Drawing an Emoticon in Expression Blend 4

Following the steps you will be introduced to the Blend Workspace, Panels, Tools & Graphic Element Creation. In this tutorial, we will be creating an "Emoticon" or "Smiley" face from scratch.
 
Step 1: Start a New Project
 
Open Blend select file ->New Project.
 
Select Silver light 3 Application + Website & name the project "Basic Drawing".
 
After hitting OK, the new project will be created & main page will be open on the Art Board.
 
 
Step 2: Draw a Circle -> Select ellipse tool from tool box on the left side of the blend workspace.
 
Right-click on the rectangle icon to open the sub panel for more shapes.
 
Click the Ellipse icon or use shortcut key L to select the ellipse drawing tool.
 
Draw a large circle in the middle of the Art board holding the Shift key.
 
Step 3: Use of Brush -> Change the brush type with the circle selected -> look at the Properties Panel to the right of the workspace.
 
At the very top you'll find the Brushes section.
 
Locate the Fill Brush & change the Brush type from Solid to Gradient by selecting the Gradient Brush icon found in the Brush Type menu below the Brushes.
 
Step 4: Fill Color -> #f2663c
 
To make the emoticon look round change to a Radial Gradient by clicking the icon below the gradient bar in the Brushes section.
 
Select each gradient stop to modify its color & position.
 
Click on the gradient to add a new stop.
 
Double-click a gradient stop to remove it.
 
The gradient shown in the image has three stops: #FDF365: 34.9%, #FEE834: 71.1% & #DEAE32: 100%.
 
Set the Stroke below the Fill Brush.
 
 
Note: The same Brush Types are available for Stroke, for our emoticon the default Solid Black Brush is perfect. To add more, change Stroke Thickness found in the Appearance section from 1 to 5.
 
Step 5: Draw an Eye -> Select the Ellipse Tool (L) & draw a smaller circle to represent an Eye.
 
To reposition or scale the circle use the Selection Tool (V).
 
Change the Fill gradient to #FYFFE: 84.5, #545454: 100% to look like an eyeball.
 
Draw a smaller Ellipse with a dark Solid Color Brush to act as the pupil.
 
To add some light refraction, draw a smaller Ellipse with a Solid White Fill & no Stroke, positioned in the upper left of the pupil.
 
 
 
Step 6: Grab the Eye Parts -> Select the three Ellipses representing the eyeball, pupil & light refraction by holding the Shift key down & clicking the last three Ellipses found in the Objects panel.
 
Alternatively, you can draw a rectangle around the Ellipses with the Selection Tool (V) by clicking on the Art board & holding the mouse down while dragging.
 
Step 7: Copy & Paste the Eye -> Right-click the selected elements or go to Object -> Group Into & select Grid.
 
In the Objects panel , name the grid Right-Eye by double-clicking on it or right-clicking & selecting Rename.
 
With Right-Eye selected copy & paste to create a new eye.
 
Rename Right-Eye Copy to Left-Eye & reposition the new eye next to the first one.
 
 
Step 8: Add an Eyebrow -> In the Right Eye grid select the large circle representing the eyeball.
 
Copy the circle & Paste a new circle positioned slightly above the original.
 
Select "Convert to Path" option from the Object Menu -> Path -> Convert to Path.
 
The highlighted blue colored points appears. Then accordingly design the Eyebrow by stretching the points.
 
 
Step 9: Draw a Mouth -> With the Layout Root grid selected, click the Rectangle Tool (M) & draw a rectangle below the eyes.
 
Change the Radius X & Radius Y, found in the Appearance section of the Rectangle to 10.
 
To remove the worried look on the emoticon's face right-click the Rectangle & go to Path -> Convert to Path.
 
Now with the Direct Selection Tool (A) pull the bottom two points down & closer together to make a smile.
 
 
Step 10: Final Image
 
 
Summary: With the help of this Article you can learn basic use of tools of Expression Blend.


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