OK, for those of you who have already started working with WPF here are a few helpers that might prove to be helpful in creating some killer windows apps to run on .NET Framework 3.0.

http://blogs.msdn.com/mswanson/artic...dControls.aspx

The tools include
Expression Blend by Microsoft

Formerly known as Expression Interactive Designer (and "Sparkle"), this application allows you to build next-generation user experiences that take advantage of WPF. Expression Interactive Designer supports vectors, pixel images, 3D content, video and audio, high quality text, and animation.

Expression Design by Microsoft

Expression Design is primarily an application that is used to author graphic content using both bitmaps and vectors. Its powerful XAML export capabilities make it a natural fit for creating assets that can be incorporated into other XAML tools like Expression Blend.


Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for .NET Framework 3.0 (WCF & WPF) by Microsoft

Includes Intellisense, project templates, and "Cider," a visual designer that provides developers with support for building WPF applications using Visual Studio 2005. Think of it as the Visual Studio Windows Forms or Web Forms design experience but for WPF.

Aurora by MOBIFORM Software

Aurora is a visual designer that produces XAML documents for WPF development. It's more than a drawing or painting program and can be used as a standalone application, a plug-in for software applications, or used seamlessly inside of Visual Studio.


ZAM 3D by Electric Rain


ZAM 3D provides developers and designers with a quick and easy solution for creating 3D interface elements for WPF-based applications. It also works as a 3ds-to-XAML and dxf-to-XAML converter.


Maya To XAML by Thomas Goddard

A plug-that allows designers to create 3D user interfaces in Maya and export them to XAML. Currently supports the export of models and textures. Future capabilities will include the export of animation, cameras, and lighting.


Xaml Export Script for Blender by Daniel Lehenbauer
A script that exports model and texture data from Blender (an open source 3D graphics tool) to XAML files that can be dynamically loaded or compiled into a WPF application.


Online Converter from 3ds to XAML by Andrej Benedik
Upload a 3ds file and get a converted XAML file in return.

Adobe Fireworks to WPF/XAML Exporter
A free extension that installs a custom panel within Fireworks. It copies XAML directly to the clipboard for anything that is selected on the stage.


Adobe Illustrator to WPF/XAML Export Plug-In by Mike Swanson
A freely-available plug-in that adds XAML as an export format from within Adobe Illustrator.


LightWave to XAML Converter
Upload a 200K-or-less LightWave 3D file (.lwo) and get back XAML that retains geometry, textures, and animation.

XamlXporter for Illustrator by Pavan Podila

A C# script that uses the Illustrator CS2 COM Type Library to export artwork in WPF/XAML format. Details here.

SWF2XAML: A Flash to XAML Conversion Tool by Mike Swanson

Converts Adobe/Macromedia Flash/SWF files to XAML. Current version supports shape conversion only (no animation or ActionScript).