How to Cut Out An Image in Illustrator - The Complete Beginner's Guide

Why use a cut-out in Adobe Illustrator

You should use a cut-out in Adobe Illustrator because it provides you with clean and precise visuals that look professional. With non-destructive editing, you have the freedom to make changes without losing your work. Since Illustrator is a vector program, your cut-outs remain sharp at any size. This is helpful to save you time when preparing graphics for print or digital projects. Learning cutouts will assist you in simplifying your workflow, and you won't be afraid of the quality of results you are capable of producing.

How to cut out a picture in Adobe Illustrator - Step by step

Method 1: Using the crop tool

STEP 1
1. Select the Crop Image option

Open your picture in Adobe Illustrator and choose it. The "Crop Image" is located in the "Quick Action" in the "Properties" panel.

STEP 2
1. Adjust the crop frame

Click "Crop Image." Your image will have a crop frame displayed. Dragging the borders allows one to move or resize the frame.

STEP 3
1. Apply the crop

After you are satisfied with the size of the crop, press "Apply" in order to cut up the image.

Method 2: Using the pen tool

STEP 1
1. Set up the pen tool

Select the "Pen Tool" from the toolbar (keyboard shortcut P). Switch the "Fill to none" and use a Stroke color (a vivid color is good because the path can easily be seen).

STEP 2
1. Draw the outline

Drawing around the object you wish to remember, create an outline. Make sure to close the path. Example: If you want to draw a cocktail glass, draw it round.

STEP 3
1. Create a clipping mask

Choose the image of the "Pen Tool" and the path. Right-click and choose "Make Clipping Mask" or press Command/Ctrl + 7.

Method 3: Using knife tool (for vector images only)

NOTE: Knife Tool will only operate with Vector images and not with Raster images.

STEP 1
1. Choose the knife tool

Choose the "Knife" tool on the toolbar.

STEP 2
1. Cut through the shape

Draw with this vector on the section you would like to cut (such as the glass holder of the cocktail). The image will be separated into two parts.

STEP 3
1. Separate or delete parts

Click V to change to the "Selection Tool." Move or delete a section by clicking on it.

Method 4: Using the eraser tool

STEP 1
1. Select the eraser tool

Select the "Path Eraser Tool" (keyboard shortcut Shift + E) on the toolbar.

STEP 2
1. Erase the desired areas

Draw over the area that you are cutting. Whatever you delete will be transparent.

Best practices and tips for image cut-out in Illustrator

• Destruction-free editing: Always use clipping masks when you need to delete parts of the image. This makes your edits flexible, allowing you to make changes or restore elements without having to start over.
• Layer organization: Name and group your layers accordingly. Use Object > Group to group related elements. A tidy workspace saves you time and helps you avoid confusion when working on complex projects.
• Precision tracing: Practice with the Pen Tool on simple shapes first. Once you're comfortable doing so, progress to more complex areas, such as hair, curves, or organic forms. Consistency in practice brings precision.
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Utilize shortcuts to enhance your workflow. Use Ctrl/ cmd + G (Group), Ctrl/ cmd + 7 (Make Clipping Mask), and Ctrl/ cmd + Shift + ] (Bring to Front). These will save you a lot of clicks.
• Image quality: Start with a high-quality image. Poor image quality makes tracing messy, and the professional appearance of your cut-out is compromised.
• Preview outputs: Always preview outputs in other formats. This will ensure that your cut-out will look good in print as well as on the web.

While Illustrator offers you great tools for image cut-outs, it can be complicated and time-consuming, especially for beginners. Precision tracing often requires patience, and handling the layers may slow your workflow. CapCut is a more user-friendly alternative in that regard. We will examine some facts below!

An easier alternative to cut out an image: CapCut desktop

The free and powerful image/video editing tool, CapCut desktop video editor, can be used as a complete solution for creating image cutouts. Its AI design tool can automatically identify objects and be used to cut out images easily. You also have an auto background remover for immediate results and a custom removal control for sharp edits. With these features, you save time and still get professional-quality cutouts. You don't need to be a great designer because CapCut makes the process simple and flexible. Download CapCut today and effortlessly start cutting out your image easily.

Key features

• AI design: The remove feature in the AI design tool allows users to draw an area in an image and then remove it easily.
• Auto background remover: Remove unwanted backgrounds with a single click using this feature. It is fully automated, so you don't need advanced skills to separate objects cleanly.
• Custom edge control: You can control edges precisely as desired using "Feather" and "Expand" sliders once you remove the image background.
• Export to PNG: After completing your editing, you can export your cutouts in PNG format, keeping your background clear and setting your pictures ready to be used in websites, advertisements, or design works.

