how to express your creative self with windows presentation foundation and silverlight
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Design To BlendDale G. JonesDirector of Creative DesignIdentityMine, Inc.
Session Prerequisites
Microsoft Expression Design http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/overview.aspx?key=design
Microsoft Expression Blend http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/overview.aspx?key=blend
Adobe Fireworks http://www.adobe.com/products/fireworks/
FW to XAML Exporter http://www.adobe.com/devnet/fireworks/articles/fw_xaml_panel.html
Session Objectives and Agenda• Reduce fear about designing for WPF.• Show real world workflow from concept to XAML.• Provide a brief overview of the tools I use.• Get Creative Designers excited about WPF &
Silverlight.
Who Am I?
• Dale JonesDirector of Creative DesignIdentityMine, Inc.
I lead a team of Creative Designers that build exciting solutions on new Microsoft UX Platforms (WPF & Silverlight).
• Designing for the web (8 years)• Designing for WPF (2.5 years)
Where I Work
Why Do We Need Designers?
• Users are expecting better application experiences.
• Developers are excellent at making it work, but tend to overlook the visual details of an application.
• The best applications are developed when there is collaboration between Designers & Developers.
What’s In It For You?
• With WPF, it is possible to maintain design integrity throughout the application development process.
• Your applications can be taken further than in past technologies.
• Developers are now a Designer’s best friend!
Lets Talk Process
New Process Ideas
It Starts With The Team
Designer
graphics, media,
color, UX, UI
Developerdata, logic, code
But Wait A Second…
Designer
graphics, media,
color, UX, UI
Developerdata, logic, code
?layout,
animation,events, markup,
integration
The Team With An Integrator
Designer
graphics, media,
color, UX, UI
Developerdata, logic, code
Integratorlayout,
animation,events,
integration
The Team & Tools
What Ties Us Together?
<XAML>
XAM L XAM L
XAM L
These Roles Are Rigid
• I am a designer and love to play with markup, where do I fit in?
• Our company is small, we can’t staff this way. What do we do?
Roles Reflect Project Responsibilities• The tasks to build a successful application don’t
change based on the people performing the tasks.
• One person may have to share role responsibilities to accomplish all project tasks.
• Defining tasks and roles before project starts gives a better chance of project success.
I Am A Designer
For the purpose of this presentation I am going to be the designer, and show you how Designers work with Integrators and Developers at IdentityMine.
I Am Assuming…
That you have a basic understanding of:- Windows Presentation Foundation- Expression Design- Expression Blend- Adobe Fireworks CS3- Basic XAML
Understanding these tools/technologies are my keys for “Designing To Blend”.
What This Session Is Not
• A complete discussion about the WPF Platform• Extensive XAML Overview
• Custom controls• Resource Dictionaries• Styles• Templates
Expression Design
• Prototyping and Composition Design.• A few nice features that other design programs
don’t have.• Very nice XAML exporter.
• Lets go take a look.
Expression Design Examples
• Roxio Central Vista Technology Preview• Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step• LSTV
Expression Design Walkthrough• Creating a new file• Finding Palettes• Setting up preferences• Working with the tools• Open file and export some XAML
Adobe Design Tools
• Adobe Photoshop – Great design tool, however no way to export XAML.
• Adobe Illustrator – Has a XAML exporter, but I don’t use Illustrator for application design.
• Adobe Fireworks CS3 – We have a winner!
Adobe Fireworks CS3
• Fireworks has its roots in web and RIA design.• It is an outstanding tool to develop vector based
graphics.• Fireworks integrates bitmap graphics very well
into its design surface.• Easy transition for existing Photoshop users.
Building Design Comps in Fireworks• Fireworks is an outstanding tool to design
application UI for client approval.• It allows for designer to separate UI design into
“Pages”.• Pages contain their own layers set.• This allows designers to design exact “states” of
the applications and export for client approval.• Once that approval has been given, Fireworks
exports XAML assets.
