In normal operation, EZRound does all the calculations and slicing for you. This is a fully automatic process that is designed to produce the smallest image slices possible and still be easy to use. In previous versions of EZRound all slices were the same size so that padding and spacing in your HTML tables is not an issue.
In Version 2.0 of EZRound we introduce "Smart Slicing". Our new slice engine will analyze each corner of the design and select the smallest possible slice that will still allow the design to work as planned. Every element of the EZRound design (shape, corners, shadows, padding and even the direction of the shadow) is taken into consideration.
On some designs you would not see a big difference, but on others the different would be striking.
A note about the minimum slice size setting.
In Version 2.0 we added a new setting on the Smart Slice screen that allows you to set the minimum slice size. The program default is 5px. You could reduce this all the way down to 1px, but in some graphic mode web design programs you might have trouble selecting that cell to stretch your design. You can change the setting to suit your needs and save it as the default value to be used for future designs. You can also reset it to the program defaults.
Smart Slicing means that for designs created in EZRound, there is really no reason to custom slice.
Custom Slicing
If you are using design graphics created in another program, or if there is some reason that you need to be able to manually control your slices, then EZRound allows you to do this. To use manual control of the slicing, select the Custom icon.
From this point forward, there are two ways to do manual slicing - the easy way or the hard way.
The easy way to custom slice is to make sure the box is checked that says: "Make all slices this size" and enter a size in the box (or use the spin controls). As the size changes, EZRound will redraw the slice lines for you. To slice the image for best optimization, you want to look at the largest corner of the image and adjust the size out until it is all enclosed in a corner slice box. All other slices will be the same size and your image will be easy to use.
The hard way to custom slice is to uncheck that box and use the individual line control boxes to position the slice lines. Just keep in mind that EZRound is going to slice nine sections of the image.
You can check the "Show slices only" box and you will see the results as you change the settings.
When you are satisfied with your slice design, check the box marked: "Use custom slicing for this design" and EZRound will use the slice configuration that you have configured. All slices will be created and the HTML written according to your settings.
If you are custom slicing a EZRound design image, there is a button to reset the settings to those calculated by the designer.
