Cropping in Illustrator

Wonder Woman · 01-21-2005, 01:39 PM

Right, this is a question that I need to sort out today (yeah I know - but I hope you realise that it wasn't me who landed this on my desk at 8.00am this morning).

Anyway, I'm trying to crop a grouped element in Illustrator, but can't get it to crop in the way that I want it to. I've attached the image showing what I need to remove (the white box). So far, whenever I use any of the Pathfinder tools it removes strange things from the image behind (like all of the text, or all of the light blue areas). How do I crop it to remove the area covered by the white box?

Thanks.

Searching for creative juices

Post Edited (Wonder Woman) : 1/21/2005 8:42:05 AM GMT

Broacher · 01-21-2005, 01:56 PM

Pathfinder doesn't work on more than two single paths at a time. What you want is a clipping mask. But first, you'll have to make a compound mask of two rectangles-- one to surround the original group, and the inset one where it's going to be transparent. Combine these into a compound curve and then use it as Clipping Mask. (Both of these are explained in the manuals, and menu commands are under 'Object' at the bottom.

Wonder Woman · 01-21-2005, 02:24 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you! That worked a treat! Not too sure on the theory behind it, but it's beautifully cropped. I'm self taught in Illustrator, and have yet to come across that. A big tick next to at least one of my 100 jobs to do today!!

Thanks again Broacher!

Searching for creative juices