For the Artist in All of Us
What follows is a list of all deprecated Microsoft software with a creative
slant -- meaning, software that allows you to create or consume media. Admittedly it's
a broad definition, but it's an interesting space to explore in Microsoft's product history.
A lot of research went into creating this catalog, but as you can imagine,
information can be hard to find about many of Microsoft's applications from the early days.
Please contact us if you have
more items to add to the list, or discover inaccuracies. Thanks!
This article is part of a series. Return home to all discontinued Microsoft products.
Last updated December 17, 2019.
| Series: Microsoft Discontinued Product Categories | ||
| Business (38) | Communications (23) | Creative (31) |
| Developer (50) | Education (41) | Hardware (24) |
| Operating Systems (15) | Sites & Services (69) | Utilities (11) |
| Complete List of Microsoft Sunset Products (346) | ||
Microsoft Fine Artist (1994)
Lifespan: 1 year
Fine Artist was a title aimed at allowing kids create art and paintings easily.
The program was set in a world called Imaginopolis. It was available for MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, and the Mac. According to the
October 11, 1994 issue of PC Magazine, it retailed for $49.95.
Microsoft Fine Artist Splash Screen (1994)
Source: classicreload.com
Microsoft Fine Artist Image Editor (1994)
Source: tumblr.com
Microsoft Creative Writer (1993-1997)
Lifespan: 4 years
Creative Writer was a child-focused word processor set in the fictitous world of
Imaginopolis (like its companion title MS Fine Artist). It retailed for $64.95 in 1994
(June 14, 1994 PC Magazine).
Microsoft Creative Writer Splash Screen (1994)
Source: winworldpc.com
Microsoft 3D Movie Maker (1995-1996)
Lifespan: 1 year
3D Movie Maker allowed children to author
3D stories and movies in preset digital worlds. It was originally made for Windows 95. There was
also a subsequent version called Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker with licensed characters
from the television network.
3D Movie Maker Box Cover and Loading Screen (1996)
Source: reddit.com
Microsoft GIF Animator (1996)
Lifespan: 1 year
GIF Animator was released
in a time when animated images were a new novelty to most people. It was a simple freeware app
that served its purpose well.
Microsoft GIF Animator About Screen and Workspace (1996)
Source: winworldpc.com
Microsoft Image Composer (1993-1998)
Lifespan: 5 years
Image Composer was a straightforward image editor with the
typical tools you'd expect from an entry-level program. The application came bundled with Microsoft FrontPage 97 and 98.
Microsoft Image Composer Workspace and Splash Screen (1997)
Source: cottontech.com
Microsoft PhotoDraw (1995-2000)
Lifespan: 5 years
Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 About Screen (2000)
Source: blogspot.com
Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 Workspace (2000)
Source: instructables.com
Imaging for Windows (1995-2002)
Lifespan: 7 years
Imaging for Windows (2000)
Source: techrepublic.com
Microsoft Photo Editor (1997-2003)
Lifespan: 6 years
Microsoft Photo Editor Workspace (2000)
Source: appatic.com
Microsoft Picture It! (1996-2005)
Lifespan: 9 years
Microsoft Picture It! 2.0 About Screen (1997)
Source: winworldpc.com
Microsoft Digital Image (2003-2006)
Lifespan: 3 years
Microsoft Digital Image 2006 Editor Workspace (2006)
Source: photohowto.info
Microsoft Photo Story (2006)
Lifespan: 1 year
Microsoft Photo Story Interface (2006)
Source: baixaki.com.br
Microsoft FrontPage (1995-2007)
Lifespan: 12 years
Microsoft FrontPage 97 Splash Screen (1997)
Source: winworldpc.com
Microsoft FrontPage 98 WYSIWYG Editor (1998)
Source: 101.lv
Microsoft Portable Media Center (2004-2007)
Lifespan: 3 years
IRiver Device Powered By Microsoft Portable Media Center (2005)
Source: walmart.com
Microsoft TrueSpace (1994-2009)
Lifespan: 15 years
TrueSpace Interface (2008)
Source: schrankmonster.de
Microsoft AutoCollage (2008-2009)
Lifespan: 1 year
Microsoft AutoCollage 2008 (2008)
Source: maxiorel.com
Microsoft Expression Media (2006-2010)
Lifespan: 4 years
Microsoft Expression Media 2 Image Catalog (2008)
Source: screenshots-archive.com
Microsoft Zune Software (2006-2012)
Lifespan: 6 years
Zune Desktop Software (2010)
Source: superuser.com
Microsoft Expression Design (2007-2012)
Lifespan: 5 years
Microsoft Expression Design Workspace and Splash Screen (2012)
Source: davescomputertips.com
Microsoft Expression Design Workspace (2012)
Source: theflyingmaverick.com
Microsoft Expression Encoder (2007-2012)
Lifespan: 5 years
Microsoft Expression Encoder Workspace (2012)
Source: davescomputertips.com
Microsoft Expression Web (2006-2012)
Lifespan: 6 years
Microsoft Expression Web Workspace (2012)
Source: freewarefiles.com
Windows Desktop Gadgets (2006-2012)
Lifespan: 6 years
Windows 7 Desktop Gadgets (2009)
Source: mintywhite.com
Windows DVD Maker (2007-2012)
Lifespan: 5 years
Windows DVD Maker on Windows 7 (2010)
Source: youtube.com
Windows Photo Viewer (2002-2012)
Lifespan: 10 years
Windows Photo Viewer (2011)
Source: youtube.com
Microsoft Office Picture Manager (2003-2013)
Lifespan: 10 years
Microsoft Office Picture Manager 2013 Image Editor (2013)
Source: youtube.com
Windows Media Encoder (2003-2013)
Lifespan: 10 years
Microsoft Office Picture Manager 2013 Image Editor (2013)
Source: youtube.com
Windows Live Writer (2007-2014)
Lifespan: 7 years
Windows Live Writer 2012 Interface (2012)
Source: wordpress.com
Windows Media Center (2002-2015)
Lifespan: 13 years
Windows Media Center Interface on Windows XP (2007)
Source: networkcomputing.com
Windows Journal (2002-2016)
Lifespan: 14 years
Windows Journal Interface on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition (2002)
Source: anandtech.com
Microsoft PhotoSynth (2008-2017)
Lifespan: 9 years
PhotoSynth User Interface (2017)
Source: wordpress.com
Windows Movie Maker (2000-2017)
Lifespan: 17 years
Microsoft Windows Movie Maker 2.0 on Windows XP (2002)
Source: blogspot.com
Windows Live Movie Maker on Windows 7 (2009)
Source: cnet.com
Windows Photo Gallery (2003-2017)
Lifespan: 14 years
Windows Live Photo Gallery (2012)
Source: informer.com
Next: See the design history of Microsoft Word, Windows, and Microsoft.com!
See our design evolution of Microsoft Word starting in 1984.
Also, check out our article on the
visual design history of Microsoft Windows which launched in 1985.
Finally, if you really like this stuff, why not see what the
Microsoft.com website looked like from 1994 to today?
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