Javascript required
Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

How to Cut Out Part of an Art in a Layer on Illustrator

If you're wondering how to ingather an image in Illustrator, you demand to know that there are a couple of ways to get around it, depending on your needs. Do yous want to crop a photo, or a vector graphic? Do you but want to ingather it visually, without cutting anything, or remove the trimmed parts forever? You can employ various methods depending on these preferences. In this tutorial, I will show you all the methods, so that y'all know exactly how to crop in Adobe Illustrator.

For presentation purposes, I will be using this beautiful vector illustration from Envato Elements, equally well as this photo of a kitten.

Follow along with u.s.a. over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube aqueduct:

What You'll Larn in This "How to Ingather in Illustrator" Tutorial

  • How to prepare an image for cropping
  • How to crop a photo in Illustrator CC
  • How to crop a photo in Illustrator CS
  • How to ingather a motion-picture show in Illustrator by exporting
  • How to ingather in Adobe Illustrator using the Clipping Mask
  • How to crop in Adobe Illustrator using the Opacity Mask
  • How to crop a shape in Illustrator
  • How to cut an image in Illustrator

How to Prepare an Image for Cropping

Whether you want to ingather your image destructively or not-destructively, it'south good to plan the cropping expanse first, without irresolute anything. You can utilise the Artboard for this purpose—just use the Artboard Tool (Shift-O) to resize the artboard area and create visible boundaries. You lot can then adjust whatever cropping to this area.

define crop area define crop area define crop area

How to Crop a Photo in Illustrator CC

Pace 1

This method is the easiest mode to ingather a raster picture, only it'south simply available in the CC version of Illustrator. Open your image and select it with the Option Tool (V). And then motion to the upper bar and select Crop Image.

where to find crop tool illustrator where to find crop tool illustrator where to find crop tool illustrator

Stride 2

You'll be informed that your original photo will not be affected by the cropping, which is cool. Dismiss the message and elevate the anchors to ingather your paradigm. Press Enter when you're washed. This method is subversive, which means the cropped area can't exist revealed again if you modify your heed.

crop photo in illustrator crop photo in illustrator crop photo in illustrator
cropped end result cropped end result cropped end result

Step three

You can too apply this method to crop a vector image. The trick is to embed it in a new file rather than trying to crop the original. To do information technology, create a New File and go to File > Place, or simply elevate the image into the artboard. Illustrator will let you lot crop it without whatsoever problems.

crop embedded image crop embedded image crop embedded image

How to Crop a Photo in Illustrator CS

Footstep i

If you don't have the CC version of Illustrator, you can use a different method. Select the image the same way, and in the upper bar select Mask.

mask photo illustrator mask photo illustrator mask photo illustrator

Step ii

Now drag the anchors to trim the image. The effect is pretty similar to the previous method, except here it'due south non-destructive—the trimmed parts are still in that location, but they're just hidden. To bring them back, go to Object > Clipping Mask > Release.

masked end result masked end result masked end result

How to Crop a Flick in Illustrator by Exporting

Stride 1

You tin can easily crop whatever image, raster or vector, by exporting the picture to the raster version. Go to File > Export > Export As and select a raster format, similar PNG. Cheque the Use Artboards option. At present, only the part of the image within the artboard area will exist saved as a new file, and the original file will stay unaffected.

export cropped to artboard export cropped to artboard export cropped to artboard
cropping result cropping result cropping result
This method allows you lot to crop part of an image in Illustrator without modifying the original file.

How to Crop in Adobe Illustrator Using a Clipping Mask

Footstep 1

If yous want to ingather a vector paradigm in Illustrator, you tin employ a more universal tool. Offset, take the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a rectangle over the moving-picture show. Adjust the size of this rectangle to your intended cropping surface area.

define cropping area with rectangle define cropping area with rectangle define cropping area with rectangle

Stride 2

Fill the rectangle with any colour.

fill the rectangle fill the rectangle fill the rectangle

Step 3

At present select all the objects (Command-A) and get to Object > Clipping Mask > Brand, or simply use the shortcut Control-7. This is a non-destructive method, so the cut parts are still in that location and can be edited at whatsoever fourth dimension. Yous can also remove the Clipping Mask by going to Object > Clipping Mask > Release.

clipping mask cropping clipping mask cropping clipping mask cropping

How to Ingather in Adobe Illustrator Using an Opacity Mask

Step 1

You can achieve an identical issue past using an Opacity Mask. As previously, create the masking rectangle and select all, and and so go to the Transparency panel and select Make Mask. You tin also hands release the mask in this panel.

add opacity mask add opacity mask add opacity mask
opacity mask cropping opacity mask cropping opacity mask cropping

How to Crop a Shape in Illustrator

Step ane

If yous want to crop something simple, like a single shape, y'all tin also use the Illustrator ingather tool, which is hidden in the Pathfinder panel. Commencement, utilize the Rectangle Tool (M) to draw the cropped surface area.

cover shape with mask cover shape with mask cover shape with mask

Step ii

Go to Window > Pathfinder. Select both objects and click Crop. The parts outside of the rectangle will be cut destructively.

use crop tool pathfinder use crop tool pathfinder use crop tool pathfinder
This panel gives you a take a chance to crop an object in Illustrator in many dissimilar ways.
pathfinder croping end result pathfinder croping end result pathfinder croping end result

Step iii

You may be tempted to use this method to crop more circuitous images besides, but information technology's not recommended—you're likely to terminate up with tiny artifacts that ruin the quality of the picture.

bug with thin lines after cropping bug with thin lines after cropping bug with thin lines after cropping

How to Cutting an Epitome in Illustrator

Step i

OK, then how can you crop an epitome in Illustrator if information technology'southward vector and you want to remove the cropped parts instead of hiding them? Have the Eraser Tool (Shift-E) and hold the Alt primal. Now click and drag to create a rectangular selection that will cutting parts of the image. With this method, y'all can be sure that the cropped area disappears forever!

crop part of image illustrator crop part of image illustrator crop part of image illustrator

Good Job!

Now yous can see that the answer to the question "how do yous crop an image in Illustrator" depends on your preferences regarding the last file. Merely afterward this tutorial, you should be ready for whatsoever cropping challenge!

how to trim in illustrator final result how to trim in illustrator final result how to trim in illustrator final result

Do you want to acquire more well-nigh the basics of Illustrator? Check out our other tutorials:


peelthadvithey.blogspot.com

Source: https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-crop-in-illustrator--cms-35770