6.0 Slice Tools
Used for dividing
images into independent areas
Found at # 19 in the Toolbar diagram at left
The slice select tool is hidden under the slice tool. To
access it, click on the slice tool, and choose it from the menu that appears.
The letter K, shown to the right of the tool name, is its keyboard shortcut.
The slice tool is used to cut images into rectangular sections which are saved as separate files. Slices are used because they allow Web pages to load more quickly, and so that the individual slices can have different optimization settings, or be used as links. A small portion of a large image will load quickly, and can be viewed while the remaining image slices are being downloaded to complete the picture. Sliced images are recreated seamlessly, without misalignment or edges showing.
There are four types of slices. User-slices are those created with the slice tool, by dragging in the image much like you would with the rectangular marquee tool. Layer-based slices consist of a rectangular section that encompasses all the pixels on a layer designated as a slice layer. To make a layer a slice layer, choose Layer > New Layer Based Slice.
Auto-slices are generated automatically to cover any areas left over in the image after user-slices, and layer-based slices have been made. Auto-slices are recreated each time you change the user or layer-based slices. A sub-slice is created when user, or layer-based slices overlap. The overlapping portion will constitute the sub-slice. Like auto-slices, they are automatically made, and remade every time you change the user, or layer-based slices.
Both user, and layer-based slices are outlined by a solid line in the image. Auto slices, and subslices are bounded by dotted lines, and cannot be edited manually. User, layer-based, and auto slices can be selected with the slice select tool. Subslices cannot be selected.
Layer-based slices are useful for making rollovers as you can show or hide the layer using the Layer palette controls, and apply layer effects. If any pixels are added to a layer defined as a slice layer, the rectangular slice outline is regenerated to encompass the new pixels.
User slices can be moved and resized. To move a slice, select the slice with the slice select tool, and then place the pointer within the slice and drag. To resize, drag a side, or coner handle.
Slices are numbered from left to right, and then top to bottom. The numbers are regenerated if slices are rearranged. To view or hide slice outlines and numbers, choose View > Show, and select Slices from the menu.
Layer-based, and auto slices can be changed into user slices by selecting the slice, and choosing Promote to User Slice in the select slice tool's optionbar menu (see below).
The top image shown below, is the slice tool's options bar. The Style box allows you to choose how a slice may be drawn (see section below this). The Line Color menu allows you to select the color that the user-slices will be outlined in. If you are creating slices on a light blue image, a light blue outline would not show up.
The second illustration below shows the select slice tool's options bar (shown at slightly larger scale). The four icons just right of the tool's icon will change the stacking order of the selected slice, if it overlaps other slices. From left to right, they are Bring to Front, Bring Forward, Send Backward, and Send to Back. The Promote to User Slice will change a selected layer-based slice, or auto slice to a user-slice.
The image to the left, below is the menu from the slice tool's options bar. A setting of Normal will allow slices to be created by dragging in the same manner that rectangular selections are dragged with the rectangular marquee tool. Constrained Aspect Ratio means you can set, for example 1 to 1 which would only allow square slices to be made. Fixed Size will create slices of a designated size when the slice tool is clicked on the image.
On the right, is the dialog box which appears when you click on the Slice Options button in the slice selection tool's options bar. Data entered can be used to make a slice into a link.
Photoshop Tips | 6.0
Palettes | Effects
Links | FreePhotos | Animal Rights
Table of Contents | www.arraich.com
jay@arraich.com