Skip to main content
C
CaseyScalf
Participating Frequently
May 11, 2020
Question

How to crop SVG & PDF

  • May 11, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 6512 views

I am struggling to get a good workflow for my laser cutter and need some help exporting/trimming an SVG.

 

When I export an SVG, or PDF, then open in Finder it looks great. All the artwork is right where it should be. If I print on a paper printer it looks exactly right.

 

However, when I bring that SVG or PDF into another program such as Lightburn (or even re-open it in AI) the artwork has all these overhanging extra pieces. This is where I am struggling.

 

How can I easily crop or remove these extra pieces and lines? Illustrator is a powerful program and I am sure it has a way to easily and simply do this. I know I am nt the only person on Earth trying to export multiple artboards and not have extraneous artwork hanging off the side messing up the CNC machines.

 

Any tips, search terms, scripts, other software, or ideas are very welcome!

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Myra Ferguson
Community Expert
Myra FergusonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 16, 2020

You can put a rectangle over the parts you want to keep and use Pathfinder and use the Crop option to crop it. The Pathfinder tools are available in the Properties panel (and Window > Pathfinder). Here's more info on using Pathfinder.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices