For those who are interested...
Microsoft's new rival to graphics programs such as Adobe PhotoShop and Corel PhotoPaint, code named "Acrylic," is now in public beta. It's a graphics manipulation program that has dozens of neat special effects image filters that let you make a photo look like a photocopy, watercolor, stained glass, painting, etc. You can also do all the usual resampling, rotating, adjustment of color, brightness, contrast, etc., layering, and most of the same functions that other high-end graphics programs do
http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/