5 Replies Latest reply: Nov 23, 2012 8:22 AM by emil emil RSS

    Crop to artboard (need vector output)

    Rayven Wolfe Community Member

      Greetings,

       

      Essentially, I need to crop some work to the artboard.  All of the suggestions I've read so far include the export option but I need this design to import into Flash.  My instructor will not permit anything but vector drawings.  I can't export to any sort of raster format or pdf.  Ideally, it needs to remain as an ai file.  When I do the import from Flash, it keeps everything outside the bounds of the artboard (highlighted in red on my screenshot).

       

      This is a group project. I didn't do this drawing, I just wanted to add the perspective lines to the floor.  Now it's a bit of an untidy mess when it goes to Flash.  And Illustrator is not my strong point.  I did try unsuccessfully to "erase", Scissor, knife and a few other things but I really don't know how those tools work.  I also tried the clipping mask approach but it didn't want to combine my rectangle "mask" with the lines on the floor.

       

      I'm using AI CS4 and Flash CS6.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

       

      ScreenShot01.jpg

        • 1. Re: Crop to artboard (need vector output)
          Mike Gondek2 Community Member

          Don't have flash to test, btu I belive if you draw a rectangle to size of your artboard on top of everything, then select all and make a mask may work.

           

          If ntop you coudl use pathfinder > divide (or trim on masked object) to get rid of the extra lines

          • 2. Re: Crop to artboard (need vector output)
            emil emil Community Member

            Select the Eraser tool, hold Alt and drag a rectangle with it over the sticking lines.

             

            edit: have in mind that Eraser leaves the erased lines with their points converted to smooth with handles which may result in some wobbling lines when examined carefully. To fix this select the lines and choose Object > Path > Simplify and in the dialog check straight lines.

            • 3. Re: Crop to artboard (need vector output)
              Rayven Wolfe Community Member

              Regarding post #1 with the regtangle:

               

              Your first suggesion worked perfectly. Thank you so much for your rapid answer.

              • 4. Re: Crop to artboard (need vector output)
                Rayven Wolfe Community Member

                Regarding post #2 using the eraser:

                 

                This did not seem to work for me.  When I drew the rectangle over the bits hanging off the end, it drew fine but in the end, it didn't remove anything. I made sure I was on the right layers as well.  This happens to me every time I try to use the eraser tool.  I'm obviously missing some simple step in this process.

                 

                Thank you for answering so quickly.

                • 5. Re: Crop to artboard (need vector output)
                  emil emil Community Member

                  Make sure that either there is no selection at all or only the lines are selected.

                   

                  edit: When learning tools and they don't work as expected, it is a good idea to try them by creating a new document with a very simple content. For example Create a new document, take the Line tool, draw a few lines, and try to erase them as I suggested. If it works there at least you will see and know how it works and if it doesn't work on another document you will know that there is something in that document that makes things different and you can try to figure out what it is.

                   

                  The difference between Clipping Mask and Eraser is that the Clipping Mask hides the unwanted parts while the Eraser actually removes them which may not matter for your case.