How do I cut in Illustrator

[9mmSpliff]

How do I cut around an opbject or even for that fact, just cut a square. I would like to know how to trace cut an image out, like a body, so I can place it on a new background. Or just cut like a rectangle picture out for making the picture fit better?

Thank you guys. Some very helpful peple here.

 

[jconingham]

Take a look at the tools in the Pathfinder palette. Note, however, that the action you are trying to perform only works with vectors, not with bitmaps.

 

[9mmSpliff]

how do i know if its a vector. i mean why cant i just trace an image that i would like to cut and just do a simple cut and paste. I mean its pretty rediculous.

 

[RegistrationMark]

I use masking to achieve this.
Import your image, then, draw a box or any shape on top of the image.
Then with both selected go to Object--Clipping Mask--Make.
It is advantageous to group the image and its clipping mask.
If you want to isolate a person from an image, use the pen tool to clip a box in shape of said person. Once that path is closed, select both the image and the path you just drew, and do the same thing as above. I prefer to clip images in Photoshop then place them into Illustrator, but this is a rough way to get the job done.
To answer your other question, you'll know vector objects by looking at the Links palette when you have an object selected. If nothing is highlighted in the Links palette, you've got vector artwork.
Mark

 

[jconingham]

If it was created in Illustrator (and not rasterized) it is a vector and you should be able to cut part of it.

Although Illustrator can import bitmaps it can't handle them like Photoshop because it simply wasn't designed for that - that's why Photoshop exists anyway. If you want to work with bitmaps it doesn't mean that the program is ridiculous, but that you are using the wrong program.

 

[9mmSpliff]

thank you guys, Imma try those. I am getting photoshop soon here. I miss this after taking 5yr absence from the PC.