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Broadcast1984
Broadcast1984
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Illustrator CS4: Exporting as cropped image, unable to define Crop Area or Crop to Artboard

Aug 20, 2009 2:03 PM

Preface: I am using Adobe Illustrator CS4 Design Premium, Windows version.

 

I am currently designing some projects in Illustrator CS4. I am NOT using multiple artboards, only one. On previous versions of Illustrator, users could simply Export> an image as a JPG, and the image would be appropriately cropped to either the Document size, or predetermined Crop Area marks which were easily chosen in the Object dropdown menu.

 

Since the ever useful Object > set cropmarks function was removed with the advent of CS4, I am unable to Export an Illustrator file as a high-res JPG or TIF using the supposed Artboard as the cropmarks. In other words, when trying to export my project, the saved/exported image includes all content placed in the document, even material that extends beyond the Document size or Artboard size. Why is this? What am I overlooking?

 

In the Artboard dialogue or settings, I cannot locate any option to set the Artboard as the default crop area for Exporting, saving, and printing, etc.

 

After doing a bunch of research trying to find a fix, I have only discovered that there are thousands of other people posting on various forums regarding this same issue, so I think a detailed and complete explanation or instruction on how to do this would be very helpful and appreciated.

 

Other than in the Save For Web & Devices settings, there seems to be no options to Export using cropmarks, or export a file to be properly cropped to the Artboard dimensions. Again, I know this function is possible when Saving for Web, but not with a normal high resolution Export as a flattened image such as a jpg... or at least I can't find out how.

 

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

right.jpg

this_is_not.jpg

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94413 Views   13 Replies   Latest reply: MªFernanda, Oct 27, 2011 1:30 AM
 
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  • Larry G. Schneider
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    1. Larry G. Schneider,
    Aug 20, 2009 2:23 PM   in reply to Broadcast1984
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    Bottom left corner of the Export Dialog is the Use Artboards check box. It will clip to the Artboard for export.

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    2. Wade_Zimmerman,
    Aug 20, 2009 2:33 PM   in reply to Larry G. Schneider
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    You can also select a a range and a specific artboard. so if make and artboard to the size of the cropped are, you hold the shift key while the art board tool is selected to add the new artboard, it will give you the same effect as the crop area and you can specify that artboard since it will have a number.

     
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  • Portisface
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    3. Portisface,
    Sep 8, 2009 7:36 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    Is there any way to make it so the filename doesn't get a number added to the end of it when you export using artboard? We work with hundreds of files and have documents that are linked to the JPEGs we export. Whenever there is a change to a piece of art, we have to save over the old JPEG to update the change. With CS4, if we save over the old JPEG when exporting using the Artboard bounds, it saves over the old file, but adds a number to the end of the filename which breaks the link to that JPEG. I realize the reason for the number is to identify which artboard it is in order to be able to determine each peace in a file that has multiple artboards. Is there a way to disable the renaming, though, since we are only using one artboard in our files?

     
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  • Broadcast1984
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    4. Broadcast1984,
    Oct 1, 2009 12:42 PM   in reply to Portisface
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    That is another frustrating part of this new feature.

     

    Anyone know how to eliminate Illustrator automatically adding a number extension to the filename when exporting as a .jpg?

     
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  • DigitalCris
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    5. DigitalCris,
    Oct 8, 2009 9:38 AM   in reply to Larry G. Schneider
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    Thank you Larry!! Works like a charm!

     
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  • luchababe
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    6. luchababe,
    Jul 22, 2010 2:57 PM   in reply to Broadcast1984
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    I am having this issue in CS5.  Exactly.  I'm trying to export a bmp, with one artboard only, and I cannot choose Use Artboard, it's greyed out and uncheckable.   If I pick png, check the Use Artboard box, then switch back to bmp, it's now checked BUT STILL GREYED OUT AND UNCHECKABLE.   It still does not use the artboard to crop my image. 

     

    Not only that, but 7 of the 13 choices of files to export as do not let you choose to use the artboard. 

     

    I can't believe I'm the only one with the problem.

     
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  • tobidelbruck
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    7. tobidelbruck,
    Sep 14, 2010 2:30 AM   in reply to Broadcast1984
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    Still nothing about this?  Very annoying. I don't think the Adobe guys are very aware of use patterns, or at least not mine (which is mostly technical papers using word).

     
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  • luchababe
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    8. luchababe,
    Sep 14, 2010 4:46 AM   in reply to tobidelbruck
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    Nope, nothing.  Whenever there is an Adobe update of any kind, I send them another bug report about it in hopes the next update will fix it.

     
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  • legendary_guru
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    9. legendary_guru,
    Aug 6, 2011 6:20 PM   in reply to Broadcast1984
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    another option if you're using any of the suites (ie design cs5) you can use Ps to save as .bmp file and the aspect should be correct. I know it's a funky work-around, but it gets the job done and that's all that matters right? i calculate a 5sec fix

     
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  • LOVEANDHATEADBE
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    10. LOVEANDHATEADBE,
    Sep 1, 2011 1:34 PM   in reply to Broadcast1984
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    Yeh this is pathetic and in my opinion a bug or false advertising. Since they haven't fixed it i believe this is false advertising and misleading for users who may have upgraded for this "feature".

     

    I do know some CS2 users who are holding out from upgrading for this reason!!

     

    I wonder what CEO's or higher ups would say if they heard or could understand this issue...How does program loose features meanwhile Adobe has how many billions in resources to fix these type of issues for their users who paid a pretty solid chunk for software that should work properly.

     

    Need some competition to fire them up! (any alternatives to illustrator anyone actually using?)

     
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  • legendary_guru
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    11. legendary_guru,
    Sep 3, 2011 11:45 PM   in reply to LOVEANDHATEADBE
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    Corel has a good alternative actually it's like a combined version of Ps and Illustrator look in to that one. also Gimp which is free is cool and Fireworks from adobe is similar to illustrator, but fireworks used to be a macromedia company and they were competition, but were bought out by them

     
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  • mollymCA
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    12. mollymCA,
    Sep 28, 2011 12:59 PM   in reply to Larry G. Schneider
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    So simple! I wonder how many of us who frequently export artboards missed this in the "what's new" (if it was there at all). Some things ought to have red flags (the checkbox for "use artboard" in the export screen perhaps?).

     
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  • MªFernanda
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    13. MªFernanda,
    Oct 27, 2011 1:30 AM   in reply to Broadcast1984
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    It´s not a full solution but as you can rename artboarts (at artboards panel), maybe you can name it as something generic like an underline or your company name. At least it will be better then a number (I think).

     
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