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What’s new in Expression Design September 2011 Preview

Expression Design September 2011 Preview includes four new features that further expand and refine your workflow:

• Import EPS files
• Make multiple selection in the Layers palette
• Retain the adjusted position of an object’s registration point.
• Export documents to the SVG format

Import Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) files

Expression Design Preview adds support for importing EPS files. To import EPS files, on the File menu, click Import Encapsulated Postscript File.

Make multiple selections in the Layers palette

Expression Design Preview adds the ability to quickly select a range of layers in the Layers palette, as well as a range of groups and objects, by pressing Shift and clicking in the palette to select a range, or by pressing Ctrl and clicking in the palette to select non-contiguous layers. This feature functions just as multiple selection functions in Windows Explorer.

Retain the adjusted registration point

The registration point is the point where an object is anchored on the document. The registration point becomes visible when you select an object and, by default, it is located at the center of the object, represented by a diamond shape. When you rotate an object, the object rotates around the registration point.

You can change the location of the registration point by dragging it to another location in the object, thereby enabling the object to pivot around that new location. However, previously, if you changed the location of the registration point, rotated the image, and then cancelled the selection, the registration point returned to its default position in the center of the object. Now, in the Design Preview Release, once you change the registration point, perform a rotation, and then cancel the selection, the registration point remains in its new position.

To return the registration point to its default position, select the object and then click the center of the Registration point icon at the bottom left of the application window.

Export SVG

Expression Design Preview adds the ability to export a document in SVG format. Exporting in SVG enables you to integrate vector artwork content into HTML applications that you design using such programs as Expression Blend.

To export in SVG format:

1. If you plan on only exporting particular slices or objects, then select the elements that you want to export.
2. On the File menu, click Export.
3. Under Items to Export, select one of the following options:
   • Whole document   Select this option to automatically export all the artwork in your Expression Design document as a single SVG document.
   • Selected objects   Select this option to export only those objects that you selected before you open the Export dialog box. Expression Design exports the objects as a single SVG document.
   • Slices   Select this option to export slices of your artwork, in multiple output files and formats. Slices are configured before you open the Export dialog box. The preview window changes to display each slice individually so that you can select different export settings for each. You can also use the Slice contents drop-down box to show or hide objects in the slice.
4. In the Format menu, choose SVG.
5. Adjust the following settings. Depending upon the Items to Export setting you choose, you will see varying options. If you chose to export slices, you must change the Format and other export properties for each slice. Alternatively, you can select multiple slices by holding the Shift key to change the export properties for all the selected slices at the same time. For more information on working with slices, see Expression Design Help.
   • Slice name   Type a name for each slice in this box. You can only name a single slice at a time, so this option is unavailable if you have selected multiple slices.
   • Slice contents   If you want to hide or show a particular object in your slices, clear or select the box corresponding to the object that you want to hide or show.
   • Always name objects   Select this check box to name all objects that are converted from your artwork.
   • Place grouped objects in an SVG group   Select this option to place any grouped objects in your document into SVG groups that your application design program will recognize.
   • Editable TextBlock   Select this option to convert text to TextBlock objects that will be editable after you import the document into Expression Blend. Note that you may lose some formatting because SVG does not support all text properties.
   • Paths   Select this option to convert all text to path objects.
   • Rasterize all   Select this option to have Expression Design rasterize live effects applied to your document.
   • Convert to SVG effects   Select this option to convert the Drop Shadow and Gaussian Blur effects to SVG effects. These are the only two effects that SVG supports.
   • Location   Next to Location, browse to or enter the path for the location where you want the output file to be saved.
   • Export All   Click Export All to export the file or files. If you are exporting slices and you want to export only some of them, you can select multiple slices in the preview window (hold the Shift key), click the drop-down arrow next to Export All, and then click Export Selected Slice(s). Alternatively, if you want to save any changes that you made to the export properties for individual slices without actually exporting the slices, click the drop-down arrow next to Export All and select Save Settings and Close.

Note: Expression Design September 2011 Preview expires on June 30, 2012.

Download the Expression Design September 2001 Preview now.

For more information, see the Expression Design September 2011 Preview release notes.

Help us improve Expression Design by reporting any technical issues.

From:  Expression Design September 2011 Preview | Microsoft® Expression®