Hide everything outside the Artboard?

Oh right! Sorry. There now is an actual option. its in view > trim view! I just made a shortcut for it myself

The shortcut (in mac and cc atleast) is cmd+shift+h!

for anyone looking for this: they have started working on it.

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/31147732-bleed-view-a-view-mode-that-shows-just-the-artwo

If you setup your artboard to the finished cut size, then export as a normalized PDF (if you have that option?), then it only reveals the artwork that is on the artboard, not anything that extends beyond the artboard.

CC has preview mode that does this.

Hi All.

For anyone who still finds this a bit too confusing - I have a VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION to this stupid software problem.

Open Illustrator File

Create a rectangle shape that is the same size as your art board, or whatever you want to be able to see.

Next create a rectangle shape that covers everything that you DON'T want to see.

Select Both objects.

Go to Object

Compound Path...

Make

Fill with whatever lackluster background color you want.

Turn off layer before you print.

Hopefully Illustrator fixes this issue.

-Alysha

Never stop creating.

One method you could use is use "Save for web" which allows cropping like this. That's what I've used.

I don't see what's so bothersome about putting an artboard sized rectangle on an above layer, giving it a big, outside, white stroke, and if multiple artboards are present and needing "masking" then make all artboard-shaped rects a compound path so each rect's outside stroke won't overlap the others.

Step 1. The artwork displayed below features a common Illustrator  file (the art elements came from the fabulous iStockPhoto folks). There  are three layers, and I’ve create crop marks so you can see where the  art will get clipped. Of course, the goal is to preview the art as it  will appear when clipped. You don’t need to use layers, but I have used  them in my file. My only suggestion is that even if you have a single  layer, rename it to something more meaningful (like ARTWORK, etc). In  general, it’s a good idea to name your layers (especially since more and  more applications are beginning to recognize Illustrator layers,  including InDesign, Photoshop, Flash, etc.)

Step 2. Create a fourth layer, and name it MASK. Create a rectangle to match  the exact size of the trim size, or the area to be clipped, and apply  the None attribute to both the fill and the stroke of the path.

Step 3. A layer clipping mask works as follows: The topmost object in any  single layer becomes a mask for EVERYTHING else that exists within that  single layer. Every layer in Illustrator has a mask, and that mask is  either active or it isn’t. Our goal is to use the path we created in the  previous step as a mask for the three artwork layers in our file. To do  that, we’ll need to bring those three layers INTO the MASK layer. In  the Layers panel, simply shift click on the three layers and drag them  into the MASK layer. Make sure the path is sitting above the three  layers, as you see in the Illustration below.

Step 4. At this point, you have everything you need in order to preview your  art without the bleed. In the Layers panel, click once on the MASK layer  to select that layer in the panel (you don’t have to have any art  selected). Then, activate the mask for that layer by clicking the  Make/Release Clipping Mask button at the bottom left of the panel. The  button is actually a toggle, so clicking repeatedly on the button shows  and hides your clipped artwork.

An obvious benefit of this method is that you still may have some  artwork that exists outside the clipped area that you want to stay  visible all the time. For example, you may have some informational text,  a slug, or some other element that needs to remain visible online printers. By simply  creating a new layer that exists on the same level as the MASK layer  (meaning, it’s not a sublayer within the mask layer), the mask will not  effect that layer at all. As always, the control is in your hands.

Hi Greg

If you want to see what the finished product will look like (a view say "cropped view"--where everything outside the Artboard is hidden) just try the Navigator panel. In navigator panel there ia a option in the fly-out menu: "View Artboard Contents Only" (default view), if you want to see all the objects which lie outside the artboard area and on the artboard just uncheck the option (1). Hope this helps you in your workflow.

Regards

MBMSumraat