Adobe Illustrator is a powerful tool for creating professional vector graphics. As an illustrator and designer myself, I have been working with the program on a daily basis for years. Tons of tutorials are offered as technical walk-throughs on how to crop images. But in this post, I will share my perspective as a practicing artist in hopes of optimizing your own creative workflow.

สารบัญ Show

Note: Follow this link to download the latest copy of Adobe Illustrator CC

Use Cases for Illustrators and Designers

Use Case 1: To Reduce Visual Clutter

Say that you saw a perfect reference image for your next botanical drawing project. But you only need a part of the original photo other than the lush plant right in front of the door, which makes it a perfect use case to crop in illustrator. Cropping things off once you are set on visual can be a great thing to do to declutter your workspace, free up some storage, and cut the reaction time needed when you work in Adobe Illustrator.

Use Case 2: To Speed Up the Digitizing Process

Many of us start out drawing on paper before moving to the digital realm. The process of translating an analog drawing to digital format(s) is called digitalization. If you ever tried the live image trace function in Adobe Illustrator, you probably have heard your computer (hopefully metaphorically) panting for air as it renders. It uses a lot of CPU resources to determine how to best map out the anchor points to match your original drawing.

Any amount of elimination of unnecessary information can help to shorten the digitization process immensely. That's when the crop function comes in handy. So, try to get rid of all the information you don't need before tracing the image to optimize the image for vectorization. You will see the progress bar move much faster.

Use Case 3: To Reduce Illustrator File Size

If you have taken any number of my Skillshare classes, you know I am pretty big on adding textures to my artwork. And vector textures can go wild (and you should learn how to create textures), which just takes up a lot of space and make the file size huge when you have texture-heavy ai. file. It's like packing an international-travel-sized suitcase (50lb, for most airlines.) for a neighborhood ice cream trip. Not only it's unnecessary, but it can also get socially awkward. Well, you get the idea.

With that understanding of different use cases, now let's get it done in Adobe Illustrator

Cropping an Image or a Photograph

Unlike Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator is not traditionally known as a photo editing program, but it doesn't mean we can't perform simple tasks like cropping images inside the program easily. The ability to crop images without leaving the program is a much-needed productivity hack.

This method is for the most straightforward use of cropping: Put a rectangle on an image, boom!

Step 1: Download the image to your computer and drag it to your artboard. You could also drag the image directly to the Adobe Illustrator App icon on Mac if there is no active .ai file open.

The image is automatically selected upon import. And you will see a big X on the image selected. Fear not, it just means Illustrator has not embedded the original image yet. As far as the cropping tool goes, you can leave it as it is.

Step 2: While the image is still selected, click the Crop Image button on the control panel at the top

Note: Remember to attribute credits to the photographer according to the rights assigned to the image.

Note for overachievers: Notice the button that says "Edit in Photoshop"? You can push the file directly to Adobe Photoshop from Illustrator. If you need a quick touch-up, level adjustment, contrast boost, etc., the file can be ping-ponged back and forth from there.

window.fd('form', {formId: '6241a89043a49fb25a549975',containerEl: '

fd-form-6241a89043a49fb25a549975'});

Learning resources purchased here will be delivered as PDF and/or ZIP files. Immediately after the transaction is completed, you will receive an email with links to download ordered documents. If you encounter any issues please check your email settings or contact us.

