How do I clip an image in AutoCAD?

To clip an image in AutoCAD, you use the IMAGECLIP command to define a specific area of the image you want to display.

Clipping an image allows you to hide portions of the attached raster image, focusing only on the relevant part within your drawing. This is a fundamental step for many design and drafting tasks where you need to integrate existing visual information without showing the entire file. The process is straightforward using the dedicated command.

Here are the steps to clip an image in AutoCAD:

1. Initiate the command: At the Command prompt, enter IMAGECLIP and press Enter.
2. Select the image: Select the image object you wish to clip by clicking on its boundary in your drawing area.
3. Specify New Boundary: At the Command prompt, you will be prompted for options. Enter n (for New boundary) and press Enter.
4. Handle Existing Boundary (Optional): If the image already has a clip boundary, you will be prompted if you want to delete the Old boundary. Enter n (for No) to keep the old boundary or y (for Yes) to remove it before defining the new one. Press Enter.
5. Define Boundary Shape: You will then be prompted to specify the clipping boundary type.
   • Enter p (for Polygonal) to draw a custom boundary with multiple vertices. Click points in your drawing to define the shape, closing the polygon when finished.
   • Enter r (for Rectangular) to draw a simple four-sided boundary. Click two diagonal points to define the rectangle on the image.

After completing step 5, the image will be clipped to the shape you defined, and only the content within that boundary will be visible. The hidden parts of the image are not deleted; they are simply masked from view. You can later modify or remove the clip boundary if needed using the same IMAGECLIP command or the Properties palette.