Brush Strokes for Microsoft ® Expression ®

Brush strokes (for Microsoft ® / Creature House Expression ®)

Installation of brushesZip: Please extract the files from the zip file and place on the hard disk

The key files are SKS files (brush strokes files) Notice the files have been placed in the 'strokes' folderThe file structure here is for the earlier versionsof Expression.

If you are using Expression 3, please place the files in the Program Data folder

Brushes folder for Expression Either, depending on the version, place the files (*.SKS files) in a sub folder of Expression marked as strokes or in the c:\documents and settings\...\my application data\expression\strokes. It is not recommended that you place all the stroke files (SKS) in the strokes folder at one go, please place in the strokes folder as required (this depends on system resource and preference). I would suggest loading them into the strokes folder in small selections, perhaps building up your own favourites as well as themed sections for the brushes

You may also like to spread the strokes files out across multiple sub folders, if so desired such as 'strokes 1' 'strokes 2' .. or themed strokes sets

For Expression 3: C:\program data\Microsoft\Expression\Design\Strokes

Serial numberPlease store any serial numbers for future reference, updates, bonus brush strokes, and replace-ment CDs. Regularly adding new items on the graphicxtras.com site, there is also a new set of brush strokes planned for the upcoming release of Expression ™

Use brushes in ExpressionFor Expression Design 3, go to the Paintbrush tool

Now go to the properties dialog and select the brush dropdown. Change the width, opacity of the brush etc

For earlier versions of Expression, re-fireup Expression and go to the strokes palette and select the required brush folder or select ‘all’ and select the required brush.

Access via strokes palette Access the strokes files via the strokes palette. You will see a drop down at the bottom of the palette listing various folder. If you placed the strokes files into a folder marked 'graphicxtras' then you will see an entry in the dropdown marked 'graphicxtras'. Select that and then select the brush stroke

Default width for brushes All the brushes have their default width etc. this can be re-defined using the edit brush stroke if so desired.

Re-define brushes The brush strokes can be re-coloured or redefined in the edit brush stroke to perhaps be a repeat-ing brush stroke or twisted and transformed and then saved as a new brush stroke. Use the brush as is or simply select the brush and then select a color for the brush stroke. Change the brush strokes from red to green to blue and more

In Expression design 3, go to the bottom of the properties dialog and select the edit stroke com-mand

Apply brushes to text / pathsThe brushes can be applied to many different paths such as a square, circle, created paths and text.

Opacity / combination / new brush stroke Or perhaps add other brush strokes and combo and save or apply transparency settings to an exist-ing brush stroke and then save as a new brush stroke. Apply the brush strokes with varying opacity using the opacity slide on the paint style palette. The brush strokes are just the starting point for 1000s of possible creative brush effects

Export brush strokes Brush strokes can also be exported to other applications such as Flash by a simple copy and paste. You can also export them to Illustrator and Photoshop as well

Twists and brush strokes Brush strokes can also be tweaked and twisted (use the set twists to create variant brush effects on any of the brushes)

Paths Simply drag the brush stroke from the strokes palette or unstructure a brush stroke - instant path library of the 1000s and 1000s of royalty-free designs.

Trace bitmapsApply the brush strokes to traced bitmaps for stunning skeletal stroke designs.

Effects lines Use the brush strokes in effects line feature of Expression ™

PressureModify the width and application of the brush stroke using a pressure / artpad and pen

Frames / edgesUse the brush strokes as an edge or frame for a selected path, simply select the path and then apply the brush stroke

Blending modesApply the brush strokes using different blending modes via the paint style palette, such as darken or color dodge

TexturesApply the brush strokes with different textures via the paint style palette. Simply click the paper texture on / off button and add a texture to the brush stroke

Quick start1) Place the SKS brush files in the expression strokes folder. 2) Start Expression.3) Access the brush strokes via the expression brush strokes palette.4) Select the brush stroke tool5) Paint (modify stroke width in most cases.. as this setting might be too low or too high)

Installation issuesIf you have problems installing or using this product, please e-mail our support section at support@graphicxtras.com

Please note: Adding too many brushesOne issue may be overloading the brushes palette with 100s and 100s of brushes. It might be easier simply to leave the SKS files in a separate folder and just copy the files over as required.

CommentsIf you have any suggestions to how we can improve our products or manual, or if there is something that is hard to understand or badly stated, please contact us and we will try to correct any errors or misunderstandings in the next release of the manual. It is always great to hear your feedback.

System requirementsDepends on the pack. If the set is the collection set then Applications supported - Microsoft Expres-sion Design 3 2 + Creature House Expression ™ 2 and 3 and 3.3 + Acrylic + 2 LE Expression ™ Graphic Designer; with later packs, please check the individual product pages for the versions of Expression supported. Later packs were created using Graphic Designer or Design 3 and therefore might not work with earlier versions of the applications

Windows 98, NT, XP, Windows Vista ™ Windows 7 Windows ME, MAC OSX

Minimum requirementsAt least 128 MB of memory, though some operations might require a lot more.

TrademarksThe brushes were designed by Andrew Buckle, and copyright 2001-2010 Andrew Buckle and Abneil Software Ltd. All products mentioned in this manual are trademarked or probably trademarked by their respective owners. Creature House Expression is registered trademark of Microsoft. We have no connection whatsoever with Microsoft. Screenshots are shown with kind permission of Microsoft Corporation.

LicensePlease find the most up to date license for the use of the brush strokes on the graphicxtras TOU

Company address / contact details Telephone/FAX: UK 01622 688 375http://www.graphicxtras.comsupport@graphicxtras.com