how do you use the crop tool in Designer?

[SigsCreations]

I have files with lots of designs in them and need to use just one. I got the crop tool and drag it over the element I want and it selects all the parts of that element.

I could not figure out how to make the crop tool give me only that element. I was able to control-x and cut it out and then paste it in another. But that didn't really do what I need in this instance. This time I need to have the actual dimensions match the item so I can turn it into an icon.

 

I am used to crop tools cropping the image not just selecting. Help.

Thanks

Sig

[toltec]

Designer is really a Page Layout program so, unlike Photo or Photoshop, it is not geared up for single images.

 

The easiest way round it, is to use the Rectangle tool. Draw a rectangle over the object to define the crop boundary. You can set the rectangle to precise dimensions using the Transform panel. Right click on the rectangle layer and select Mask to Below.

 

The rectangle must have a fill colour or it wont work, but you can draw it transparent to see what you are doing and change it later.

 

Make sure the "cropped" layer is selected, go File > Export and in "Area:" (says, "Whole Document") click Selection with background. It will export just the "cropped" area. You also have the option to resize the image as you save it.

[SigsCreations]

ok, I'll try that. how do they define "crop" then since it doesn't crop anything? If it just makes a selection, what is the point of it?

[Bri-Toon]

I think an easier way would be to just crop the layer itself. Unlike pixel based software in which the Crop Tool crops the whole document, the one in Designer crops individual objects. And it crops depending on which layer you have selected. So in your goal in wanting to crop a specific region, let's say you have separate curves nested in layer. Open up that layer, find the curve you want to crop, and select it. Now, when you use the Crop Tool, that current layer is what will be cropped since it is what is selected.

 

If you are looking into cropping the whole document, then the Artboard Tool is the tool for that. Once you are happy with your canvas size, click Delete.