Home > Appearance > Add a bitmap effect to an object

Add a bitmap effect to an object

Bitmap effects in Microsoft® Expression Blend™ are simple pixel-processing operations. You should not apply bitmap effects to large visuals or animations, because this can decrease the performance of your application at run time. See also Create a button using bitmap effects.

In Windows Presentation Foundation applications (such as those created by using Expression Blend), pixels refer to device-independent pixels or device-independent units that are equivalent to the size of a pixel on a monitor that is set to a screen resolution of 96 dots per inch. Each unit is approximately 1/96 inch, regardless of monitor size or screen resolution.

To add a bitmap effect to an object

1. Select the object to which you want to apply a bitmap effect.
2. In the Properties panel, under Appearance, click the arrow next to the dropdown list for the BitmapEffect property and select one of the following options:
   • Blur  To simulate looking at an object through an out-of-focus lens.
   • Outer Glow  To create a halo of color around the perimeter of an object.
   • Drop Shadow  To create a shadow behind an object.
   • Bevel  To create a bevel that raises the surface of an image according to a specified curve.
   • Emboss  To create a bump mapping of a visual to give the impression of depth and texture from an artificial light source.
3. To change the appearance of the selected bitmap effect, modify the set of child properties that appear under the BitmapEffect property.

If you select a new bitmap effect, it will replace the previous bitmap effect.

To add multiple bitmap effects to an object

1. Select the object to which you want to apply a bitmap effect.
2. In the Properties panel, under Appearance, click the arrow next to the drop-down list for the BitmapEffect property and select BitmapEffect Group.
   A container named Children appears under the BitmapEffect property.
3. Click the Edit items in this collection button next to the Children sub-property.
   The Bitmap Effect Collection Editor dialog box appears.
4. Under Items, click the Add another item button.
   The Select Object dialog box appears.
5. Expand the System.Windows.Media.Effects node, and select one of the following bitmap effects from the list that appears.
   • BlurBitmapEffect  To simulate looking at an object through an out-of-focus lens.
   • OuterGlowBitmapEffect  To create a halo of color around the perimeter of an object.
   • DropShadowBitmapEffect  To create a shadow behind an object.
   • BevelBitmapEffect  To create a bevel that raises the surface of an image according to a specified curve.
   • EmbossBitmapEffect  To create a bump mapping of a visual to give the impression of depth and texture from an artificial light source.
6. Click OK.
   The selected bitmap effect is added to the Bitmap Effect Collection Editor under Items. You can modify the properties of the selected bitmap effect under Properties.
7. To add more types of bitmap effects, click the Add another item button again and repeat the steps.
   The appearance of the object is updated on the artboard as you add bitmap effects and modify their properties.
8. When you finish adding bitmap effects, click OK to close the Bitmap Effect Collection Editor.

If you want to modify the collection again, click the Edit items in this collection button next to the Children sub-property of the BitmapEffect property. Do not click the New button next to the BitmapEffect property unless you want to replace the existing collection.