Slicing images

Image slicing lets you load a large image on a webpage one piece at a time by cutting it into several smaller files. The resulting files, or slices, can be for viewing only or can be clickable.

Slices can only be rectangular. If you want to create clickable areas in other shapes, you can use an image map instead. For more information about image maps, see Creating image maps.

Creating slice grids

To slice an image, you must first create a slice grid by placing horizontal and vertical slice lines on the image. You can create the slice grid automatically based on the placement of objects in an image, or create equal slices based on the number of columns and rows you specify. You can also import or export slice grids.

The slice grid creates an overlay in the image window. You can still access other features while you work on a sliced image. You also can hide the slice grid and overlay.

Naming and exporting slices

Once you have sliced an image, you can specify a filename. Individual slices can also be exported to different file formats and optimized separately. The default settings are applied to any slices that are not given specific properties. Slices that are not named are automatically given names based on their row and column location in the slice grid. For example, in a sliced image named "banner", the slice in the first row and the first column is called "banner_r1c1".

An image slice can also be a rollover. For more information about creating and editing rollovers, see Creating and editing rollovers.

This sliced image features rollover buttons and slices with text that have been optimized separately. The green lines indicate the slice grid.

Erasing slices

Once slice lines have been added, they can be moved or erased. To remove part of a slice line, you can select and merge adjacent slices. You can also remove the entire slice grid all at once. When you erase a slice line, you create one slice out of multiple slices. As a result, you lose the settings applied to the separate slices; the new, larger slice assumes the default settings.

Exporting sliced images

When you finish slicing an image, you must export it. During export, Corel PHOTO-PAINT creates a folder containing the image slices.

If you already exported a sliced image, and opened it again to modify it, you can choose to export only the image slices.

Optimizing sliced images

You can optimize a sliced image from the Image slicing docker or when you export the image. You cannot specify settings for individual slices at this stage. You can also choose to optimize the whole image and drop all slices and their settings. For more information about optimizing images for the web, see Exporting images for the web.

To slice an image

1 .	Click the Image slicing tool .

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Vertical slice button — lets you add a single vertical slice line by clicking the image

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Horizontal slice button — lets you add a single horizontal slice line by clicking the image

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Auto-slice button — lets you slice an entire image based on the placement of objects

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Equal slice button — lets you cut the image into equal-size slices by specifying the number of rows and columns

3 .	Click the Select slice button on the property bar.

You can also
Optimize a slice	Select a slice, and in the Image slicing docker, click Advanced, and adjust the file format settings.
Import a slice grid	Click the flyout arrow , and click Import slice grid.
Export a slice grid to use on another image	Click the flyout arrow , and click Export slice grid.
Save the file format settings you specify as a preset	Click the flyout arrow , and click Save preset.

If you want to select multiple slices, hold down Shift, and click the slices.

To switch between the Horizontal slice and Vertical slice buttons, press Shift.

To display or hide the slice overlay and grid

•	Click View Slice grid.

You cannot choose to display or hide the slice grid when the Image slicing tool is selected. When the slice tool is selected, the slice grid is always displayed.

To erase an image slice line

1 .	Click the Image slicing tool .

2 .	Click the Erase line button on the property bar.

If you want to erase all slices, click the Erase line button on the property bar.

When a slice line is erased, the new combined slice reverts to the default settings. Any settings that were applied to the individual slices are lost.

To export a sliced image

If the Slices option is not enabled, the slices and all settings assigned in the Image slicing docker will not be applied to the exported image. If you choose not to apply the slices and settings, you can choose a file format to apply to the whole image from the Save as type list box.

If you have not used a web-compatible filename, it is automatically corrected during export. If you have inadvertently duplicated a filename, this is also automatically corrected.

If you want to export only the image slices, enable the Image only option.

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