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1. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
[scott] Aug 14, 2012 8:50 AM (in response to TCarp)It really depends upon the art and desired result.
A bit like asking when to use Blue compared to Red.
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2. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
Jacob Bugge Aug 14, 2012 8:56 AM (in response to TCarp)TCarp,
In addition to what Scott said, it may be a matter of avoiding whichever drawbacks may be relevant in each case, or choose between them.
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3. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
TCarp Aug 14, 2012 7:18 PM (in response to Jacob Bugge)Thanks both of you but I'm not sure I'm any closer to understanding.
Maybe I should ask the question about what's different between crop and clip?
From my reading:
- Both "preserve" the original objects' paths (crop will create a new path when expanded). Getting back the original shapes appears to be easier with clip (release)
- Crop will work with 2 or more shapes while clip uses the top and bottom shapes. This means crop is "burning" through multiple shapes. Now that I write this I need to test what happens with clip when there are 3 or more shapes.
Is that it?
You both may be right that it comes down to personal preference. I just want to make sure any differences aren't workflow sensitive.
Thanks
Tom
[EDIT] I ran a clip test with 3 objects and I may be getting an idea of the important difference between crop and clip.
Clip will keep the fill of the object just below the top object. I used a star over a circle over a rectangle. Where the star was over the circle I got the circle fill. Where the star was over the rectangle (but not the circle) I got the rectangle.
Crop is going to burn right through all the objects below the top object.
It appears crop (pathfinder) is about creating new objects. Clip is very specific to bringing the fill of an object or objects "through" a front shape.
You could accomplish the same effect clip creates but it looks like it would require multiple steps.
I'm new to this so if I have it wrong I'd very much appreciate comments.
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4. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
[scott] Aug 15, 2012 1:29 AM (in response to TCarp)Clipping masks hide object areas which fall outside the top shape.
Pathfinder Crop deletes object areas which fall outside the top shape.
Clipping masks = all your original shapes are still in tact, simply hidden.
Pathfinder Crop = Your original shapes are gone and have been edited to create new shapes which conform to the crop boundaries.
Both Clipping Masks and Pathfinder Crop use the top object as a defining area. There is no difference there. I don't see where you're getting "clip uses the top and bottom shapes". That is compeltely inaccurate.
Clipping masks can contain an infinate amount of objects. Pathfinder Crop can also work with a very large number of objects. However, Pathfinder operations can ocassionally have problems with strokes, or symbols, or brushes, becaase they need to be.... well, cropped which may not always fall in a desired location for the object.
In the end it comes down to the inital difference at the start of this very post..... do you want to hide objects or remove them? Do you wish to work destructively or non-destructively? Neither one is "better" they are merely different.
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5. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
Jacob Bugge Aug 15, 2012 2:38 AM (in response to TCarp)TCarp,
You may also have a look at Object>Path>Divide Objects below (with deletion of outlying paths).
And you may have a look at what happens with strokes.
In any case, always keep a copy of the artwork before you do something irreversible. For more complicated and thorough changes made within a layer, you may simply duplicate the layer and keep the old one as a draft you may go back to.
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6. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
TCarp Aug 15, 2012 6:19 AM (in response to [scott])Excellent! Thanks
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7. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
TCarp Aug 15, 2012 6:23 AM (in response to [scott])[scott w] wrote:
Both Clipping Masks and Pathfinder Crop use the top object as a defining area. There is no difference there. I don't see where you're getting "clip uses the top and bottom shapes". That is compeltely inaccurate.
You're correct. I got that idea from a web tutorial (which is also incorrect).
Thanks
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8. Re: When to use crop vs. clipping mask
Marisol Enrique Mar 7, 2014 2:31 PM (in response to TCarp)You CANNOT crop an image such as a photograph in Illustrator CS5--you have to use clipping masks. I've clipped over 1,000 photos in order to CROP them, but the resulting clipping path and white space caused numerous problems. You CANNOT tile a clipped image properly, and the white space interferes with placement of the image.
THE EASIEST ANSWER TO GETTING RID OF THE ANNOYING CLIPPING MASK AND ITS WHITE SPACE:
Have your clipped IMAGE on screen (with its clipping mask and white space intact).
Click ARTBOARD TOOL (Ctrl O). Move the sliders to correctly resize the image.
ESC
FILE EXPORT (give the file a simple name "AA")
SAVE AS TYPE (PNG/JPG)
**CLICK USE ARTBOARDS**
SAVE
DELETE clipped image on screen.
FILE - PLACE (Click on image "AA")
PLACE
VOILA!! The IMAGE is placed on screen WITHOUT the clipping mask and white space. EASY!!
**If you FORGET to click "USE ARTBOARDS", the clipping mask remains.



