What is Micrsoft Expression Design 4?

Microsoft Expression Design 4 is the perfect companion to Expression Blend® or Expression Web. Leverage existing artwork, or use intuitive vector drawing tools to quickly build sophisticated vector and image assets. Seamlessly transfer them to your Expression Blend or Expression Web projects knowing that their fidelity and live effects will be maintained throughout the entire designer-developer workflow.

Top Feature #1:

Use All Your Graphic and Vector Assets

Incorporate graphics from other applications using standard file formats such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF, or open vector-based artwork from other popular graphic tools. The powerful new Adobe Photoshop File Format Importer (PSD) enables you to import Photoshop files with full layer support providing you a streamlined workflow with your traditional design tools. Export is provided in a variety of standard formats such as PSD, PDF, and XAML.

Top Feature #2:

Precise Edits

Work with advanced and flexible vector manipulation tools, path operators, and shape transformation/morph capabilities.

Top Feature #3:

Pixel-perfect

Place and align your graphic elements precisely with snap-to, grids, points, guides and pixels.

Top Feature #4:

Powerful Tools

Intuitive and flexible shape drawing tools including Bezier, B-Spline, and polyline—with full curve control. The Paintbrush tool gives you precision drawing control, while tablet support lets you draw with greater expressive freedom.

Top Feature #5:

Editable Live Effects

Apply non-destructive Live Effects to any object or image. Then re-order the effects, toggle them on and off, or change the effect settings for a completely different look and feel.

Top Feature #6:

Expansive Options

Enhance your vector paths with a wide array of preset fills, strokes, and gradients, or create your own to build a unique appearance or texture.

Top Feature #7:

Connect with Expression Studio

Powerful new export and image slicing tools seamlessly bring your artwork to Expression Web and Expression Blend®. Target individual slices as separate formats, including Silverlight canvas, WPF canvas, WPF resource dictionary, HTML comp, PSD and PDF. Maximize re-use of your image assets. Graphics can be overlaid by multiple and overlapping slices, so you can simultaneously export multiple formats in one simple action.

Top Feature #8:

Build Assets

Create image assets such as buttons or backgrounds that you can use in any authoring tool, such as Expression Web or Visual Studio.