Simple Cropping Question

[Kliot]

I'm new to Illustrator and am struggling trying to do what seems like should be very simple. I've placed a graphic into a document and I want to crop the graphic, it's very easy to do in Indesign but I can't figure out how to do it in Illustrator. What am I missing?

Thanks

 

[blueark]

In InDesign, graphics are placed within frames which can be used to crop. In Illustrator, graphics are just placed as is. To crop them, you have to draw the frame separately.

1: Place your graphic
2: Draw a shape over it, such as a rectangle, the size you want it cropped to.
3: Select both, then go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make.

The front shape will then mask the other graphic. It is possible to size the frame independantly from the graphic, although it's a little trickier than InDesign. Use the Direct Selection Tool (the white arrow) to select it on its own, then either move individual points, or switch to the Selection Tool (black arrow) to scale it.

 

[Kliot]

Thanks for the tip, I discovered it right after posting, I was hoping there was a better way or should I say an easy way to adjust the clipping mask once it was made.