Cropping is a frequent activity in the fields of graphic design and illustration. It entails eliminating unnecessary elements from an image or artwork in order to bring attention to a specific area. There are two ways to crop in Adobe Illustrator: using the crop tool or creating a clipping mask. Here are the instructions for cropping in AI Illustrator:
Using the Crop Tool
1. Select the image or artwork you want to crop.
2. Go to the toolbar and select the crop tool (U).
3. Click and drag on the image to create a rectangle around the area you want to keep.
4. Release the mouse button and the unwanted parts of the image will be removed.
Using a Clipping Mask
1. Select the image or artwork you want to crop.
2. Create a rectangle or shape that covers the area you want to keep.
3. Go to the toolbar and select the ellipse tool (U).
4. Click and drag on the image to create an ellipse around the area you want to keep.
5. Select the rectangle or shape and go to the gradient panel (Window > Gradient).
6. Choose a gradient fill that fades from transparent to opaque.
7. Select the image or artwork and go to the gradient panel again.
8. Click on the gradient stop at the top of the gradient bar and select “Clip” from the drop-down menu.
9. The unwanted parts of the image will be hidden behind the rectangle or shape, creating a clipping mask.
Conclusion
Cropping in AI Illustrator is a simple task that can be done using the crop tool or by creating a clipping mask. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that best suits your needs. With practice, you’ll become an expert at cropping in AI Illustrator.