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_Greg_Maletic_
Participant
March 12, 2008
Answered

Hide everything outside the Artboard?

  • March 12, 2008
  • 15 replies
  • 181290 views
I'm designing some business cards, which have an 1/8" bleed, along with elements that hang outside of the border of the card. Is there a way in Illustrator CS3 that I can say, "hide everything outside of the Artboard" so I can see what the finished product will look like?

I know I could print them out or output to PDF and see it without the non-Artboard items, but these approaches seem clumsy and labor intensive. I'd like it if I could have some sort of "cropped view"--where everything not on the Artboard is hidden--to work in.

Thanks.
    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Monika Gause

    View screen is indesign only. I wish they would add this to illustrator because I use it all the time. It's so easy to hit W to toggle it on and off


    You might want to add your vote here: Have the option to hide all artwork that falls outside the bounds of the artboard. – Adobe Illustrator Feedback

    15 replies

    Show previous replies
    Steve Fairbairn
    Steve Fairbairn
    Inspiring
    June 10, 2011

    For this sort of job you're better off using InDesign which has Normal, Preview, Bleed and Slug view options.

    For business cards you put everything that's the same on all cards on a master page and the variables on ordinary pages.

    You can duplicate pages ad infinitum – a whole lot easier than making lots of artboards.

    Also if you've got printing on the backs you just work with facing pages.

    I used to do business cards in Illie but have long since gone over to ID exactly for the reasons you mention.

    You can easily copy your Illie artwork into ID or place it linked.

    F
    fvlcrvm
    Participant
    June 10, 2011

    I totally agree. I'm missing this feature for so long. I know about my friends creating white boxes everywhere outside the artboard which is absurd.

    CarlosCanto
    Community Expert
    CarlosCantoCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 11, 2011

    you can create your own "hide everything outside the Active Artboard" using Actions.

    self explanatory

    to bring everything back, go to Object->Show All, or hit Ctrl+Alt+3

      georgecoghill
      georgecoghill
      Participating Frequently
      July 15, 2011

      I beg your pardon. The topmost object in the layer becomes the layer clipping mask when the layer is highlighted and the button is clicked. The object does not have to be selected, but the layer must be highlighted. The masking object must be in the layer it is to mask.


      OK I misunderstood your post. Having the clipping mask object on the layer to be clipped does not make this an easy toggle on/off for the entire image, which is what I think the OP and myself are looking for. This method requires you to do it for each layer, which can become cumbersome if you have many layers.

      Perhaps due to a setting somewhere, but I am not seeing the same results as you. If my layer set up is as follows:

      LAYER 1 : Masking Object plus other artwork, MO on top of all objects

      LAYER 2: other objects

      and I highlight both layers (no objects are selected), the Make/Release Clipping Mask button in the panel gets grayed out. Only when I highlight one single layer does the Clipping Mask button becomes clickable (and works fine). Selecting just the masking object while both layers are highlighted has no effect (Mask button still disabled/grayed out). Neither does selecting all layers (large color rectangle to the right of layer name).

      The odd thing is that I swear your method (highlight all layers and create mask) worked for me earlier, but it is not working now. As it stands now, each layer needs it's own mask applied.

      I quit/restarted Illustrator and started from a brand-new default document, but still see the same results I outlined above.

      A
      Anonymous
      September 28, 2010

      I have been hoping and wishing for this ever since I started using AI — Now with multiple artboards it's tedious to make and keep editing the masking layer as artboards are added.

      Adobe: Please add Artboard Masking

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        _Greg_Maletic_Author
        Participant
        March 12, 2008
        I've done that, too...but doesn't it seem a little absurd for me to have to create a separate layer, remember to set it to "non-print" status, etc., just so I can see how my item will print? It's hard for me to believe that Illustrator doesn't have a feature like this.
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          _Martha_Bostwick_
          Participant
          March 12, 2008
          I just fudge it either by using a Clipping Mask, or by having a dummy "Masking" layer on top with white rectangles drawn to hide the content off the artboard.
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