to Adobe's Illustrator (which costs lots of money). Because of it's free, it's very useful for those who can't or don't want pay hundreds of dollars for the Illustrator. I'm one of those.

Again an useful application by Microsoft (see Office), and wow!, it doesn't cost anything (ok, out of some minutes of download time), it's really FREE.

It's very easy to use. It creates amazing files. Really worth the download.  
(Version 3.3)

JOHN KRAMAR  I found that Expression 3.3 easy to learn to produce rerasonable paintings employing some of the basic Chineses ink painting strokes much better than I can with Painter 8 and with much greater ease than I found with the Painter 8 brush creation capability.

Expression also appears to be more accurate in its response to pressure variations from a stylus on a pressure sensative tablet.

While I have found no problems with it on my G5, I did find that it frequently increased the magnifivation of the picture being worked on my G4 PowerBook.  
(Version 3.3)

YACKO  This comment is for those who will read the various reviews and don't know what to make of things.

Someone comments "isn't anything like Illustrator/Freehand" -> Absolutely true because it is not meant to be anything like the big 2. AI and FH are more precise, technical illustration tools and add-ins can even give them CAD-like features. Expression (which had 2 independent versions prior to the MS purchase) is a vector oriented program for those who prefer to "paint" using the bitmap features of Painter or Photoshop. Although Illustrator has changed and now offers some of the same functions, Expression is still very very different.

Someone comments "pros only use Illustrator/Freehand" -> Those who prefer the clean technical feel of vector art will still continue to use them, but Expression is not for that market. However, it can be a valuable adjunct, a way of doing a rougher, edgier what-if with eps files.

Is it a beta or free? I've set my system clock ahead as much as 6 years and it still ran fine. It may look like a beta, but seems to be a free and stable product, no less stable than the previous two incarnations which were very good indeed.

What are the system requirements? There is conflicting info as to what the minimum is, 8.6 and 9.0 listed in different places. For those running 8.6 on an older G3 machine, I can guarantee you it runs and reasonably quick. 266MHz is a little tough, though it might be fine for home use; figure on 400-500MHz for production work. At least the drawing lag is almost non-existent even on slow machines.You will need a later version of the Carbon library tthan what was installed from your System CD. You may as well go all the way to Carbon 1.6 which I believe is the last version and should be an easy download from somewhere at Apple.

For those who paid money for older versions, you may as well take advantage of the free upgrade. It will open version 1 & 2 file formats and recognizes any previous skeletal strokes. For those who have accumulated a library of strokes including many they may have hand modified this should be a source of relief.

Lastly, this is an especially good program for those doing inappropriate work, like logo creation , in a bitmap medium, just because that's what they are comfortable with. You know you should use vectors (and Photoshop does offer some ca[pability) because it will be important to resize graphics without visual degradation, but are turned off by the clean comic strip/benday shadow feel of the big 2. Check this out. Also those who paint, those who prefer their art to have grit and texture, who prefer their brush strokes have natura medium feel and who want to try a vector program, by all means give this program a shot.  
(Version 3.3)

MICHAEL DIPPERY  The interface is a bit clunky, but it's still a pretty decent and powerful vector-based art application.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  well, this isn't anything like illustator or freehand.   
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  No way, Bill. Us pros ONLY USE Illustrator and a few FreeHand. This is another useless, frail attempt to get into the market. Yeah, that's what we need 50 more apps to keep up with that do the same thing. Who is gonna ever buy this? No one.

Unlike Highlander, in the Indesign, Quark wars and the Illustrator-Freehand wars, there can be only TWO, and three's a crowd. Get it? Good. Now scram and tend to your multiple lawsuits.  
(Version 3.3)

JEDIK  It's not free, it is a BETA. VersionTracker also lists it as free, but puts the attached price of $149, about the same it used to cost before being acquired by M$.  
(Version 3.3)

GENERATIONX  It is an alternative to Painter/Illustrator. But I do wonder about MS tactics. Offer the program for $0 and no strings? Remember the Netscape fiasco..There is a plan. We've just took the "red" pill.   
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  Think about this program as the "Painter" of vector based apps. It's an amazing program. MS didn't make it, they just bought some of the stuff from the company who used to make it. I can't help but worry about MS buying it and then releasing it for free... We all know MS doesn't give anything for free unless they've a got a plan. We'll see what happens...  
(Version 3.3)

DEREK  Very nice program. For a person who is used to ClarisWorks when it comes to computer-based drawing, this program was still easy to use and creates absolutely stunning graphics.

The interface is mediocre, but keep in mind it's Carbonized. I had some stability problems and there are many interface quirks, but I'm sure most users can get around them. And we can't beat free!

(I hope HTML tags are allowed)  
(Version 3.3)

JAMES  This really is a great app. No it does not have the full vector precision and abilities of illustrator, but once you play with it for a while you can achieve some far less "ridged" effects that are common with vector diags. Ie they look so artificial, with deliberate lines and effects.

