How do I crop a custom shape in Illustrator?

To crop a custom shape in Illustrator, you'll use the Pathfinder panel to combine shapes and effectively "crop" one shape using another. Here's how:

Create or Place Your Image/Shape: Start with the object you want to crop. This could be an image, a vector shape, or a group of objects.
Create Your Cropping Shape: Draw the custom shape you want to use as your "cookie cutter." This shape will define the area of the original object that remains visible. Place this shape on top of the object you want to crop. Ensure the cropping shape completely covers the portion you want to keep.
Select Both Shapes: Use the Selection Tool (V) to select both the object you want to crop and your custom cropping shape.
Open the Pathfinder Panel: Go to Window > Pathfinder to open the Pathfinder panel.
Use the Crop Option: In the Pathfinder panel, click the "Crop" button. This is typically the fourth icon from the left in the first row (under the "Pathfinders" section).
Result: Illustrator will crop the underlying object to the shape of the top object. Only the area where both shapes overlapped will remain. The cropping shape will be discarded (though you can change the options to retain it).

Important Considerations:

Stacking Order: Make sure your custom cropping shape is above the object you want to crop in the stacking order. If it's not, right-click on the cropping shape and select Arrange > Bring to Front.
Compound Paths: If your custom shape is a compound path (e.g., a letter with a hole), Illustrator will treat the holes as areas to be cut out of the cropped object.
Grouping: If you're cropping a group of objects, you'll likely need to group them (Object > Group) before selecting the crop tool.
Outline Mode (Ctrl+Y or Cmd+Y): Use Outline Mode to check the precise alignment of your shapes before cropping.

Example:

Let's say you have a rectangle and you want to crop it into the shape of a star.

Draw a rectangle.
Draw a star shape and place it on top of the rectangle, covering the part of the rectangle you want to keep.
Select both the rectangle and the star.
Open the Pathfinder panel and click "Crop."
The rectangle will now be cropped to the shape of the star.

askvity