Question

I would like a reusable function that simply does a BlurEffect on any particular valid Control type.

e.g.

var animation = new DoubleAnimation
{ 
   From = 0,
   To = 8,
   Duration = new TimeSpan(0, 0, 0, 2),
   AutoReverse = true
};
control.Effect = new BlurEffect();
// How to cycle the From and To on the Blur Radius?

I am uncertain how to dynamically create an animation in code behind to make this possible.

Answer 1

This article shows how to define an animation and story board in code.

You’d need to add the BlurEffect and use RadiusProperty of blureffect instead of RotateTransform.AngleProperty like this:

control.Effect.BeginAnimation(Blureffect.RadiusProperty, animation);

-edit-

I see now that you’re using Silverlight, not wpf (where Effect implements IAnimatable)
i’ll try and find a solution for silverlight

-edit2-

Have you seen/tried this? Msdn also has a sample for silverlight

-edit3-

Your direction got me towards the right answer which is as follows:

private void BlurSomething(FrameworkElement control)
        {
            var storyboard = new Storyboard();
            var animation = new DoubleAnimation
            {
                From = 0,
                To = 8,
                Duration = new TimeSpan(0, 0, 0, 1, 0),
                AutoReverse = true
            };
            var effect = new BlurEffect();
            control.Effect = effect;
            storyboard.Children.Add(animation);
            Storyboard.SetTarget(storyboard, control.Effect);
            Storyboard.SetTargetProperty(storyboard, new PropertyPath("Radius"));
            storyboard.Begin();
        }

It should be noted that Silverlight does not make animations as easy as WPF, but in the end this can be done.