The splash screen does not even say that it is from Microsoft or it is even a beta - that it is allegedly.

you really should download this, even though it looks like a very bad port from an ancient linux prog, with absolutely no labels for any buttons-that said it is still easy to find out how to do something, or discover something that before you could not.

I think Microsoft has launched it, for free, so that it gets wide recognition, and then releases a tweaked version that actually has an interface. Then sell that for a price. Many would buy i am sure. If they released a fully carbonised ap for sale nobody would try a drawing app from Microsoft

enjoy using this great app!!!!!!!  
(Version 3.3)

PAINTER  This software seems like a little gem. Since I've worked with Painter since version 3, the interface is no problem ;-)

My only gripes with thss so far: export to illustrator and especially to flash are extremely slow.

Anybody else experience this?   
(Version 3.3)

GRADUS  Expression has been an amazingly innovative graphics application from the start, and this dubious Microsoft re-release doesn't change anything about its outstanding qualities. Once you get a bit deeper into it, you'll be blown away by the wealth of options and features it offers. It's a matrix for your visual creativity with no bounds and limits. It's like nothing else. It's in a league of its own. It has always been the most underrated high-end graphics program on the market. So, what is it?

Basically, Expression is a very powerful drawing program whose main advantage is that it can generate surprisingly natural-looking painting effects, from pastels to water colors to whatever you thought you could only accomplish with Painter. But unlike Painter or Photoshop, the output is based on vectors, with all the advantages vector drawing has to offer (unlimited, lossless scalability, precise controls, very small file sizes, options to animate drawings/paintings and export them to Flash movies). The interface looks a bit intimidating and clunky at first, but it's very easy to understand and, at least in my view, way more logical than Illustrator, Freehand, Canvas or that indomitable beast Painter was up to version 7.

Now for this unsuspected re-release under the Microsoft banner: When Microsoft acquired Expression from Creature House a few months ago, I expected to see them tearing it apart, stuffing some of its innards into Frontpage or MS Paint, rolling its Flash export capabilities into that Flash competitor they are said to be working on, and burying the remaining limbs of the program deep in the soil of the Redmond campus.

Obviously, that didn't happen. The splash screen still has the Creature House logo on it, though this 3.3 beta (last official version was 3.2) is copyrighted by Microsoft. The version string says "beta", but the Readme says "Macintosh Freeware Version", and the program seems to work without limitations. Did anyone test if there is a time limit? If there are really no limits at all, this would be a rather unusual move on Microsoft's side. Are they, all of a sudden, a public domain publisher? Expression was abashingly cheap at the regular $150 price. If they give it away for free now, it would qualify as the biggest freebie since RagTime 5.6. On the one hand, Expression doesn't fit into Microsoft's portfolio. On the other hand, giving it away doesn't conform to their corporate culture. So what's the business plan behind this release? If anyone could provide some background here, I'd appreciate it. (And by "background" I mean serious information, not immature conspiracy theories and silly anti-MS propaganda by some pre-teen dorks who post bad ratings for a great program only because Expression is wearing an MS tag now. )  
(Version 3.3)

ADRINUX  Well. well, well, didn't know Microsoft had bought this. This isn't really a Microsoft app, it's Creature House Expression with a Microsoft label slapped on it. Since I still occasionally run Expression 1.0 in classic it's nice to have this free download, even if it's a beta it looks pretty complete. One less classic app to hang onto.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  One problem with this...it is from Micro$oft, a terrible company which now has its evil sights set on Adobe. Adobe Illustrator is still by far the most capable vector graphics app out there, and this pitiful attempt to oust it is just sick. Microsoft can burn in hell!  
(Version 3.3)

THESHADOW  Expression is another great product purchased by Microsoft.

It has been sittingin limbo for quite a while since there never was any OSX version developed by the original folk from Hong Kong.

It's not a direct competitor to Illustrator nor Freehand since it's feature set though somewhat similar is unique.

Try it, you'll like it!

It's free so far!!!!  
(Version 3.3)

BEN  Strong competition from MS for the Adobe Illustrator. A great thing again (like Office X) from the House Of Microsoft. Works fine; just great! Hope MS keeps it free!  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  my guess is that this is free because it is a beta or because MS wants people adopt it before charging obscene amounts of money for it. i personally will keep away from this-- nuts to microsoft.  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  I was referring to the original post. The others were added while I was typing...  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  This post is useless and uninformative. Try to substantiate your comment with some discussion and opinions. Otherwise, don't bother.  
(Version 3.3)

LOU KASH  Obviously Microsoft bought Expression. Oh well...

But other than that, technically this app is great. I can't believe they give it away for free, it used to be $150. Actually this version is labeled as "beta", perhaps that's why.

I have been playing with it for about an hour now, using a Wacom tablet. While the user interface is *very* ugly if you are used to other professional apps (as Illustrator), it works and there are some clever concepts regarding the interface. The pen options are great, many features that you won't find in other vector apps.

I didn't even check the manual yet, only looking at the yellow help messages popping up.

It's free, take it or leave it...  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  ...and this app is multilingual!  
(Version 3.3)

ANONYMOUS  Awful!  
(Version 3.3)