How to Use Microsoft Expression Studio 2
Microsoft Expression Studio 2 is a bundle of software used together to design professional websites. The bundle consists of Expression Blend 2, Expression Design 2, Expression Encoder 2, Expression Media 2 and Expression Web 2. To best utilize these tools, however, a basic understanding of CSS, web design, search engine optimization and image optimization is necessary. HTML and other code knowledge is helpful but not necessary to design websites with Expression Studio 2.
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Instructions
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Open Expression Design 2 from the Expression Studio 2 software. Click on "File" then select "New." This creates a new document or workspace. In Expression Design, you can optimize photos and images for web design or use on web pages. In other words, the photos and images are readjusted to be smaller in file size allowing content to load faster. Expression Design 2 is also used to create logos and images for web design. The images are saved and then imported into Expression Web 2 to add to web pages.
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Open Expression Encoder 2 from the Expression Studio 2 software. This program is used to import and edit video to websites designed with Expression Web. In addition, markers, captions, and watermarks may be added to the imported video and the video can be encoded. The media player (Silverlight) is customizable using Expression Blend 2.
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Open Expression Blend 2 from the Expression Studio 2 software. Expression Blend is used to create Silverlight projects, including animations and customizing the Silverlight media player used in the designer's web pages for any uploading or embedded videos. To create a new project, click on "File" and select "New Project." Then select from the project types: Silverlight Application and Website, Silverlight Application, Silverlight Databound Application, Silverlight Control Library, or Silverlight Sketchflow Application. These projects and formats are the same types used in Microsoft Visual Studio.
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Open Expression Media 2 from the Expression Studio 2 software. Expression Media was not continued in Expression Studio 3 or Expression Studio 4, but the program was designed for determining output functions such as print formats and slide shows for pictures added to websites. Essentially, Expression Media 2 was designed to organize and filter content added to websites as well as support the creation of slide shows.
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Open Expression Web 2 from the Expression Studio 2 software. This is the program where it all comes together. Click on "File" and select "New" and select from either a blank website or from a template. Templates in Expression Web are not like working with a template on a blog site such as Google Blogspot; the designer still needs a basic understanding of CSS, and possibly some HTML, in order to fully design sites using Expression Studio.
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Design a website using Expression Web 2 and utilizing CSS to style the elements. To import work from the other Expression Studio 2 programs, go to "File" and select "Import" and choose "From File." Navigate to and select the folder from which the files will be imported into Expression Web; for example, if an image was optimized using Expression Design 2, the optimized image would have been saved as a picture in a designated folder. Select that folder, click on the desired image(s) and click "OK" to import. Now the image is in the website's content folder and can be inserted into the website design.
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Tips & Warnings
A basic knowledge of CSS, and some HTML understanding, will be extremely helpful in web design using Expression Studio (see Resources).
References
Resources
- Photo Credit web site buttons image by Ruslana Stovner from Fotolia.com
