Fireworks Topic 11
Image Slicing
Topics covered:
What is slicing and why use slicing?
Slicing is the process of cutting up an image into pieces to be loaded
onto a web page...Slicing creates several files, an html file that contains
a table holding all the slices and a number of image files that are held
within the table.
Slicing is good to use for the following reasons:
Large graphics can be loaded a piece at a time making the wait time
more tolerable for the viewer.
Slices can be used when part of graphic needs to be changed sometimes
like a holiday site.
Sliced images generally appear to load faster. Some web servers can
send several images at the same time. This may be faster and will certainly
give the illusion that it is faster.
With slicing you can save the pieces in different file formats to achieve
greater optimization.
Slices make it possible to embed rollovers within a larger image.
How to Slice.
Rulers - for square areas. Click on View, Rulers. Drag a slice guide from
the ruler onto the image.
Click on File, Export, Select: Save as Type HTML and images, Select: Slices,
Slice Along Guides.
Rectangular Slice Tool & Polygon Slice Tool
The slice tool can be used to create either rectangular or polygonal
slices. Polygonal slices require multiple rectangular slices and are resource
hogs.
Setting Slice Options
Window, Object
Select the slice object
Add a link to the Object box that says "no url". Be sure to
include http://.
Add alt text and target if desired.
Optimizing Slice Objects
Select one or more slices.
Use the optimize panel to choose the type of file format for the slice.
To optimize the non slice area (or empty area) make sure nothing is selected,
then optimize the image. This will optimize only the unoptimized/unsliced
areas.
Exporting Slice Objects
Click File, Export.
Give the file a name.
Select: Save as Type HTML and images,
Select: Slices, Export Slices.
Click on Save. You will have several files on the hard drive, the html file,
and the image files.