FAQ
General and Sales
Q: What is Microsoft Expression Blend 3?
A: Microsoft Expression Blend 3 is a professional design tool to create compelling user experiences and applications for Windows using either the .NET Framework 3.0, .NET framework 3.5 (which both include the Windows Presentation Foundation), or for the web with Silverlight.
Q: How can I purchase Expression Blend 3?
A: Expression Blend 3 is part of the full
Expression Studio 3. It can be purchased
from a range of resellers and online resellers or can be purchased for immediate
download from Microsoft’s online store. For a comprehensive list of purchasing options,
see the How To Buy page of the Expression Website at
http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Purchase.aspx
Q: What is the price for Expression Blend 3?
A: Expression Studio 3 has an estimated retail price of US $599.
Q: What are the upgrade options and prices?
A: Qualifying customers can upgrade to Expression Studio 3 for an estimated retail price of US $349.
Q: In what languages is Expression Blend 3 available?
A: Each of the Microsoft Expression products is available in the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, and Korean.
Q: Is there a trial version of Expression Blend 3?
A: The fully featured 60 day free trial for Expression Blend 3 is currently available
for download here.
Q: Where can I find resources to help me use my Expression products?
A: There is an Expression Community Web site that contains a frequently updated wealth of materials on all the Expression products and the Microsoft technologies that they are designed to work with.
Product Specific
Q: I would like to build content for Silverlight 2, should I install Expression Blend 3?
A: No. Expression Blend 3 does not support Silverlight 2 and users should continue
to use Blend 2 for this purpose which can be installed alongside Blend 3. However
we would strongly encourage customers to take advantage of the many features of
Silverlight 3.
Q: Can I install Expression Blend 3 and Expression Blend 2 at the same time?
A: You can install all versions of Expression Blend at the same time if you wish.
Q: What is the relationship between Expression Blend 3 and the .NET Framework that is part of Windows Vista and Windows 7?
A: With the .NET Framework, designers and developers can work collaboratively to build visually stunning Windows applications that deliver a superior user experience and enhance user productivity and satisfaction. The .NET Framework includes the Windows Presentation Foundation, which includes XAML (Extensible Application Markup Language), a markup language for describing application user interface, documents, and media content. XAML serves as a back-and-forth communication format which designers and developers can use to directly exchange and collaborate on applications created using both the Expression Studio 3 and Visual Studio. Expression Blend 3 targets both .NET Framework 3.0 and 3.5 applications.
Q: What is the relationship between Expression Blend 3 and Expression Design 3?
A: Microsoft Expression Design 3 supports the creation of graphic designs for
export to the XAML file format–the declarative markup language that is used to describe
application user interface elements and rich content for both WPF and Silverlight.
Microsoft Expression Blend™ 3 is built on WPF and can natively consume the XAML
files exported from Expression Design 3.
To learn more technical details about Windows Vista, WPF, and building applications
using .NET Framework, visit the
Vista Developer Center and for Silverlight
information visit
Silverlight.net
Q: Does the Expression Blend Free Trial have an expiration date?
A: Yes. The free trial will expire 60 days after your install the program. When your trial expires, select the option "I have a product key and want to license Microsoft Expression Blend 3" if you have a valid product key and want to enable full licensing rights to your copy of Expression Blend 3.
Q: What compatibility issues do I need to be aware of?
A:To get accelerated hardware performance from .NET Framework 3.0/3.5 and Expression
Blend 3, you need to make sure you have a recent graphics driver installed. Check
your display adapter for the following settings (Start, Control Panel and then Display):
- Click the Settings tab and then under Color quality, make sure Highest (32 bit)
is selected.
- Click the Advanced button, and then on the Adapter tab, click the Properties button.
- Click the Driver tab and look next to the Driver Date to see if the date is more
recent than 11/1/2004. If it is not, then video and hardware acceleration will not
work properly on your system unless you upgrade your video drivers. This issue will
be fixed in future versions of the .NET Framework.
Q: Does Expression Blend create content for the Silverlight 4 Beta or the .NET 4 Beta 2?
A: To target either Silverlight 4 Beta or .NET 4 Beta 2 download the Expression Blend Preview for .NET 4. Please note that Expression Blend 3 supports Silverlight 3 and .NET 3.5 and does not support creating content for Silverlight 4 and .NET 4.
Q: I’ve installed the Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2, what version of Expression Blend do I need?
A: To work with Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 please download the Expression Blend Preview for .NET 4.
Q: I need to build Silverlight 3 content and test Silverlight 4, is it possible to have Expression Blend 3 and Expression Blend Preview for .NET 4 installed at the same time?
A: Yes. Expression Blend 3 and Expression Blend Preview for .NET 4 install and work seemlessly side by side.
Q: Why isn’t Expression Blend Preview for .NET 4 called Expression Blend 4?
A: Expression Blend Preview for .NET 4 is a platform specific preview to enable customers to create content to target the Beta releases of Silverlight 4 and .NET 4. We are actively working on Expression Blend 4 but have nothing to announce at this time.
Please note: The Expression Blend Preview for .NET 4 doesn’t support Silverlight 3, .NET 3.5 or SketchFlow projects.
Support
Q: How do I get technical support for my purchased Expression product?
A: Visit Microsoft Help and Support.
Q: Is customer support offered with Expression Trial versions?
A: Formal support is not offered for this Expression Trials. Instead, we have a
community Web site and forums for all the Expression products where you can solicit
feedback and help get your questions answered by the both the Expression community
and the moderators from the different Expression teams.
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