Automating The Workflow; Slicing Web Pages; Slice Types - Adobe PHOTOSHOP CS2 User Manual

Automating the workflow

Photoshop and ImageReady have a robust system for automating repetitive tasks. For example, ImageReady droplets
allow designers to quickly convert a batch of images into a web-ready format.

Slicing web pages

A slice is a rectangular area of an image that you can use to create links, rollovers, and animations in the associated
web page. Dividing an image into slices gives you better control over the function and file size of your image.
You use slices to divide a source image into functional areas. When you save both the image and an HTML file, each
slice is saved as an independent file with its own settings and color palette, and the proper links, rollover effects, and
animation effects are preserved.
Slices are also useful when you work with images that contain different types of data. For example, if you want to
animate one area of an image (requiring GIF format) but want to optimize the rest of the image in JPEG format, you
can isolate the animation using a slice.
Web page divided into slices with a highlighted rollover slice
When you work with slices, keep these basics in mind:
You can create a slice by using the Slice tool or by creating layer-based slices.
•
• After you create a slice, you can select it using the Slice Select tool
other slices.
You can set options for each slice—such as content type, name, and URL—in the Slice Options dialog box
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(Photoshop) or the Slice palette (ImageReady).

Slice types

Slices are categorized by their content type (auto, image, no-image, table) and by the way they are created (user, layer­
based).
Slices created with the Slice tool are called user slices; slices based on the content of a layer are called layer-based slices.
When you create a new user slice or layer-based slice, additional auto slices are generated to account for the remaining
areas of the image. In other words, auto slices fill the space in the image that is not defined by user slices or layer­
based slices. Auto slices are regenerated every time you add or edit user slices or layer-based slices. You can convert
auto slices to user slices. Table slices contain nested tables.
and then move it, resize it, or align it with
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