View and edit Slice properties

Last updated on Oct 10, 2026

Learn how to use the Slice Options dialog box to configure slice names, links, content types, and metadata in Adobe Photoshop.

Use the Slice Options dialog box to configure slice names, content types, hyperlinks, and background colors for HTML export.

Open the Slice Options dialog box

Select the Slice Select tool from the toolbar.

Double-click any slice to open the Slice Options dialog box.

Tip

You can also select a slice and select the Slice Options icon from the options bar.

Rename a slice

Select the Slice Select tool and double-click a slice.

Enter a name in the Name box.

Select OK.

Renaming slices based on their content makes exported files easier to identify and manage. By default, user slices are named according to settings in the Output Settings dialog box.

Note

The Name box is unavailable for No Image slice types.

Change the slice content type

Select the Slice Select tool and double-click a slice.

Select the Slice Type menu, and then select Image for slices containing image data or No Image for empty HTML table cells.

Select OK.

Image slices contain image data and are the default content type. No Image slices create empty HTML table cells that can be populated with HTML text or solid colors when exported.

Note

Editing an auto slice converts it to a user slice.

Add URL links and target frames

Select an image slice with the Slice Select tool and double-click it.

In the URL box, enter a relative or absolute URL. Include the protocol (http:// or https://) for absolute URLs.

In the Target box, enter a frame name to control where the link opens: _blank for a new window, _self for the same frame, _parent for the parent frameset, or _top to remove all frames.

Select OK.

The entire slice area becomes clickable in web browsers.

Note

This option is available only for Image slices and appears in exported HTML files.

Set a background color

Select an image slice with the Slice Select tool and double-click a slice.

Select a background color from the Background Color menu: choose None, Matte, White, Black, or Other to use the Color Picker tool.

Select OK.

Note

Background colors can be applied to both Image and No Image slices.

Photoshop does not display the selected background color in the document window—preview the image in a web browser to see the result.

Add browser messages and Alt text

Enter descriptive text in the Message Text box to display in the browser's status bar when users hover over the slice.

Enter alternative text in the Alt Tag box to describe the image for screen readers and browsers that don't display images.

Select OK.

Note

Many modern browsers ignore custom status bar messages.

Tip

You can control slice visibility and appearance through Photoshop preferences:

To toggle slice boundaries, select View > Show > Slices.

To show or hide slice numbers, select Edit > Preferences > Guides, Grid & Slices (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences > Guides, Grid & Slices (macOS), then select Show Slice Numbers.

To change slice line colors, select a color in the Slice Lines.

Understand slice types and indicators

Photoshop displays visual indicators to help you identify different slice types:

Slice boundaries

Indicator	Meaning
Solid lines	User slices or layer-based slices
Dotted lines	Auto slices

Slice colors and badges

Indicator	Meaning
Blue icon	User slice
Blue icon with No Image	No Image slice
Layer badge	Layer-based slice
Gray icon	Auto slice

Slice numbering

Slices are numbered from left to right and top to bottom, starting in the upper-left corner. If you rearrange or modify slices, numbering updates automatically to reflect the new order.

Subslices

Photoshop creates subslices (a type of auto slice) when slices overlap. Subslices cannot be selected or edited independently.

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