Cropping

[samspectre]

I switched from Fireworks to Illustrator because I thought it could do many of the same things while handling large files. I've been putting A LOT of work into an Illustrator file and now feel that I may have wasted A LOT of time and money with this program. Not a good feeling.

I have a large vector .ai file (90in x 34in). To be specific, it's a world map. I want to detail and enlarge individual details of the map as separate graphics (for instance, to make a map of a single country). In Fireworks, I could just crop out a section and scale it to size, and everything else would be omitted. In Illustrator, the only thing you seem able to crop are placed images and print jobs. Not good.

Is there a way to cut a rectanglar area from layered vectors, so that they are sliced to fit the desired shape, while retaining all layers and information? Seems like it should be easy to do, but everything I've found on the web (blogs, forums, videos) seems to only deal with cropping placed images or setting up printing areas.

Any help would be MUCH appreciated! I'm about to throw my new iMac across the room!!!

 

[ERIXWORX]

Have you tried 'make crop area'? You make a suitably-sized rectangle, place it where you want your image area, and then go to 'objects' > 'crop marks' > 'make' and then export as a tif or something, then import that into your map and place it where you want it. Shape it using clipping mask, if desired. This may not be the most elegant solution, but it should work, if I understand what you're trying to do.
Whatever you do, don't give up on Illy!
good luck!

'There is no LEASH LAW for the IMAGINATION!'
myspace.com/erixworx

 

[apepp]

...you can use the crop feature in the pathfinder palette, but when using this feature i always work on a copy of my original file...

...place a rectangle on top of everything, no fill or stroke, select all, choose object > expand > fill and stroke turned on > click OK...

...then with the pathfinder palette, click on the crop feature, third from right, bottom left...

...depending on the complexity of a given piece this will often do fine...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...if you have drop shadows and other fancy bits then a slightly different approach is required...

...you will also find you have to 'expand appearance' before the 'expand' option becomes enabled...

...and no, layer information isn't preserved when cropping, although elements are still modifiable to a degree...

...maybe CS4 or 5 will allow for such complex calculations required to deal with fancy effects, transparencies, greadients, layer structures and names when needing to crop and trim right down...

...for now, it will always blend everything in a multi-structured layer...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...also, with a multi-structured single layer/group, an efficient way of finding an object in so many layers is to select it on the art board, then choose from the layers palette flyout menu 'locate object'...

Andrew