Slices let you export a part of your artwork instead of the whole piece. When you export slices, each slice is exported to an individual file or set of files. For example:
If you export a slice as a JPEG, a single .jpg file is created.
If you export a slice as a XAML WPF Drawing Brush, a XAML Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) resource dictionary document is created, together with a subfolder that contains the slice in PNG format. The drawing brush resource references the PNG file.
You can create different export settings for each slice. You can even duplicate slices to export the same objects using different file formats. The Format export property determines the format of the exported file or files. Depending on the Format setting, you also have the option of selecting a container file. For example:
If you want to export slices as XAML WPF Drawing Brush resources that are all referenced from a single file, you can select the XAML WPF Resource Dictionary container. The result is a single resource dictionary that you can import into a Microsoft Expression Blend 2 project. All subfolders that support the brush resources in the resource dictionary are also imported. The other container types are not compatible.
If you want to export slices as image files that are referenced in a single HTML file, you can select the HTML & Images container. The result is a single HTML file that displays all the slices by defining style classes that display the images and then setting the classes on empty HTML <div> tags so that the images display in the file. Other container types are compatible with most image file formats.
If you do not select a container, each slice is exported into an individual file or set of files. For example, if you export slices as XAML WPF Drawing Brush resources but do not select a container, each slice generates a resource dictionary document and supporting files.
If you do select a container, and the Format setting for a slice is incompatible with that container, a warning icon appears in the slice to let you know. You can then decide whether you want to change the container type or change the export format of the slice.
A slice, configured to export as a XAML Silverlight Canvas, is incompatible with the XAML WPF Resource Dictionary container
Container types and compatible formats
The following is a list of container types and the compatible formats of the slices that can be exported in that container:
Container type
Compatible slice formats
XAML Silverlight Canvas
XAML Silverlight Canvas The slice is exported as a child canvas object in the Silverlight canvas container document.
PNG The slice is exported as a .png file that is referenced as an Image object in the canvas container document.
JPEG The slice is exported as a .jpg file that is referenced as an Image object in the canvas container document.
XAML WPF Resource Dictionary
XAML WPF Drawing Brush The slice is exported as a drawing brush resource in the resource dictionary document.
PNG The slice is exported as an image brush resource in the resource dictionary document, and the exported .png file is stored in a subfolder in the same location as the resource dictionary.
JPEG The slice is exported as an image brush resource in the resource dictionary document, and the exported .jpg file is stored in a subfolder in the same location as the resource dictionary.
GIF The slice is exported as an image brush resource in the resource dictionary document, and the exported .gif file is stored in a subfolder in the same location as the resource dictionary.
TIFF The slice is exported as an image brush resource in the resource dictionary document, and the exported .tif file is stored in a subfolder in the same location as the resource dictionary.
BMP The slice is exported as an image brush resource in the resource dictionary document, and the exported .bmp file is stored in a subfolder in the same location as the resource dictionary.
XAML WPF Canvas
XAML WPF Drawing Brush The slice is exported as a drawing brush resource that is defined locally in the XAML WPF canvas document. Only the objects in the XAML WPF canvas document can have the brush resource applied to them.
XAML WPF Canvas The slice is exported as a child canvas object in the WPF canvas container document.
PNG The slice is exported as a .png file that is referenced as an Image object in the canvas container document.
JPEG The slice is exported as a .jpg file that is referenced as an Image object in the canvas container document.
GIF The slice is exported as a .gif file that is referenced as an Image object in the canvas container document.
TIFF The slice is exported as a .tif file that is referenced as an Image object in the canvas container document.
BMP The slice is exported as a .bmp file that is referenced as an Image object in the canvas container document.
HTML & Images
XAML Silverlight Canvas The slice is exported as a XAML Silverlight canvas document, and a .png version of the slice is stored in a subfolder in the same location as the canvas document. Additionally, a Silverlight.js helper file is created so that you can open the destination folder as a Silverlight 1.0 project in Expression Blend 2. The HTML container file will be the startup file for the Silverlight 1.0 application.
PNG The slice is exported as a .png file that is referenced in the HTML container file in a style class that is set on an empty DIV tag.
JPEG The slice is exported as a .jpg file that is referenced in the HTML container file in a style class that is set on an empty DIV tag.
GIF The slice is exported as a .gif file that is referenced in the HTML container file in a style class that is set on an empty DIV tag.
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