Cropping in Illustrator CS5 can be done either destructively or non-destructively. Planning your crop area beforehand using the artboard can be helpful.
Here's a breakdown of approaches:
Non-Destructive Cropping (Using Clipping Masks)
This method is generally preferred as it allows you to easily adjust the cropped area later without permanently altering the original image.
- Place or Open Your Image: Open or place the image you want to crop in Illustrator CS5.
- Draw a Shape: Use the Rectangle Tool (M) or any other shape tool to draw a shape over the area you want to keep. This shape will define your crop.
- Position the Shape: Ensure the shape is positioned above the image in the stacking order. You can use Object > Arrange > Bring to Front if needed.
- Select Both: Select both the shape you created and the image you want to crop.
- Create Clipping Mask: Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (or use the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + 7). This will crop the image to the shape.
- Adjust if Needed: To edit the clipping mask, double-click the cropped area with the Selection Tool (V). This isolates the group, allowing you to move the image within the mask or adjust the mask shape itself.
Destructive Cropping (Using the Crop Area Tool in later versions but not directly available in CS5 without workarounds.)
Illustrator CS6 and later versions have a dedicated "Crop Image" option. However, CS5 lacks this feature. To achieve a similar effect in CS5 you would need to rasterize then use pathfinder:
- Rasterize the Image: Select the image and go to Object > Rasterize. Choose appropriate settings for resolution, color model, etc. This is a destructive step!
- Draw a Shape: Use the Rectangle Tool (M) or any other shape tool to draw a shape over the area you want to keep.
- Select Both: Select both the shape you created and the rasterized image.
- Use Pathfinder: Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). Click the "Intersect" button. This will permanently crop the image to the selected shape. Be aware this deletes the parts of the image outside the shape.
Important Considerations:
- Non-destructive cropping is generally recommended for its flexibility.
- Destructive cropping permanently alters the image, so make a copy of your image before using this method.
- Resolution: When rasterizing, choose a resolution appropriate for your final output (e.g., 300 dpi for print).
