We've added some new download options for palettes:
Expression Design
WPF Resource Dictionary (Brushes)
XAML (for Silverlight and/or WPF) (Brushes)

These options will make it easier for our creative friends using Microsoft Expression tools to get the color love into their programs. The expression team has been giving us some great support lately and we look forward to more great creations like the Color Gadget soon.

Don't worry, we didn't remove the "Create a Pattern with this Palette" button... we just moved it under the palette. The red arrow below shows where it is now:


Thanks,
+D

Are you going to sell this site to M$?

I would love Microsoft to be a sponsor of this site. Obviously with my closer relationship I'm exploring ways we can work together. I have 0% interest in bailing on this community and selling to the highest bidder... I've always placed the best interest of the community over just making money. MSFT has a suite of creative products and some very interesting things they're working on. If they value this community and want to support it... I think that's great. Do you have any specific concerns with a major sponsorship?

Well yeah ... It's no secret that the company that's courting you has a long history of very negative behavior, from illegally shutting down competition to purposely making their software incompatible with open source solutions.

If they were to have a hand in this site it would be a real shame. I know you can't really speak your mind about this since you're employed by them now, but everyone else in the tech industry knows about how unsavory M$ is and how irresponsibly they've managed their role as a major technology provider.

FYI M$ doesn't just 'value communities and want to support them', they take them on in a strategic manner, and would be more than happy to give a guise of friendliness and support while simultaneously working you into selling out - in small ways at first, and bigger ones later.

They are underhanded as hell, please don't pretend this is news to you dude. You've made such a unique and interesting community here, you are capable of things most developers would never hope to reach - all without M$ help. Don't sell out to those guys!!

Wow, you feel very passionately about this. I obviously don't see things the way you do as I accepted a job to work with them on another project... and if I felt the way you do about Microsoft I never would have agreed to it. I'm not putting any spin on things, I'm not trying to trick any of you into swallowing something I don't honestly think would be good for this community. I appreciate your concerns.

i was also shocked this morning,when i was trying to locate the create pattern button. Then down beneath
i could locate the changes u have made

COLOURlover wrote:

Wow, you feel very passionately about this. I obviously don't see things the way you do as I accepted a job to work with them on another project... and if I felt the way you do about Microsoft I never would have agreed to it. I'm not putting any spin on things, I'm not trying to trick any of you into swallowing something I don't honestly think would be good for this community. I appreciate your concerns.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend_and_extinguish

Out of curiosity, are there any members on the site who use MS Expression?

I have used both Expression Design and Blend for work.

I am new to this and I have found a pattern that I love. Is there anyway of purchasing that pattern?

Thanks!

I'm really enjoying the process of selection and evaluating color schemes; not only my own, but of others as well. I'm finding it a little confusing to understand how to use the site. For instance, how do you get the irregular vertical stripes into your colour selections once you have selected a palette, and how do you find more information on how to use the tools? Does the colour groups send you an email when there is new ideas or information. Where can I find this info?
I would appreciate your help
Thanks

@echo1, you can create a palette with different widths by using the feature called COPASO, rather that the regular create palette function. You can find it on the top menu Palettes -> COPASO.

There's a group called Sharing the Love which contains loads of useful information on using the site. You can find it on the menu Forums -> Color Talk.