How To Use The Slice Tool In Design Space

Slice is one of my favorite tools in Design Space! I use it all the time. If you don't know how to use slice yet, then you're in the right spot. It's super simple to learn! First we will walk through the basics of slice and then I'll show you how to slice an image with an imageand then text with text.

What is the slice tool?

In a nutshell, slice allows you to cut one image out of another. The slicetool splits two overlapping images or text into different parts. Slice creates new cut paths from two images, resulting in three or more completely new shapes. Each of the new shapes will show up in the layers panel as an individual layer.

Tips & Tricks for Working with Slice:

You can use the Slice tool to cut out a shape from another shape, cut overlapping shapes from one another, or to cut text from a shape.
When using Slice with images, you can only work with two layers at one time.
If you are using a multilayered image, you can either hide or ungroup the other layers to activate the Slice tool.
When the Slice function is performed with hidden layers, all hidden layers will be removed from the design screen and the Layers panel.
If you would like to use those image layers with your project, ungroup before using the Slice tool.

How to Slice Two Images

Step One: Add two single layer images to your canvas

The first thing we are going to do is add two images to our canvas. It's important to note that these need to besingle-layered images. You can only slice two images at a time. A single-layer image will be one color. You can also see in the layers panel on the right-hand side of the canvas that there is just one layer for each design. Here's an example of a multi-layered image:

See how this design has multiple colors? In Design Space, this means there are multiple layers. You can also see in the layers panel that the colors are separated into their individual layers, so there are four layers to this design. Note: if you welded this image together (weld is another tool in Design Space) and made it a single layer, then you could slice it with another image. It's just important to know you need your images to besingle-layered imagesin order to slice.

Alright, let's move forward! As you can see on the canvas, I added a heart and star onto it. I found these by clicking on "Shapes", where you can see the arrow point too (in the first image). You can also search for images by uploading your own or clicking on "Images" in the same panel and searching through all of the images there.

Step Two: Overlap your images

Now we are going to place our two images on top of each other. I put my star on top of the circle in the center. You can put your images anywhere— just put it where you want it to cut out!

Step Three: Highlight both images

Next, highlight both of your images! You can simply click and drag to highlight them both. You can also click on them one at a time while you're holding down command on your Mac or Shift on your Windows computer.A bounding box will appear around both images, and the individual layers will be highlighted in the Layers panel. Once two layers are selected, the Slice tool will become active.

If you're on a phone or tablet, select both images by tapping on the screen and dragging a selection box around both layers. Then tap on the Actions button at the bottom of the screen to see that the Slice option is available.

Step Four: Click slice

Now we slice! With both images select, click on slice in the bottom right-hand corner.

Step five: Reveal your work!

Once you hit the slice button, it will appear as if nothing has happened. However, start to drag the star away and you'll notice that there are now two stars (one for each layer *this only happens on a computer) and your heart with a cut-out star! You can see your three layers in the layer panel as well. You can either hide or delete the stars.

It's that simple! You can also do this with text too, it would look like this—

How to Slice Text/Image

Step One: Add your image and text to the canvas

Step Two: Overlap your text/image

Step Three: Slice away!

That's how easy it is to slice! It's a great tool to manipulate images and get the exact designs you're looking for. Happy making!

-Courteney

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