subject: Microsoft Expression Blend 4.0 - The Design Tool Which Makes The Difference [print this page] Microsoft Expression Blend 4.0 - The Design Tool Which Makes The Difference
Microsoft Expression Blend is a user interface design tool developed by Microsoft, which helps creating rich graphical interfaces for applications that merge the features of a desktop and Web application. Even more, Expression Blend is used in the development of XAML-based interfaces for Silverlight and WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) applications.
The latest version of Microsoft Expression Blend, 4.0, was released on April 26, 2010, and brings in support for Silverlight 4 and WPF 4, remaining in the same time compatible with Silverlight 3 and WPF 3.5. Other updates are: enhanced Photoshop file support, pattern support for Model-Views and ViewModels, shapes library, interactivity through additional behaviors (which can be configured much faster), improved Silverlight functionality...etc.
Among the new features brought about by Microsoft Expression Blend 4.0 are:
SketchFlow
The SketchFlow feature adds support for prototyping, allowing the user to present ideas and functionalities by using "sketchy" objects and first hand-drafts of his project. Practically this feature gives the possibility to show to a client a draft of one's work and to receive immediate feedback.
Behaviors
The Behaviors feature brings in interactive and animating elements to an application, without the need to write code. Programmers can integrate consistent connectivity models, such as MouseDrag, MultiTouch, ChangePropertyAction, which can be shared between the design and development teams for reducing the effort and optimize the workflow.
Sample Data
By using sample data, developers can accelerate the execution of the UI, avoiding the issues that can appear early in the design process and saving time. Also, sample data is effective in saving development effort by making it very easy to reuse pieces of code that were initially developed.
Up to date user interface
Expression Blend permits developers to be more productive and to experiment more with the design of the UI by using the customization feature of the layout panel, and by having more control over the additional behaviors.
Platform support
Expression Blend 4.0 supports the creation of applications for multiple platforms, such as:.NET 3.5 and 4.0, and also Silverlight 3.0 and 4.0. This means that programmers can use the latest features introduced by Expression Blend 4.0 to speed-up the implementation process on previous platforms, being in the same time compatible with newer ones.
