Product Discontinued · MacRabbit shut down operations and Slicy is no longer maintained. Adobe has since integrated similar functionality into Photoshop through Generator and improved export tools.
Recommended alternatives: Photoshop Generator, Photoshop Export As, Sketch Export
Slicy for Designers: Automated PSD Layer Export for Web and Apps
Mac app that automatically exported Photoshop layer groups as images based on naming conventions
Slicy was a Mac app that automated the tedious process of exporting Photoshop layers as image files. Name a layer group like “button.png” and Slicy extracted it automatically, complete with transparency and proper dimensions. The appeal was speed: no more manual “Save for Web,” no flattening layers, no export fatigue. Slicy peaked when Photoshop was the primary UI design tool (2010-2015) but became obsolete when Adobe built similar features into Photoshop.
Key Specs
| Price | Paid (pricing varied; no longer available) |
| Platform | Mac only; required Photoshop CS6+ |
| Best for | Batch exporting PSD layers for web/iOS/Android |
| Learning curve | 10 minutes to learn naming conventions |
How Designers Use Slicy
For Web Asset Extraction
Design a full web page in Photoshop with buttons, icons, and backgrounds as separate layer groups. Name them “header-bg.jpg,” “button-submit.png,” “icon-search.svg.” Drop the PSD onto Slicy and it exports all named layers instantly. No manual slicing or flattening required.
For iOS and Android App Assets
Create UI elements at 2x Retina resolution. Name layers “icon@2x.png” and Slicy exports both 2x and 1x versions automatically, scaling vectors and layer styles correctly. This saved hours when apps needed multiple resolution sets.
For Rapid Iteration on Mockups
Update a button color in Photoshop, save, and Slicy re-exports automatically if watching the file. Developers could link to the export folder and always have current assets. Faster than manually exporting after each change.
Slicy vs. Modern Alternatives
| Feature | Slicy | Photoshop Generator | Photoshop Export As | Sketch/Figma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Mac (discontinued) | Photoshop CC+ | Photoshop CC+ | Mac/Browser |
| Price | Paid | Free (built-in) | Free (built-in) | Free tier |
| Auto-export on save | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Manual | ⚠️ On demand |
| Multiple resolutions | ✅ @2x syntax | ✅ Prefix/suffix | ✅ Manual | ✅ Export presets |
| Vector scaling | ✅ Good | ✅ Good | ✅ Good | ✅ Excellent |
| Naming required | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Choose Photoshop Generator if: You still design in Photoshop and want Slicy-like functionality for free.
Choose Export As if: You prefer manual control over batch exports and don’t want to rename layers.
Choose Sketch/Figma if: You’ve moved past Photoshop and want modern tools with better export workflows.
Getting Started with Slicy
These instructions are historical since Slicy is discontinued:
Step 1: Name layer groups with export syntax
In Photoshop, rename layer groups to match desired filenames. Use “button.png” for PNG with transparency, “background.jpg80” for JPEG at 80% quality, or “icon@2x.png” for Retina assets. Slicy parsed these names to determine format and scaling.
Step 2: Drag PSD to Slicy
Drop your Photoshop file onto Slicy’s dock icon or window. Slicy scanned for named layer groups and extracted them to a folder next to your PSD. Exports appeared in seconds.
Step 3: Enable auto-export for live updates
Check “Watch” in Slicy to monitor your PSD for changes. Save in Photoshop and Slicy re-exports automatically. Pair this with a local web server or iOS simulator for near-instant design-to-preview workflow.
Slicy in Your Design Workflow
Slicy fit between design and development in Photoshop-centric workflows.
- Before Slicy: Design complete mockups in Photoshop
- During design: Slicy for exporting assets to developers
- After Slicy: Developers integrate exported images into code
Common tool pairings (historical):
- Slicy + Photoshop CS6+ as the core workflow
- Slicy + Dropbox for syncing exports to team folders
- Slicy + Coda/Espresso for web designers who coded after exporting assets
Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)
“Where can I download Slicy now?”
You can’t. MacRabbit shut down and the website is offline. The app isn’t available anywhere legitimate. Use Photoshop Generator instead. It’s built into Photoshop CC and does the same thing.
“Slicy crashes on macOS Catalina or newer”
Slicy is 32-bit software. Apple dropped 32-bit support in Catalina (2019). Slicy won’t run on any macOS version after Mojave. Migrate to Photoshop Generator or switch to Sketch/Figma.
“How do I replicate Slicy in Photoshop?”
Enable Generator: File > Generate > Image Assets. Name layers with extensions like “button.png” or “200% icon@2x.png.” Photoshop exports them automatically to an [filename]-assets folder. Syntax is similar to Slicy’s.
“Exports were blurry or wrong size”
This happened when PSD resolution didn’t match target device. For Retina exports, design at 2x resolution (750x1334 for iPhone 6, 1536x2048 for iPad Retina). Slicy scaled down from vectors/layer styles but couldn’t improve low-res sources.
“Should I use Slicy today?”
No. It doesn’t run on modern macOS and MacRabbit is gone. For Photoshop workflows, use built-in Generator or Export As. For modern design, switch to Figma or Sketch. Both offer better export tools without third-party apps. Photoshop for UI design is mostly dead outside legacy projects.