What tools are there to slice a PSD?

Question

I regularly slice web designs provided in PSD format. As a site-builder, I don't need to create graphics—I only rearrange the layers, hide ones and show others, pick colors, widths, heights, and so on. What tools are there to do that job?

I know Adobe Photoshop, but it's a very expensive tool for a site-builder who doesn't want to draw and have the many fancy features, but open the PSD dependably (GIMP mostly fails at this point unfortunately), and slice it to build the website template. There are lots of image viewers can open PSD files, I know, but those application are not what I'm looking for—I haven't found one allows me to deal with layers.

Answer 1

There is Paint.NET which is getting better over time. You can open PSD files with a plug-in.

Plugin: http://customblogging.blogspot.com/2007/06/open-psd-files-withpaint-net.html

Paint.NET http://www.getpaint.net/

Answer 2

Adobe Imageready used to come with Photoshop for slicing. That was replaced with Fireworks

Adobe has free trials of all their products ;)

Answer 3

I think the more affordable Fireworks can also work, in my experience however the only reliable way to open the PSD as the designer intended was using photoshop. Using other programs caused minor differences.

Answer 4

Try looking at Photoshop Elements. http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/

Answer 5

Have a look at Paint Shop Pro (http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1184951547051) - it handles PSDs quite well from what I remember and it's competitvely priced at arounf $80