LOS ANGELES -- Microsoft today unveiled Microsoft Expression, a suite of Web site design and graphics software that enables .Net developers to handle tasks similar to those that users of corresponding software from from Adobe Systems and Macromedia have performed for years.

As expected, Sparkle Interactive Designer, a new tool for building 3D animation and graphics, is part of the suite. Eric Rudder, senior vice president of Microsoft's Server and Tools division, unveiled a prerelease version of Expression in his keynote speech at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference here on Wednesday morning.

In addition to Sparkle, Expression includes Acrylic Graphic Designer (a painting and illustration tool) and Quartz Web Designer (a layout and design tool for building Web sites). All of the current names for individual tools are Microsoft code names.

Microsoft Expression is now available as a community technology preview; the company expects the suite to ship in 2006. Microsoft plans to make several more CTPs available before releasing a full production version of the suite.

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