Slicing cuts up a Fireworks document into smaller pieces and exports each piece as a separate file. Upon export, Fireworks also creates an HTML file containing table code to reassemble the graphic in a browser.

This is a picture of the feature being described.

Slicing cuts a document into multiple pieces, which are exported as separate files.

Slicing an image has at least three major advantages:

Optimizing One challenge of web graphic design is ensuring that images download quickly without sacrificing quality. Slicing enables you to optimize each individual slice using the most appropriate file format and compression settings. For more information, see Optimizing and Exporting.

Interactivity You can use slices to create areas that respond to mouse events. For information on attaching interactivity to slices, see Making slices interactive.

Updating parts of a web page Slicing allows you to easily update parts of a web page that change frequently. For example, your company's web page might have an employee-of-the-month section that changes monthly. Slicing enables you to quickly change just the employee's name and photo without replacing the entire page.