diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 045d6a1..b388f0e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -24,12 +24,6 @@ COPY scripts/installation/ scripts/installation/
 # Install distro-specific build dependencies (including make)
 RUN bash scripts/installation/dependencies.sh
 
-# ------------------------------------------------------------
-# Image cleanup (reduce final size)
-# ------------------------------------------------------------
-COPY scripts/docker/slim.sh /usr/local/bin/slim.sh
-RUN chmod +x /usr/local/bin/slim.sh && /usr/local/bin/slim.sh
-
 # Virgin default
 CMD ["bash"]
 
@@ -39,6 +33,7 @@ CMD ["bash"]
 # - inherits from virgin
 # - builds + installs pkgmgr
 # - sets entrypoint + default cmd
+# - NOTE: does NOT run slim.sh (that is done in slim stage)
 # ============================================================
 FROM virgin AS full
 
@@ -58,10 +53,16 @@ COPY scripts/docker/entry.sh /usr/local/bin/docker-entry.sh
 
 WORKDIR /opt/src/pkgmgr
 ENTRYPOINT ["/usr/local/bin/docker-entry.sh"]
-
-# ------------------------------------------------------------
-# Image cleanup (reduce final size)
-# ------------------------------------------------------------
-RUN /usr/local/bin/slim.sh
-
 CMD ["pkgmgr", "--help"]
+
+
+# ============================================================
+# Target: slim
+# - based on full
+# - runs slim.sh
+# ============================================================
+FROM full AS slim
+
+COPY scripts/docker/slim.sh /usr/local/bin/slim.sh
+RUN chmod +x /usr/local/bin/slim.sh
+RUN /usr/local/bin/slim.sh
diff --git a/scripts/build/image.sh b/scripts/build/image.sh
index d8029d7..e868ad9 100755
--- a/scripts/build/image.sh
+++ b/scripts/build/image.sh
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Usage: PKGMGR_DISTRO=<distro> $0 [options]
 Build options:
   --missing             Build only if the image does not already exist (local build only)
   --no-cache            Build with --no-cache
-  --target <name>       Build a specific Dockerfile target (e.g. virgin)
+  --target <name>       Build a specific Dockerfile target (e.g. virgin, slim)
   --tag <image>         Override the output image tag (default: ${default_tag})
 
 Publish options:
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Publish options:
 
 Notes:
 - --publish implies --push and requires --registry, --owner, and --version.
-- Local build (no --push) uses "docker build" and creates local images like "pkgmgr-arch" / "pkgmgr-arch-virgin".
+- Local build (no --push) uses "docker build" and creates local images like "pkgmgr-arch" / "pkgmgr-arch-virgin" / "pkgmgr-arch-slim".
 EOF
 }
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
     --missing)  MISSING_ONLY=1; shift ;;
     --target)
       TARGET="${2:-}"
-      [[ -n "${TARGET}" ]] || { echo "ERROR: --target requires a value (e.g. virgin)"; exit 2; }
+      [[ -n "${TARGET}" ]] || { echo "ERROR: --target requires a value (e.g. virgin|slim)"; exit 2; }
       shift 2
       ;;
     --tag)
diff --git a/scripts/build/publish.sh b/scripts/build/publish.sh
index 37a7c8a..5f20410 100755
--- a/scripts/build/publish.sh
+++ b/scripts/build/publish.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-# Publish all distro images (full + virgin) to a registry via image.sh --publish
+# Publish all distro images (full + virgin + slim) to a registry via image.sh --publish
 #
 # Required env:
 #   OWNER      (e.g. GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER)
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ set -euo pipefail
 #   REGISTRY   (default: ghcr.io)
 #   IS_STABLE  (default: false)
 #   DISTROS    (default: "arch debian ubuntu fedora centos")
+#
+# Notes:
+# - This expects Dockerfile targets: virgin, full (default), slim
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
 
@@ -33,7 +36,10 @@ for d in ${DISTROS}; do
   echo "[publish] PKGMGR_DISTRO=${d}"
   echo "============================================================"
 
+  # ----------------------------------------------------------
   # virgin
+  # -> ghcr.io/<owner>/pkgmgr-<distro>-virgin:{latest,<version>,stable?}
+  # ----------------------------------------------------------
   PKGMGR_DISTRO="${d}" bash "${SCRIPT_DIR}/image.sh" \
     --publish \
     --registry "${REGISTRY}" \
@@ -42,13 +48,29 @@ for d in ${DISTROS}; do
     --stable "${IS_STABLE}" \
     --target virgin
 
+  # ----------------------------------------------------------
   # full (default target)
+  # -> ghcr.io/<owner>/pkgmgr-<distro>:{latest,<version>,stable?}
+  # ----------------------------------------------------------
   PKGMGR_DISTRO="${d}" bash "${SCRIPT_DIR}/image.sh" \
     --publish \
     --registry "${REGISTRY}" \
     --owner "${OWNER}" \
     --version "${VERSION}" \
     --stable "${IS_STABLE}"
+
+  # ----------------------------------------------------------
+  # slim
+  # -> ghcr.io/<owner>/pkgmgr-<distro>-slim:{latest,<version>,stable?}
+  # + alias for default distro: ghcr.io/<owner>/pkgmgr-slim:{...}
+  # ----------------------------------------------------------
+  PKGMGR_DISTRO="${d}" bash "${SCRIPT_DIR}/image.sh" \
+    --publish \
+    --registry "${REGISTRY}" \
+    --owner "${OWNER}" \
+    --version "${VERSION}" \
+    --stable "${IS_STABLE}" \
+    --target slim
 done
 
 echo