WUX309 – Microsoft Expression Blend from a Developer’s Point of View – Markus Egger

Originally created for the WPF designer platform, as in designers are not inclined to use VS.  He doesn’t do any visual editing in VS. 

He recommends using Blend 3.0 (preview).  Can’t use Blend 3 to do SL2 development.

VS and Blend Similarities

• WPF and SL templates only
• New (3.0) TFS support
• Blend 3 supports code editing and Intellisense
• Toolbox
• Properties and events window

VS and Blend Differences

• Richer UI editor
• UI hierarchy window
• Storyboards and Timelines
• Trigger and Visual State support
• Resources (XAML)
• Data Sources ( design time data binding). Data generation.

Designer Tips – Create Subtle Effects

• Create the project in VS first and then open in Blend
• Run your applications from VS
• Beware of having the same file open in both IDEs

Differences between WPF and SL

• Triggers vs Visual States
• Resource Dictionaries

Example app (download).  Task : make this app “look good”.  Apply a gradient color to your grid.  Then use the gradient tool to bring the color a certain angle of direction.

Can’t really document this part as he is all over the Blend UI.  Would be nice if this video becomes available.  Tricks for making your buttons look like they are under glass.  Applying a floataway grid, which reshuffles your list items when a move event happens.  Resize the window and the items move around in the grid animated like.