To crop in Adobe Illustrator CS6, you'll use a clipping mask. Here's how:
-
Start with an Image: Place or create an image that overlaps the edges of your artboard, representing the portion you want to crop.
-
Create a Cropping Path: Draw a shape (rectangle, ellipse, etc.) using the shape tools. This shape will define the boundaries of your cropped area. Position and size this shape exactly where you want the crop to be. This shape should ideally be the same size as the area you wish to retain.
-
Arrange the Objects: Ensure the cropping path (the shape you just created) is above the image in the stacking order. You can do this by selecting the shape, right-clicking, and choosing "Arrange" > "Bring to Front."
-
Create Clipping Mask: Select both the image and the cropping path. Right-click on the selected objects and choose "Create Clipping Mask."
Illustrator will then crop the image to fit within the boundaries of your cropping path. Only the portion of the image inside the shape will be visible. The rest will be hidden.
