Microsoft Blend
Microsoft Expression Blend is an interface design tool for developing cross-platform web applications, so-called Rich Internet Applications ( RIA) for Windows, Mac and Linux based on Microsoft Silverlight. It can also be used for the design of user interfaces for desktop applications that run on Microsoft Windows based on the Windows Presentation Foundation ( WPF) and. NET Version 3 Microsoft called Expression Blend as the " Design tool for Silverlight, the web and. NET ". Expression Blend is a part of product family Microsoft Expression Studio.
The WYSIWYG editor in Expression Blend generates XAML vector graphics in format. XAML is an XML-based file format for describing graphical elements and user interfaces, and defining interactions of these elements. XAML is used both in Silverlight, as well as in classic Windows applications based on WPF / .NET 3.x and in other fields of application such as the Microsoft XPS print format. XAML enables integrated using the same graphic elements and a common source code base for cross-platform Web applications that run in the browser, desktop applications, printing, and mobile devices. Expression Blend supports XAML, among other dynamic vector graphics and animation, pixel images, 3D objects, video, sound and text, and complex controls.
Versions and the confusion surrounding the Expression Blend 2.5 Tech Preview
On 30 April 2007, the first version of Expression Blend has been published. About a year later the original retail version of Expression Blend 2 for publication in July 2008 only supported the then current Silverlight 1.0. To develop applications for pre-release versions of Silverlight 2, Microsoft before the release of Silverlight 2 already download a free extended version of Expression Blend with the version number 2.5 is available. An official retail version of Expression Blend 2.5 was never released - the functions to develop for Silverlight 2 were integrated with the service pack 1 in Expression Blend 2. Service Pack 1 was released simultaneously with Silverlight 2 in October 2008 and expanded Expression Blend 2 with functions for developing applications for Silverlight 2 with. NET languages like C # or VB.NET, but also with Ruby and Python. In July 2009, Expression Blend 3 was published along with Silverlight 3. The English version of Expression Studio 4 Ultimate, which contains in addition to Expression Blend 4 and Expression Web 4, Expression Encoder 4 and Expression Design 4, has been released on June 7, 2010, the German version will be released in mid July 2010.
Features in Expression Blend
Effective Prototyping with SketchFlow SketchFlow makes it possible to build up the flow of an application quickly to experiment with the layout of individual screens and to test various concepts quickly. It is also possible to create controls in the prototype phase in a " sketchy style" (pencil sketch), to enable customers to focus on the concept of the application. These controls have the same functionality as normal buttons, text fields, etc., but have not yet been set to a specific design. After the structure of the surface is determined, the design of all controls can be changed later. Using the SketchFlow player can be edited called for feedback from various testers and aggregated with the help of an integration of Microsoft SharePoint since version 4.
Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator import Expression Blend includes importers for both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. During the import, you can see the Photoshop file and choose which layers individually, you want to import. Planes can be easily grouped and elements retain their original format: Layers, layers position, editable text and vectors.
Silverlight 3 and Silverlight 4 support Expression Blend can create Silverlight applications. The Visual State Manager, 3D transforms, visual effects like blur ( blur ) and glow ( glow ), hardware acceleration, customizable components and HD video are things that enable new concepts.
Behaviors A behavior is a reusable interactivity component that can be applied directly to user interfaces elements in Expression Blend, without having to write code. Interactivity that has previously written in ordinary code, a developer can now be packaged and used as a reusable Behavior. These behaviors can be created and used together as a team, thus making it possible to use interactivity uniformly in a project.
Visual State Manager, State animation and fluid layout designers have absolute control how they interact with user interface elements. Whether an element engages in a Control in a specific position or glides, moves linearly or with inertia - different interaction models are available. Fluid layout is morphing animations available, the visual elements between different screen layouts to blend soft.
Silverlight easing functions with the given easing animations you can easily create physically realistic animations. Every easing function has customizable parameters that give the designer full control over type of movement.
Code editor and Intellisense Expression Blend includes a full-featured code editor with XAML, C # and VB Intellisense support. You now have the choice whether to write code in Visual Studio or directly edited in Expression Blend.
Workspace docking Individual workspaces can now be saved. It is also possible, tools and operating on a plurality of monitors to use decoupled.
Code name and history of Expression Blend
The original code name for Expression Blend was " Sparkle ". Sparkle was originally created during the development of Windows Presentation Foundation (then known as Avalon ) out of the need of a group of testers to be able to use a product developed in WPF to test the new WPF graphics engine of Windows. Sparkle and subsequent versions have been developed as WPF applications even in WPF. By December 2006, Expression Blend was also announced as Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer; under this name also an early pre-release version (DTP ) was available. In December 2006 the final name Microsoft ® Expression Blend ™ was announced by Microsoft. On 24 January 2007 the first public beta version of Expression Blend appeared. The first official English-language retail version was released on 30 April 2007; the German version of Expression Blend 1 was released in July 2007. In July 2008, a new version of Expression Studio and Expression Blend 2 expression appeared, in July 2009, Expression Blend 3 Microsoft intends in the coming years to publish annually Blend.
Other tools work with Expression Blend
You can graphics and Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML ) resources that have been generated by Microsoft Expression Design 2 import in every Expression Blend 2 project. Furthermore, one can Silverlight media projects created with Microsoft Expression Encoder 2, import to expand the project with new features or visual elements, or to change the media player template which can then be used in Expression Encoder 2 again.