Expression Blend is Microsoft's new tool for creating and editing advanced graphics content and a user interface for use on websites - 3D animations, images and text. In this respect, the application resembles a bit of Adobe Flash. Blend allows for direct cooperation of graphic designers and programmers, because the former can refer to the .NET libraries in projects, while the latter can freely encode the built interface without the need to rebuild it.

The most important features of Blend include WYSIWYG editor, full support for XAML language, Live Preview for immediate preview of edited objects, native cooperation with .NET environment and many others. The program is part of the Expression Studio graphics package. Version 2.0 extended integration with Visual Studio, upgraded support for the XAML user interface description language, and added Silverlight support.

A vertex animation option is also available. Cosmetic, improving the functionality of the application, changes have also been introduced in the user interface. Starting from version 3.0, the application offers full support for Windows Presentation Foundation 3.5 SP1 and Silverlight 3.0.

The most important novelties come with SketchFlow, a new component of Expression Studio that makes it easy to create a user interface and to comment on or evaluate it during the design process. It is also possible to import Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator documents, there are a lot of graphic elements, new transitions, the option of generating sample content, support for version control and many others. Note:

For proper operation of the program in Windows XP, you need to install .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, which can be downloaded from the PROGRAMS -> Add-ons -> Libraries and other add-ons Trial version allows you to test all functions of the program for 60 days from the moment of installation.

Sharing is available together with a trial version of SketchFlow.