Chapter 7. Brushes, graphics, styles, and resources
This chapter covers
- Brushes and colors
- Resources and styles
- Vector graphics
- Images
The Windows 8 design aesthetic generally frowns on decoration and ornamentation (also referred to as “chrome”). That doesn’t mean that graphics have no role to play. In comparison to other versions of Windows, Windows 8 is far more graphically rich with a stronger focus on colorful touch-friendly shapes and vibrant imagery. Just take a look at the apps from the Windows Store or the apps that come preinstalled—you’ll find that they make extensive use of both bitmap and vector graphics.
When I first started working with Silverlight 1.0, we had the Canvas for the panel and some basic vector and bitmapped shapes for graphics. We had to build everything else on top of that. I remember I built buttons and combo boxes using only these most primitive building blocks, while walking uphill, barefoot in the snow, both ways!
Happily, we don’t need to re-create the wheel here; the controls have been created for us. But when you look at the controls and their templates in the next chapters, you’ll see they’re made up of panels, shapes, and other controls, which are ultimately made up of other panels and shapes. You’ll use the brushes to paint those controls as well as the text that’s so prevalent in Windows 8 apps.