Methods and systems for defining slices

A system comprising a processor with access to a computer-readable medium tangibly embodying program components, the program components comprising:

• a user interface component configured to present:
• a visual element;
• an overlay over the visual element, the visual overlay comprising:
• a first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines configured to bound the visual element;
• and
• a second plurality of horizontal and vertical lines the second plurality of horizontal and vertical lines different from the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines, bounding a plurality of interior regions of the visual element and intersecting the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines;
• define a plurality of slices corresponding to the plurality of interior regions of the visual element and associating a default repetition behavior to each of the plurality of slices;
• receive a selection of a subset of the plurality of bounded interior regions of the visual element to select a corresponding subset of the .plurality of slices, the subset of slices comprising a second plurality of slices;
• and a behavior manager configured to receive a selection of a repetition behavior, and responsive to the selection, associate the repetition behavior with each slice of the subset of slices and receive an input comprising a movement of at least one of the first or second plurality of horizontal or vertical lines to adjust a size characteristic of each of a plurality of slices bounded by the at least one moved line;
• wherein the system is configured to store data identifying the bounded interior regions of the visual element and corresponding repetition behavior for the bounded interior regions based on the characteristics of the respective slices of the overlay, wherein the program components further comprise a code generator configured to generate code for providing repetition behavior for the visual element from the stored data, the code providing, for each respective bounded interior region of the visual element, the repetition behavior associated with the corresponding slice.

A computer readable medium tangibly embodying processor-executable program code, the program code configured to cause the processor to:

• display, via a computing apparatus, a graphical user interface configured to display a visual element and to provide an overlay over the visual element, the overlay comprising:
• a first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines within the overlay, the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines bounding the visual element;
• and
• a second plurality of horizontal and vertical lines within the overlay, the second plurality of horizontal and vertical lines different from the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines, bounding a plurality of interior regions of the visual element and intersecting the first plurality of horizontal and vertical lines;
• define a plurality of slices corresponding to the plurality of interior regions of the visual element and associating a default repetition behavior to each of the plurality of slices;
• receive a selection of a subset of the plurality of bounded interior regions of the visual element to select a corresponding subset of the plurality of slices, the subset of slices comprising a second plurality of slices;
• receive an input comprising a movement of at least one of the first or second plurality of horizontal or vertical lines and, in response to the input, adjust a size characteristic of each of a plurality of slices bounded by the at least one moved line;
• and
• store data identifying regions of the visual element and corresponding repetition behavior based on the characteristics of the respective slices of the overlay, said computer-readable medium further comprising program code for generating code for providing repetition behavior for the visual element based on the stored data, the code providing, for each respective bounded interior region of the visual element, the repetition behavior associated with the corresponding slice.