This wikiHow teaches you how to crop an image in Adobe Illustrator. In Adobe Illustrator 2017 or above, you can crop an image using the new cropping tool. You can also cut raster and vector graphics in Illustrator using a tool called clipping mask.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using the Cropping Tool
Step 1. Open or create a file in Adobe Illustrator
The trick, click the yellow and brown application that contains the letters Ai.
Step 2. Click New or Open.
To open a new Illustrator file, click New from the title screen. To open an existing Illustrator file, click Open on the title screen and go to the Illustrator (.ai) file and double click it.
You can also find options New and Open under the " File " menu in the upper right corner of the open Illustrator file.
Step 3. Place the image in Illustrator
Use the following steps to place the image in Illustrator.
- Click File in the menu bar at the top.
- Click Place in the drop down menu under "File".
- Select an image and click Place.
- Click and drag to where the image will be.
Step 4. Click the Selection Tool
This button with a black cursor icon is at the top of the toolbar on the left.
Step 5. Click the image you want to crop
This step will select the image. The cropping tool will not appear unless the image is selected.
Step 6. Click Crop Image
It's in the Control Panel at the top of the screen below the menu bar.
- You can also find the " Crop Image " button at the bottom of the window Properties in the menu bar on the right. If you don't see the Properties window, click windows on the menu bar at the top, then click Properties.
- If a warning appears regarding the linked image, click OK.
- The " Crop Image " tool can only be used in Adobe Illustrator 2017 or above.
Step 7. Click and drag the crop marks on each corner of the image
Crop marks are on each corner and side of the image. Shifting the cut mark inward displays a rectangle with a dotted line in the image. The bright parts of the image that are outside the rectangle are the areas that will be removed when the image is cropped. Center the rectangle on the area of the image you want to keep.
Step 8. Click OK
This Control Panel button is at the top of the screen or in Properties. Click to crop the image.
Method 2 of 2: Using a Clipping Mask
Step 1. Open or create a file in Adobe Illustrator
The trick, click on the yellow and brown application that contains the letters Ai. In Vector graphics, a clipping mask uses an object or shape to crop all of the image and the objects that lie beneath it.
Step 2. Click New or Open.
To create a new Illustrator file, click New from the title screen. To open an existing Illustrator file, click Open on the title screen, and go to the Illustrator (.ai) file and double click it.
You can also find options New and Open under the " File " menu in the upper right corner of the open Illustrator file.
Step 3. Create a graphic or place an image
You can apply a clipping mask to a raster image, or a vector graphic created in Illustrator. Use art tools to create graphics, or use the following steps to place images:
- Click File in the menu bar at the top.
- Click Place on the drop down menu under "File".
- Select an image and click Place.
- Click and drag to where the image will be.
Step 4. Draw a clipping mask on the image
You can create a clipping mask in any shape you want. You can also use the rectangle or ellipse tool to create a rectangular or oval clipping mask, or you can use the Pen tool to make the clipping mask shape as desired. Place the shape over the area of the image or graphic that you want to keep.
- To make it easier to see, turn off the fill of the clipping mask shape, and choose a visible color for the stroke.
- You can apply a clipping mask to multiple objects, but the shape of the clipping mask sits on top. To bring the clipping mask shape to the top, click using the Selection tool, then click Object on the menu bar. Then, click Arrange, followed by Bring to Front.
Step 5. Click the 'Selection' tool
The selection tool has a black arrow icon. It's at the top of the toolbar on the left.
Step 6. Select everything you want to cut
To select all of them, click and drag across the object you want to crop. This step selects objects, including the clipping mask shape.
Step 7. Click Objects
It's in the top menu bar at the top of Illustrator. This step displays a drop-down menu.
Step 8. Click Clipping Mask
Place this button near the bottom of the drop-down menu under "Object". Click to display the submenu on the left.
Step 9. Click Make to create a clipping mask
The clipping mask uses the top object to cut all the objects below it.