How to cut out an image using the AI design tool

STEP 1
1. Access the AI design tool

First, open CapCut and then get to the feature of "AI design" on the left vertical bar. This will take you to the AI design tool interface.

STEP 2
1. Upload the image and choose the remove option

Next, you need to upload the image using the "+" icon. Later, click on the "Upload" tab and choose the file you want to upload from your local device.

After uploading the image, go to the top menu bar and select the "AI tools" option. Next, you need to click the "Remove" tab.

STEP 3
1. Cut out an element from an image

Now you need to select/highlight the element or object that you want to remove using the brush or eraser. You can custom choose the size of the brush or the eraser by dragging the slider adjacent to it.

Once selected, click the tick mark. This will cut out the highlighted part from your image.

STEP 4
1. Export your cutout image

Once you are satisfied with your image, click the "Download" tab at the top. You can either download your picture in a custom format, resolution, and quality, or save it as PNG. You have the option to share your photo directly on Facebook or Instagram.

How to cut out an image using an auto background remover

STEP 1
1. Import the image

First, open CapCut and create a new project. Next, click "Import" and select an image from your device that you want to edit. Alternatively, drag and drop the image onto the timeline. Once the video is on the timeline, it is ready for editing.

STEP 2
1. Cut out the background from the image

Click on the image on the timeline to access the editing tools. Then, select the "Remove BG" option under the video section. Next, click "Auto removal" to automatically remove the background from the image with just one click.

STEP 3
1. Export the cut-out image

Finally, click the three-line button above the image player, and select "Export still frames" to pick the image format and resolution. Once done, click "Export" to save the image.

Applications of cutting out the background from images

• Product images: It is possible to eliminate the background to emphasize products when listing them on e-commerce. Clean cutouts help products shine, particularly on Black Friday when everything is on sale and buyers want to see vivid pictures.
• Marketing materials: It is possible to isolate objects on posters, flyers, and ads—the background-free images, which provide you with greater control over layouts and enhance the campaigns. Bold designs with clean cutouts are the ones that will capture your attention quickly during Black Friday sales.
• Logo and branding: You can unlock symbols or text in complex backgrounds. This makes logos appear crisp and versatile. To promote your product on black Friday, your sales need to be clearly branded with sharp cut-outs so that your promotions are easily identified.
• UI/UX Design: You have the opportunity to create transparent material for websites or apps. Cutouts will enable smooth integration with digital layouts. Optimized cutout elements are used to make your store or app look professional and polished when preparing for Black Friday sales.
• Digital art: You can mix cut-out images with vector illustrations. This gives limitless creativity to original images. When it comes to Black Friday sales, it is possible to combine cutouts with eye-catching patterns to make a graphic that attracts attention and clicks.

Conclusion

Knowing how to cut out an image in Illustrator provides you with precision, flexibility, and professional results. You experimented with techniques including crop, pen, knife, and eraser tools to get clean cutouts. Each method helps isolate objects for logos, marketing, and digital projects. But if you find Illustrator complicated to use, you can switch to CapCut. CapCut allows you to do it with ease, thanks to AI-powered background removal, auto cutouts, and custom editing. Don't hesitate, try CapCut to cut out your image with AI power now!

FAQs

1
1. What is the difference between cutting out an image in Illustrator and Photoshop?

Illustrator refers to the use of the vector path during the cutting of an image. This means that you produce state-of-the-art, clean-cutout photos that can be utilized to create logos, branding, and advertising materials. Photoshop relies on pixels for editing, providing more control over intricate photographs, but with limited scalability. You can use CapCut if you want something faster and easier. Its AI design tool ensures that clean results are achieved without any need for complex vector and pixel settings.

2
1. How do you know which cut-out image method to use in Illustrator?

Depending on the needs of your project, you must choose a method. Simple crops, exact shapes, and vector splits are performed using the Crop Tool, the Pen Tool, and the Knife Tool, respectively. The Eraser Tool is best suited for quick edits. Experience teaches you the right way to go. To save time without resorting to trial and error, CapCut offers both auto-removal and manual edge editing, ensuring professional results.

3
1. What settings should I use in Image Trace for a clean cut-out image in Illustrator?

You need to start with a high-resolution picture. Choose a high-fidelity photo for complex objects and a black and white image for simple graphics. Refine the threshold to balance detail and clarity, and smooth the paths and corners. Always trace out first before you edit more. If this is too complex, CapCut can make life easier for you by utilizing AI-based features that provide clean cutouts with a single click, eliminating the need for manual adjustments to different settings.