Crop in Illustrator

Adobe's Illustrator software is used by graphic designers for 3D logo, graphic and published document creation. Unlike photo programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator does not have a "crop" tool to change an image. Here is a guide to several work-around methods for cropping in Illustrator.

Steps

Using the Artboard Tool to Crop an Image

  1. Position and re-size the Artboard around the area you wish to crop. This will allow you to use the Artboard to define an area you can save as a file which you can use as is, or cut and paste into another Illustrator document.
    • Select the Artboard Tool from Illustrator’s Tool Palette. Alternatively, toggle the tool on by using the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl+O” or “Cmd+O.”
    • Resize the Artboard by dragging the handles on the Artboard’s outline.
    • Press enter to when you’ve finished resizing to finalize the area you want to crop.
  2. Save the image with the “use artboard” option checked. From the “File” menu, select either “export” or “save for web” from the dropdown options, then make sure the “use artboard” option is selected.
    • Choose the file format you wish to use from the “export” or “save for web” dialog box.
    • This will allow you to save the crop as a raster image.
    • Your original image will not be saved, so you will lose any parts of the image not in the crop. Save them elsewhere as backup, if necessary.

Using Vector Shapes to Crop Simple Objects

  1. Draw a rectangle or other vector shape. The shape will be used to “cut out” an area of your image wherever it overlaps.
    • Depending what shape you want the cropped area of your image to have, select the shape tool you would like to use from Illustrator’s Tool Palette.
    • Shapes that have been distorted or otherwise manipulated can also be used to crop.
    • You can also crop with shapes created with the pen tool.
  2. Move and resize the shape over the shape or image you want to crop. Click and drag the shape using the selection tool to move, and use the handles on the shape’s bounding box to resize.
    • To resize the shape to specific dimensions, select the shape, then use the “transform” panel to enter the desired width and height of the shape.
    • To maintain a shape’s proportions while resizing, press “shift” while dragging the shape’s handles.
  3. Make sure the shape lies on top of whatever you want to crop. Select the shape, then use object→arrange(from the object menu in the top horizontal toolbar) to make sure it is in place.
  4. Select both the shape and the image you want to crop. With the selection tool, either drag select both objects, or click the image, hold down the “shift” key, then click on the shape.
  5. Go to the “Pathfinder” panel and click the “minus front” icon. This will cut the top shape out of the image underneath.
    • ”Minus front” is the second option icon on the panel.
    • The Pathfinder panel can be opened by selecting window→pathfinder from the top horizontal toolbar.
  6. Remember that this method is meant for simple objects only.
    • For more complex images, some parts of the image may be changed.
    • This is a “destructive edit,” meaning that you will lose whatever you crop.

Using a Clipping Mask to Crop an Image

  1. Draw a rectangle or other vector shape. Depending what shape you want your cropped image to have, select the shape tool you would like to use from Illustrator’s Tool Palette.
    • Shapes that have been distorted or otherwise manipulated can also be used to crop.
    • You can also crop with shapes created with the pen tool.
  2. Adjust the shape’s “stroke” and “fill” attributes. This makes it easier to see what you’re doing.
    • A simple white stroke and no fill is easily visible against a white background. Use a different stroke color for lighter images.
    • Change the stroke and fill attributes by selecting the shape, then clicking on the colored (or black and white) boxes on the Tool Palette.
  3. Move and resize the shape around the area you want to crop. Click and drag the shape using the selection tool to move, and use the handles on the shape’s bounding box to resize.
    • To resize the cropping area to specific dimensions, select the shape, then use the “transform” panel to enter the desired width and height of the shape.
    • To maintain a shape’s proportions while resizing, press “shift” while dragging the shape’s handles.
  4. Select both the shape and the image you want to crop. With the selection tool, either drag select both objects, or click the image, hold down the “shift” key, then click on the shape.
  5. Create a clipping mask. Click on “Object” in the top horizontal toolbar, then select “clipping mask” →”make” from the dropdown menu.
    • Alternately, press “ctrl+7” or “Cmd+7” to create a clipping mask.
    • The stroke will disappear automatically.
    • The image you have cropped will remain intact “under” the clipping mask.
  6. Adjust your clipping mask as needed. You can move both the mask and the image independently.
    • Sometimes things don’t line up perfectly, so you may have to make adjustments.
    • You can click on the mask’s path to move the clipping mask without moving the image.
    • You can click then double click the image to move the image around under the mask.
    • You can also adjust the points in your clipping mask’s path.
  7. Remove the clipping mask if you wish to undo the crop. Remove the clipping mask by selecting the image, then selecting object→clipping mask→release from the top horizontal toolbar.
  8. Understand the reasons for using a Clipping Mask to crop. This is a good, quick, “non-destructive” way to crop an image.
    • Your original image is retained, so it is easier to undo or manipulate the crop as you are working.
    • You cannot “fade out” or change the transparency of your cropped area. The Clipping Mask uses the path of the shape to hide parts of the image, nothing more.
    • For a more versatile, but more work-intensive cropping method, see “Using an Opacity Mask to Crop an Image”