Illustrator User Guide
Get to know Illustrator
1. Introduction to Illustrator
  1. What's new in Illustrator
  2. Common questions
  3. Illustrator system requirements
  4. Illustrator for Apple silicon
2. Workspace
  1. Workspace basics
  2. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
  3. Create documents
  4. Toolbar
  5. Default keyboard shortcuts
  6. Customize keyboard shortcuts
  7. Introduction to artboards
  8. Manage artboards
  9. Customize the workspace
  10. Properties panel
  11. Set preferences
  12. Touch Workspace
  13. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
  14. Undo edits and manage design history
  15. Rotate view
  16. Rulers, grids, and guides
  17. Accessibility in Illustrator
  18. Safe Mode
  19. View artwork
  20. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
  21. Files and templates
3. Tools in Illustrator
  1. Tools at a glance
  2. Select tools
    1. Selection
    2. Direct Selection
    3. Group Selection
    4. Magic Wand
    5. Lasso
    6. Artboard
  3. Navigate tools
    1. Hand
    2. Rotate View
    3. Zoom
  4. Paint tools
    1. Gradient
    2. Mesh
    3. Shape Builder
  5. Text tools
    1. Type
    2. Type on a Path
    3. Vertical Type
  6. Draw tools
    1. Pen
    2. Add Anchor Point
    3. Delete Anchor Point
    4. Anchor Point
    5. Curvature
    6. Line Segment
    7. Rectangle
    8. Rounded Rectangle
    9. Ellipse
    10. Polygon
    11. Star
    12. Paintbrush
    13. Blob Brush
    14. Pencil
    15. Shaper
    16. Slice
  7. Modify tools
    1. Rotate
    2. Reflect
    3. Scale
    4. Shear
    5. Width
    6. Free Transform
    7. Eyedropper
    8. Blend
    9. Eraser
    10. Scissors
4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
  1. Generate a vector graphic using a text prompt
  2. Recolor your artwork using a text prompt
5. Quick actions
  1. Retro text
  2. Neon glow text
  3. Old school text
  4. Recolor
  5. Convert sketch to vector
Illustrator on the web (beta)
1. Illustrator on the web (beta) overview
2. Illustrator on the web (beta) FAQ
3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the web (beta)
4. Create and combine shapes on the web
5. Add and edit text on the web
6. Apply colors and gradients on the web
7. Draw and edit paths on the web
8. Work with cloud documents on the web
Illustrator on the iPad
1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
  1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
  2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
  3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
  4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
2. Workspace
  1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
  2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
  3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
  4. Manage your app settings
3. Documents
  1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
  2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
4. Select and arrange objects
  1. Create repeat objects
  2. Blend objects
5. Drawing
  1. Draw and edit paths
  2. Draw and edit shapes
6. Type
  1. Work with type and fonts
  2. Create text designs along a path
  3. Add your own fonts
7. Work with images
  1. Vectorize raster images
8. Color
  1. Apply colors and gradients
Cloud documents
1. Basics
  1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
  2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
  3. Share documents for review
  4. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
  5. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
2. Troubleshooting
  1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
  2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
Add and edit content
1. Drawing
  1. Drawing basics
  2. Edit paths
  3. Draw pixel-perfect art
  4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
  5. Draw simple lines and shapes
  6. Draw rectangular and polar grids
  7. Draw and edit flares
  8. Image Trace
  9. Simplify a path
  10. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
  11. Adjust path segments
  12. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
  13. Create and edit a perspective grid
  14. Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
  15. Use objects as symbols for repeat use
  16. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
  17. Measure and plot dimensions
2. 3D objects and materials
  1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
  2. Create 3D graphics
  3. Map artwork over 3D objects
  4. Create 3D Text
  5. Create 3D objects
3. Color
  1. About color
  2. Select colors
  3. Use and create swatches
  4. Adjust colors
  5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
  6. Color groups (harmonies)
  7. Color Themes panel
  8. Recolor your artwork
4. Painting
  1. About painting
  2. Paint with fills and strokes
  3. Live Paint groups
  4. Gradients
  5. Brushes
  6. Transparency and blending modes
  7. Apply stroke on an object
  8. Create and edit patterns
  9. Meshes
  10. Patterns
5. Select and arrange objects
  1. Select objects
  2. Layers
  3. Group and expand objects
  4. Move, align, and distribute objects
  5. Stack objects
  6. Lock, hide, and delete objects
  7. Copy and duplicate objects
  8. Rotate and reflect objects
  9. Intertwine objects
  10. Create realistic art mockups
6. Reshape objects
  1. Crop images
  2. Transform objects
  3. Combine objects
  4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
  5. Puppet Warp
  6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
  7. Blend objects
  8. Reshape using envelopes
  9. Reshape objects with effects
  10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
  11. Work with Live Corners
  12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
  13. Edit clipping masks
  14. Live shapes
  15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
  16. Global editing
7. Type
  1. Add text and work with type objects
  2. Create bulleted and numbered lists
  3. Manage text area
  4. Fonts and typography
  5. Convert text within images into editable text
  6. Add basic formatting to text
  7. Add advanced formatting to text
  8. Import and export text
  9. Format paragraphs
  10. Special characters
  11. Create type on a path
  12. Character and paragraph styles
  13. Tabs
  14. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
  15. Arabic and Hebrew type
  16. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
  17. Create 3D text effect
  18. Creative typography designs
  19. Scale and rotate type
  20. Line and character spacing
  21. Hyphenation and line breaks
  22. Spelling and language dictionaries
  23. Format Asian characters
  24. Composers for Asian scripts
  25. Create text designs with blend objects
  26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
8. Create special effects
  1. Work with effects
  2. Graphic styles
  3. Appearance attributes
  4. Create sketches and mosaics
  5. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
  6. Summary of effects
9. Web graphics
  1. Best practices for creating web graphics
  2. Graphs
  3. SVG
  4. Slices and image maps
Import, export, and save
1. Import
  1. Place multiple files
  2. Manage linked and embedded files
  3. Links information
  4. Unembed images
  5. Import artwork from Photoshop
  6. Import bitmap images
  7. Import Adobe PDF files
  8. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
  1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
3. Save
  1. Save artwork
4. Export
  1. Use Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
  2. Export artwork
  3. Collect assets and export in batches
  4. Package files
  5. Create Adobe PDF files
  6. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
  7. Adobe PDF options
  8. Document info panel
Printing
1. Prepare for printing
  1. Set up documents for printing
  2. Change the page size and orientation
  3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
  4. Get started with large canvas
2. Printing
  1. Overprint
  2. Print with color management
  3. PostScript printing
  4. Print presets
  5. Printer's marks and bleeds
  6. Print and save transparent artwork
  7. Trapping
  8. Print color separations
  9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
  10. White Overprint
Automate tasks
1. Data merge using the Variables panel
2. Automation with scripts
3. Automation with actions
Troubleshooting
1. Crash issues
2. Recover files after crash
3. File issues
4. Supported file formats
5. GPU device driver issues
6. Wacom device issues
7. DLL file issues
8. Memory issues
9. Preferences file issues
10. Font issues
11. Printer issues
12. Share crash report with Adobe
13. Improve Illustrator performance

Use this guide to help you understand Illustrator's features and learn how to create beautiful vector art and illustrations on desktop, web (beta), and iPad.