Shine Draw

Today, I would like to show you a Flash vs Silverlight comparison on the Sliding Image Gallery!

The effect is a simple and dynamic Sliding Gallery.

It is very easy to customize. We can add as many images and descriptions we like .

And the effect is very good for fast photo gallery, scrolling banner, website and so on.

Let’s enjoy it and leave comments!!

Comparison

Flash implementation: 40 minutes

Silverlight implementation: 30 minutes (Implemented First)

Source codes

•   SlideGallery [Flash 9, AS3] (965.2 KiB, 1,357 hits)
•   SlideGallery [Silverlight 3, C#] (1.1 MiB, 2,701 hits)

Silverlight

• driving game with Farseer Physics

  

  A very interesting example implemented using Farseer Physics Engine. No programming is needed.
  Let’s experience the power of behaviors.

  Original Post

• Old Movie Pixel Shader

  

  An old Movie Pixel Shader effect on UIElement. The author also provided a sample to shader effect on top of a video. You are able to modify some of the properties of the shader effect.

  Original Post

• Working with Path

  

  A very comprehensive article teaching you all the basisc about path:
  1. The terminology of path syntax
  2. Using Geometry
  3. Create path using coding
  4. Path formatting with colorbrush, image and opacity

  Original Post

• Create Path in C#

  

  An article showing you the identical way to create Path in C# and XAML.

  Original Post

• 3D Wall

  

  A very nice way to orgnize your photos. The 3D effect is implemented using perspective 3D.

  Original Post

• tangent.ux Media Platform

  

  We empower your content with amazing user experience while helping you manage and publish to the widest possible audience with minimal effort.

  Original Post

• Silverlight 3 Drag and Drop

  

  A Silverlight 3 Drag and Drop sample to use the latest Tim Heuer’s Floatable Window.

  Original Post

• Fluid Behavior Container

  

  A very useful behaviors to simulate water, waves and also objects inside the water medium. Very funny example. Do you have any good game idea based on these behaviors?

  Original Post

• Farseer Physics Engine Sample

  

  You may Click and drag on any of the objects in this example to start the chaos, collisions!
  The sample doesn’t need any C#, it is all done by using the Farseer Physics Engine Behaviors.

  Original Post

It has been a long long time that I haven’t implemented any Flash vs Silverlight comparison. Today, I would like to introduce you the Blur Animation Effect!

The effect is simple, the star icon in the application will follow your mouse position. While star icon is moving, the residue image will fade out steadily. Traditionally, this kind of effect is done by creating a lot of instances with different opacity. The consequence of this method is that it will consume you a lot of computer resources and hence limiting the level of effect.

However, by using the Bitmap library (WriteableBitmap in Silverlight, BitmapData in Flash), calculations can be made within a single bitmap object and rendering is done using bitwise computation. This greatly enhanced the performance of effect and the ease of programming.

Many particles engine effect are making use of this approach.

Can you think of any other effect which can apply this kind of approach?

Comparison

Flash implementation: 40 minutes

Silverlight implementation: 30 minutes (Implemented First)

Source codes

•   Blur-Animation-Effect [Flash 9, AS3] (35.7 KiB, 732 hits)
•   Blur-Animation-Effect [Silverlight 3, C#] (27.6 KiB, 1,197 hits)

Silverlight

• 3D Menu Carousel using PlaneProjection

  

  An 3D Menu Carousel effect using Plane Projection (Perspective 3D). The author also explained how this application is implemented.

  Original Post

• Hit Test (Get all objects in a specific point)

  

  Most of the time, when you are creating games, you will have to find out all the UIElement in a specific coordinate. (Or we can this hittest). In such circumstance, you will need to use the method VisualTreeHelper.FindElementsInHostCoordinates.
  Please view the C# coding for more details.

  Original Post

• Fluid Dynamics

  

  Awesome!!!! That’s my only comment.

  Original Post

• Image Transition Animations

  

  Do you feel bored with the way Silverlight display image? Try to apply some animations on it.
  The application demonstrated various way to show up an images: Fade In/Fade out, Grow, Wipe In, etc.

  Original Post

• Create Storyboard using C# and XAML

  

  This sample demonstrated how to create Storyboard either using C# or XAML. A good article for you to reference how to create your first animation.
  The application comes with a very cute duck!

  Original Post

• Writeable Bitmap - Plasma

  

  Silverlight has a new feature called WritableBitmap. You can not only capture the snapshot of the Silverlight, but also manipulate the generated graphics.
  You are able to generate various kind of graphic pattern using some simple Mathematics. For details, please take a look on the reference link.

  Original Post

• Customizing Data From Look

  

  DataForm is a powerful controls in Silverlight 3 Toolkit. It enables you generate a from table by a given entity class.
  The reference articles cover the following area in using DataForm:
  1. Binding the data (OneWay or TwoWay)
  2. Operation methods when saving and editing the data
  3. Form Label
  4. Data validation
  5. Data form navigation control

  Original Post

• Animated 3D Text (using XAML only)

  

  The effect is achieved by manipulating the plane projection of a UI Element. It’s not difficult to be achieved by code. However, this can be done without writing any C# as well.

  Original Post

• ASCII Table

  

  This utility helps you to figure out the ASCII code of special characters. Very useful when you want to add some special character in your XAML.

• Text Strike Through

  

  The follow XAML let you to add a "strike though" effect on your text. It works for single line text and you are able to customize the font size and color.

• Syntax Highlighting TextBox

  

  Color highlight your coding and XML for much better readability. You are also able to define your own syntax color using an external xml file.
  The author also explained all the details on the implementation.

  Original Post

• Apply Transition Animation on Frame

  

  When you are using the Frame control, you will find out that the transition between elements isn’t very nice. Here comes with a solution, you are able to use Writeable Bitmap to create nice transitions effects.
  Please go to the reference link for more details.

  Original Post

Today, I would like to introduce you a site called “UX Passion”.

Vibor Cipan, who is the site author and Microsoft MVP, demonstrated a lot of hands on and useful resources on Microsoft Expression technology. He is also passionate on enhancing the user experience using the Silverlight and WPF technology.

So far, he has published more than 70 articles. All of the them come with details explanation and numerous screenshots. It is absolutely a good site for beginners.

Some of his tutorial includes:

• Image reflection effect in WPF with Expression Blend
   
• Enable and show context menu on left click in WPF
   
• Convert SVG to XAML and use it in Silverlight or WPF applications?
  

Take a look on his site. I am sure you can feel the passion of his devotion.