PHOTOSHOP CS3
User Guide
509
A layer-based slice is updated when the source layer is modified.
Layer-based slices are less flexible than user slices; however, you can convert (“promote”) a layer-based slice to a user
slice. See “Convert auto and layer-based slices to user slices” on page 509.
1
Select a layer in the Layers palette.
2
Choose Layer > New Layer Based Slice.
Don’t use a layer-based slice when you plan to move the layer over a large area of the image during an animation,
because the slice dimension may exceed a useful size.
Convert auto and layer-based slices to user slices
A layer-based slice is tied to the pixel content of a layer, so the only way to move, combine, divide, resize, and align
it is to edit the layer—unless you convert it to a user slice.
All auto slices in an image are linked and share the same optimization settings. If you want to set different optimi-
zation settings for an auto slice, you need to promote it to a user slice.
1
Using the Slice Select tool, select one or more slices to convert.
2
Click Promote in the options bar.
You can promote an auto slice in the Save For Web & Devices dialog box by unlinking it. See “Work with slices in the
Save For Web & Devices dialog box” on page 527
View slices and slice options
You can view slices in Photoshop and the Save For Web & Devices dialog box. The following characteristics can help
you identify and differentiate between slices:
Slice lines
Define the boundary of the slice. Solid lines indicate that the slice is a user slice or layer-based slice; dotted
lines indicate that the slice is an auto slice.
Slice colors
Differentiate user slices and layer-based slices from auto slices. By default, user slices and layer-based
slices have blue symbols, and auto slices have gray symbols.
In addition, the Save For Web & Devices dialog box uses color adjustments to dim unselected slices. These adjust-
ments are for display purposes only and do not affect the color of the final image. By default, the color adjustment
for auto slices is twice the amount of that for user slices.
Slice numbers
Slices are numbered
from left to right and top to bottom, beginning in the upper left corner of the
image. If you change the arrangement or total number of slices, slice numbers are updated to reflect the new order.
