title: How to transform a XAML/WPF file to a video (AVI, WMV, etc.)
body: <p>I have a simple WPF (XAML) file that has some animated shapes and text. The animation has no interactive behavior. I want to record this animation as a video file that I later intend to use as the "intro" screen to a screencast.</p>
  
  <p>What I think I need: C# code that takes an input XAML file and spits out a high quality WMV at (for example at 24fps).</p>
  
  <h1>Possible alternatives I have investigated already</h1>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Record with screen recording software like Camtasia Studio. This works but the animations are not as smooth especially when the animation has a lot of transitions or movement</p></li>
  <li><p>Use hardware like DVI2USB by Epiphan Systems. Costs too much; haven't tried it.</p></li>
  <li><p>Record TV output (S-Video, etc.) using a DVR Card - Low quality and low-resolution.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <h1>Update on Oct 28 2008 - working source code</h1>
  
  <p>This blog post has a full working source code example of exporting WPF/XAML as an AVI. It's not as fast as I would like but it works for my needs:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/saveenr/archive/2008/09/22/wpf-xaml-saving-an-animation-as-an-avi-video-file.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">link to MSDN blog bost</a></p>