Using an Opacity Mask to Crop an Image

  1. Draw a rectangle or other vector shape. Depending what shape you want your cropped image to have, select the shape tool you would like to use from Illustrator’s Tool Palette.
    • Shapes that have been distorted or otherwise manipulated can also be used to crop.
    • You can also crop with shapes created with the pen tool.
  2. Move and resize the shape around the area you want to crop. Click and drag the shape using the selection tool to move, and use the handles on the shape’s bounding box to resize.
    • To resize the cropping area to specific dimensions, select the shape, then use the “transform” panel to enter the desired width and height of the shape.
    • To maintain a shape’s proportions while resizing, press “shift” while dragging the shape’s handles.
  3. Adjust the shape’s “stroke” and “fill” to suit your cropping needs. The opacity mask will use shades of white and gray to determine transparency, that is, what you see in the cropped area, and what you don’t.
    • For determining opacity, white will give you a completely opaque area, black will be completely transparent, and lighter or darker grays will give you different levels of transparency, accordingly.
    • Change the stroke and fill attributes by selecting the shape, then clicking on the colored (or black and white) boxes on the Tool Palette. Black and white gradients may also be selected.
    • For best results, eliminate the stroke altogether. “No stroke” will be shown as a white rectangle (with the center missing) with a red diagonal line through it.
  4. Consider using other tools to make a more interesting crop. More complex effects can be created using opacity masks, by using different tools to manipulate the shades of gray within the shape you are using to create the mask.
    • The edges of shape may be blurred to create a vignette.
    • A black and white gradient may be used to make parts of the image fade out.
    • A black and white photo can be used to create an interesting overlaid effect.
    • The brush tool may be used to apply black, gray, and white in selected areas.
  5. Select both the shape and the image you want to crop. With the selection tool, either drag select both objects, or click the image, hold down the “shift” key, then click on the shape.
  6. Create an Opacity Mask using the Transparency Palette. The Transparency Palette can be opened by selecting Window→Transparency from the top horizontal toolbar. Click “make mask” with both objects selected to create your opacity mask.
    • If you don’t see the “make mask option” click on the small arrow at the top of the Transparency panel.
    • Make sure “clip” is checked if you want the effects of the opacity mask to be limited to the area of the shape.
    • Make sure the “normal” blending mode is selected, unless you want to try a different one..
    • The image you have cropped will remain intact “under” the opacity mask.
  7. Adjust your opacity mask as needed. You can move both the mask and the image independently by releasing the small link icon in the middle of the transparency palette.
    • You can click on the mask’s path to move the opacity mask without moving the image.
    • You can click then double click the image to move the image around under the mask.
    • You can also adjust the points in your opacity mask’s path.
  8. Remove the opacity mask if you wish to undo the crop. Remove the opacity mask by selecting the masked image, then selecting “release opacity mask” from the Transparency Palette menu.
    • The transparency palette menu is found by clicking on the series of small horizontal lines in the upper right corner of the transparency palette.
    • Your original image will be preserved after releasing the opacity mask.

Tips

  • It is possible to crop an image in a photo editing program such as Photoshop or MS Paint, then cut and paste the cropped image into Illustrator.



Related Articles

Sources and Citations

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Crop_in_Illustrator&oldid=352817"