There are several ways to slice an object or image. The most obvious use for the Slice Object command is to slice an object or image in half. You can also slice an object or image by placing another object on top and cutting the shape of the top object out of the bottom object. This is similar to a cookie cutter.

You can slice simple shapes, like circles, squares and polygons, but not grouped shapes.  You can also slice images such as JPG, TIF, GIF and BMP.

To slice an object or image in half , you must draw a line where you want the cut. The line is like a knife. After using the Slice Object command, the object becomes multiple objects.

When you use the "cookie cutter" slice, the object on top of the stack cuts into the objects below. What remains are the pieces of the object at the bottom of the stack.

You can use any simple shape to make a "cookie cutter" slice.  Try ungrouping some clipart to find interesting shapes that can be used with the slice tool.

After slicing, the sliced object may at first appear unchanged, but if you click away from the object and then back on the object, you can drag the two sections apart.

To slice an object using a line:

1. Click the Line tool  on the Insert toolbar, then click the Straight Line button .
2. Draw a line through the object you want to slice.
3. Select both the object and the line.
4. On the Tools menu, click Slice. The line disappears and the object is sliced into two separate objects.

To slice an object using a shape ("cookie cutter" method):

1. Draw the shape to use as a "knife."
2. Place the shape on top of the object you want to slice.
3. Select both the object you want to slice, as well as the object being used as a knife.
4. On the Tools menu, click Slice.

To automatically obtain the intersection of selected objects, press the asterisk (*) key.

To obtain the intersection of two objects

The intersection is the area where two objects overlap.

1. Draw the shape to use as a "knife."
2. Place the shape on top of the object you want to slice.
3. Select the objects.
4. Press the asterisk (*) key. The remaining piece is the intersection of the objects.

Tips

Use the Slice Objects command to "erase" part of an object. Slice the object, then delete the part you want to erase.

You can press the minus (-) key to slice an object.

Use Slice Object  on the Drawing toolbar to slice an object.

Slicing an Object's Line

When in the Edit Points or Edit Curves mode, you can slice an object's line as if you are cutting the line with scissors.

The Slice tool severs the line of an object. Slicing opens a closed object and creates two endpoints where the slice occurs. You can cut one line at a time.

You can use Slice from the edit points toolbar to slice a line.

You can also slice an object's line specifically at an anchor point. After you slice the line, the single anchor point becomes two anchor points that you can move separately.

To slice an object's line

1. Select the object.
2. Click Edit  on the Insert toolbar. The edit options menu appears.
3. Click Edit Points. The Reshape toolbar appears. Hollow anchor points appear on the selected object.
4. Click Slice  on the Reshape toolbar.
5. Move the pointer near the line you want to slice.
6. Click and drag across the line to be sliced.
7. Release the mouse button when you finish. A solid anchor point appears at the sliced location (this is actually two anchor points, one for each end of the slice).
8. Drag the anchor point to move the endpoint of one of the slices. Moving the endpoint of one of the slices makes the endpoint for the other slice visible.
9. Press ESC or double-click the left mouse button away from the object when you finish editing.

To slice an object's line at an anchor point

1. Select the object.
2. Click Edit  on the Insert toolbar. The edit options menu appears.
3. Click Edit Points. The Reshape toolbar appears. Hollow anchor points appear on the selected object.
4. Click the anchor point you want to slice. It turns solid.
5. Click Slice  on the Reshape toolbar. The line is severed at the anchor point.
6. Drag the anchor point to move the endpoint of one of the slices. Moving the endpoint of one of the slices makes the endpoint for the other slice visible.
7. Press ESC or double-click the left mouse button away from the object when you finish editing.