# Scissors on range of slices

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360>\
**Category:** Feature requests\
**Tags:** feature, segmentation\
**Created:** [May 23, 2017, 4:12am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360 "2017-05-23T04:12:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hherhold](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/hherhold/32/12199_2.png) [@hherhold](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/hherhold)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 4:12am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/1 "2017-05-23T04:12:38Z")

</div>

I usually find the scissors tool to be the greatest thing since sliced bread (no pun intended). Sometimes I want to use it only on a range of slices - The only way I’ve found to do this effectively is to make a mask and use that as the editable area when using the scissors tool. Is there a quicker way to do this?

Thanks!

-Hollister

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/2 "2017-05-23T04:15:21Z")

</div>

I think using masking is the simplest way to restrict scissors. Do you have any better suggestion?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hherhold](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/hherhold/32/12199_2.png) [@hherhold](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/hherhold)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 12:21pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/3 "2017-05-23T12:21:01Z")

</div>

It would be useful to be able to use the scissors starting at a slice and continuing only in a given direction, say downward, to do a “cutaway”. There are other ways of doing this, like you mentioned, using masking, so “directional scissors” would be more of a convenience.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![muratmaga](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/muratmaga/32/3622_2.png) [@muratmaga](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/muratmaga)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/4 "2017-05-23T17:50:03Z")

</div>

I second the request that for slices specifying the physical length would be a very useful addition to the tool. E.g. start on the slice the outline was drawn, and say +/- 10mms, or actual slice counts in that plane. …

 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/slicer/original/1X/677f06bdf711468707faf594c72c7993f90d2513.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/5 "2017-05-24T13:24:12Z")

</div>

I’ve added the option of restricting cutting in slice view to one side of the slice plane or to a specified thickness around the slice plane. It’ll be available in tomorrow’s nightly build. Let me know if this fulfills your needs.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hherhold](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/hherhold/32/12199_2.png) [@hherhold](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/hherhold)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/6 "2017-05-24T14:06:23Z")

</div>

Will do. Thanks!!!

-Hollister

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![muratmaga](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/muratmaga/32/3622_2.png) [@muratmaga](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/muratmaga)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/7 "2017-05-24T17:11:05Z")

</div>

Awesome, thank you.

 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/slicer/original/1X/677f06bdf711468707faf594c72c7993f90d2513.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hherhold](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/hherhold/32/12199_2.png) [@hherhold](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/hherhold)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/8 "2017-05-24T22:04:30Z")

</div>

Wow, this works great!

Thank you very much!

-Hollister

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BreadBoxGuy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/breadboxguy/32/5219_2.png) [@BreadBoxGuy](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/BreadBoxGuy)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 8:35am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/9 "2019-11-20T08:35:45Z")

</div>

I have a hollow model and I would like to use the scissors so they cut only through one layer and not through the whole model. Is that possible?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Juicy](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Juicy)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 8:45am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/10 "2019-11-20T08:45:06Z")

</div>

You could try this [Segmentation Recipie](https://github.com/lassoan/SlicerSegmentationRecipes/blob/master/Craniotomy/README.md) for a craniotomy which sounds like what you are describing

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Francesca\_Lo\_Iacono](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/francesca_lo_iacono/32/13557_2.png) [@Francesca\_Lo\_Iacono](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Francesca_Lo_Iacono)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 9:55am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/11 "2022-10-06T09:55:09Z")

</div>

Hi ! How can I use this option?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/12 "2022-10-06T19:02:33Z")

</div>

You can find the option in Segment Editor → Scissors effect options:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/slicer/original/3X/8/8/8863013a76aed9025c4f2be36f7f32dbf4636494.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/scissors-on-range-of-slices/360/13 "2023-03-21T02:18:20Z")

</div>