• This is a great time saver over other tools/platforms.
Adobe Fireworks CS3 Examples• Aspiring Architects• CSS
These examples are ok, but how do I get XAML out of this?
?
Fireworks to XAML Panel
Extension for Fireworks built by Infragistics
Download it here:http://www.adobe.com/devnet/
fireworks/articles/fw_xaml_panel.html
Lets see it in action
Export Something
Export Settings – Output Tab
• Output Tab Settings• Export Images – I don’t export
images from Fireworks here. • Fill Textures (using images) – I
tend to stay away from this.• Pattern Fills (using images) – I
try to stay away from this.• Bitmap Effects – not a good idea,
hurts app performance• Text Options – Exporting Text
works pretty well. Exporting text on a path should be converted to Paths.
Export Settings – XAML Options• XAML Options Tab Settings
• Grid or Canvas – depends on how you need your XAML. Silverlight XAML needs Canvas export.
• Convert Rectangles to Borders – most of the time this is checked.
• Element Names – Good idea to name layered groups.
• Export Fills As Resources – Unchecked - Usually I set up my resource dictionaries before I export from Fireworks.
Expression Blend
• Draw and assemble design assets.• Build up layout structure.• Bind to data.• A whole lot more.
• Lets go take a look.
Expression Blend
• Creating a new project• Finding Palettes• Introduction to layout tools• Working with the built in controls• Bring in Exported XAML
Getting XAML into Blend
• The purpose of compositing design elements in Fireworks/Design is the ability to export XAML pieces.
• Know what to export and what to rebuild in Blend.
XAML Composition in Blend
• Layout First – look at your design comps and decide which panels to use to hold your design elements together.
• Grid, Canvas, StackPanel, etc.
• Once you understand basic layout, start inserting some exported XAML.
Can I Just Use Blend?
• Blend is extremely powerful and capable of doing most design tasks.
• My creative process utilizes a Design program first, this allows me to collaborate with clients without thinking too much about the implementation of XAML
• I have found it easier to work in the design tool I am familiar with and then composite XAML in Blend.
• Work with what feels right to you, but still gets the job done.
What Now?
• As a Designer, you should be pretty excited about the possibilities of WPF.
• As a Developer, you should be excited that you don’t have to mess with so many design tasks.
• The next step is to find an equally excited people and start building some beautiful applications!
Looking For More Info?
• Visit the TechEd Sessions of my co-workers.• Josh Wagoner
• WPF : Beyond Styles & TemplatesNext Session in Room 112
• Lessons Learned : Designer/Developer Workflow in WPF and SilverlightThursday at 9am in this room (Tent 1)
• Robby Ingebretson
• ZAP! WHAM! KAPOW! : The Next Generation of Online Comic Book Reading in WPFThursday at 1:30pm in this room (Tent 1)
Got Questions?
• Hopefully I have answers…
Thanks For Coming
Email: [email protected] Site: http://gobigdale.wordpress.comWork Site: www.identitymine.com
Resources
• Microsoft Expression Designhttp://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/overview.aspx?key=design
• Microsoft Expression Blendhttp://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/overview.aspx?key=blend
• Adobe Fireworks CS3http://www.adobe.com/products/fireworks/
• Fireworks to XAML Exporterhttp://www.adobe.com/devnet/fireworks/articles/fw_xaml_panel.html
Resources - Continued
• Technical Communities, Webcasts, Blogs, Chats & User Groupshttp://www.microsoft.com/communities/default.mspx
• Microsoft Learning and Certificationhttp://www.microsoft.com/learning/default.mspx
• Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) & TechNet http://microsoft.com/msdn http://microsoft.com/technet
• Trial Software and Virtual Labshttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/downloads/trials/default.mspx
• New, as a pilot for 2007, the Breakout sessions will be available post event, in the TechEd Video Library, via the My Event page of the website
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© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.This presentation is for informational purposes only.MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.